Heart-Shaped Halal Pepperoni (Print Version)
A charming heart-shaped pizza topped with halal pepperoni, zesty tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Dough
01 - 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
02 - 1 tsp sugar
03 - ¾ cup warm water (about 110°F)
04 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
05 - 1 tsp salt
06 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ For the Sauce
07 - 1 cup tomato passata or crushed tomatoes
08 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
09 - 1 tsp dried oregano
10 - 1 tsp dried basil
11 - 1 garlic clove, minced
12 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ For the Toppings
13 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
14 - 100 g halal beef pepperoni, sliced
15 - 1 tbsp olive oil
16 - Fresh basil leaves (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Combine yeast, sugar, and warm water in a bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Mix and knead for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
03 - Preheat oven to 475°F. Place a pizza stone or baking tray inside to heat.
04 - In a small saucepan, combine tomato passata, tomato paste, oregano, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
05 - Punch down the dough and divide in half. On a floured surface, roll each half into a heart shape about ¼ inch thick.
06 - Place shaped dough on parchment paper. Spread a thin layer of sauce over each, leaving a small border.
07 - Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, then top with halal pepperoni slices in a decorative pattern.
08 - Brush the crust edges with olive oil for a golden finish.
09 - Transfer pizzas with parchment onto the hot stone or tray. Bake for 12–15 minutes, until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
10 - Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired. Slice and serve warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Homemade dough comes together faster than delivery would arrive
- The heart shape makes ordinary pizza night feel like a celebration
- Halal pepperoni means everyone can enjoy this classic comfort food
02 -
- Let your dough come to room temperature before rolling, cold dough fights back and springs out of shape
- Heat your baking surface while preheating, that blast of heat creates the crispy bottom crust you want
- Don't overload sauce or toppings, too much weight prevents proper cooking and makes handling difficult
03 -
- Stretch dough by hand instead of rolling, it preserves the airy texture better than a rolling pin
- Put pepperoni on top of cheese so it crisps up in those delicious curly edges everyone fights over