Description
This Heirloom Tomato Pizza is a flavorful homemade pizza featuring blistered cherry tomatoes, fresh heirloom tomato slices, spicy fresno chiles, and a generous layer of mozzarella cheese on a thin, crispy crust. Perfect for a quick and gourmet-style meal, it's baked at a high temperature to achieve an ideal balance of melty cheese and fresh, vibrant toppings, finished with fragrant basil leaves.
Ingredients
For the Pizza
- 1 tablespoon neutral-flavored oil
- 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 heirloom tomato, sliced
- 1/2 pound homemade pizza dough or store-bought
- 2 tablespoons jarred tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 fresno chile, sliced
- Salt, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Blister the Cherry Tomatoes: Heat 1 tablespoon of neutral-flavored oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the cherry tomatoes and cook until blistered, turning them halfway through the process, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, transfer tomatoes to a bowl, and sprinkle with a few pinches of salt.
- Prepare Heirloom Tomato Slices: Lay the sliced heirloom tomato on a paper towel or clean kitchen towel. Sprinkle with salt and let them stand for about 5 minutes to draw out excess moisture.
- Prepare Oven and Pizza Surface: Place a pizza stone or pizza steel in the oven to preheat. If unavailable, a baking sheet can be used as a substitute. Preheat the oven to the highest temperature possible, ideally between 450°F to 500°F.
- Roll Out the Dough: Dust your counter or cutting board with flour. Roll out your pizza dough into a thin round shape by pressing with your fingers, stretching, and rolling until it reaches your desired thinness.
- Assemble the Pizza: Transfer the rolled dough onto parchment paper for easy transfer. Spread 2 tablespoons of jarred tomato sauce evenly over the dough, leaving about an inch border. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella over the sauce. Arrange the blistered cherry tomatoes, the salted heirloom tomato slices, and the sliced fresno chile evenly on top.
- Bake the Pizza: Transfer the assembled pizza with parchment paper onto the preheated pizza stone, steel, or baking sheet in the hot oven. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on oven heat. Check around 15 minutes for a golden crust and melted cheese.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and top with fresh basil leaves. Optionally, sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes for added heat. Slice and serve immediately.
Notes
- Using a pizza stone or steel ensures a crispier crust but a baking sheet works fine if you don’t have one.
- Salt the tomatoes before assembling to reduce excess moisture and concentrate flavor.
- Adjust fresno chile quantity according to your preferred spice level.
- Preheating the oven and pizza stone thoroughly is key to a crispy crust.
- If you prefer a thicker crust, do not roll the dough too thin.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
