Puff Pastry Pizzettes

Puff pastry pizzettes are a delicious and very simple snack to prepare, ideal for aperitifs or as an appetizer in a buffet. They are a quick variant of pizza, with an all-Italian touch even though with a French base of puff pastry. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 roll of ready-made rectangular puff pastry
• 200 g tomato passata
• 150 g pizza mozzarella or other melting cheese
• Dried oregano to taste
• Salt to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• A pinch of sugar
• Fresh basil (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C (180 °C if fan-assisted).
2. Roll out the puff pastry and cut out small rounds using a cookie cutter or a glass.
3. Place the puff pastry rounds on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
4. In a small bowl, season the tomato passata with a drizzle of oil, a pinch of sugar, salt, and oregano to taste. Mix well.
5. Spread a spoonful of seasoned passata on each puff pastry round, leaving a small border free.
6. Dice the mozzarella or cheese and distribute it evenly over the pizzettes.
7. Bake the puff pastry pizzettes for about 15-20 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden and crisp.
8. Remove the pizzettes from the oven and, if desired, add a few fresh basil leaves before serving.

Trivia

Although puff pastry is generally associated with French cuisine, in Italy it is often used in various ways in the preparation of appetizers and savory pastries. Puff pastry pizzettes are an example of how the versatility of this ingredient can harmonize perfectly with the classic flavors of Italian pizza.