Categories: Recipe Inspiration

Simple, Smokey, and Spicy Pizza Appetizers You can Easily Cook

Whether it’s a cozy dinner with your small group of friends or a formal cocktail party, pizza appetizers are a great crowd puller. There are many varieties of mini pizzas that you can easily make at home.

The last thing you want to do, when you are hosting a party, is to slave around the kitchen the whole day, therefore, making pizza appetizers is a great option, as they are very easy and quick to make, and are also a great hit with kids.

Mini Pizza Topped with Smoked Salmon

Ingredients

Wonton wrappers, 12
Gorgonzola, ½ cup
Smoked salmon, 4 slices
Gherkins, 1 tbsp. (finely chopped)
Capers, 1 tbsp. (finely diced)
Medium-sized red shallots, 2 (finely chopped)
Spring onions, 2 tbsp. (finely chopped)
Lemon zest, 1 tsp.
Chives, 1 tbsp. (finely chopped)
Cooking spray

Method
Arrange the wonton sheets on a baking tray and coat them with cooking spray. Bake it in oven at 350ºC for about 4 – 5 minutes, until crisp. In a small bowl, combine the Gorgonzola with chopped red shallots, lemon zest, capers, gherkins, and spring onions. Mix them thoroughly. Cut the smoked salmon into 12 equal portions. On the crisp wonton wrapper, spread a spoonful of the gorgonzola mixture and top it with a piece of smoked salmon. Garnish this with a sprinkling of chives.

Mini Pizza Topped with Olives and Arugula

Ingredients

Baby tomatoes, 1 cup (diced)
Kalamata olives, ¼ cup (sliced)
Baby arugula, 1 cup
Frozen thin crust pastry, 1
Olive oil, 4 tbsp.
Lime juice, 2 tbsp.
Red chili, 1 (unseeded and minced fine)
Garlic, 2 garlic (minced)

Method
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, red chili, and garlic. Add this mixture over diced cherry tomatoes and baby arugula. Bake a frozen thin-crust pizza in the oven for 10 minutes. When the pizza crust is firm, remove it from the oven and let it cool down. Arrange the tomato and baby arugula mixture over the pizza crust and bake it for another 3 – 4 minutes. Top the pizza with sliced Kalamata olives. Cut the pizza into bite sized pieces and arrange in a platter.

Potato Pizza Appetizer

Ingredients

Medium-sized russet potatoes, 2
Minced meat, 1 cup
Spring onions, 2 tbsp. (finely chopped)
Pizza sauce, 1 cup
Mozzarella cheese, 1½ cups (grated)
Extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp.
Salt to taste
Pepper, ½ tbsp.

Method
In a cooking pan, fry the minced meat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, until it turns brown. When the meat is properly cooked, add spring onions and pizza sauce. Let this mixture simmer in low heat for 4 – 5 minutes. Remove from flame and let the mixture cool down to room temperature.

Cut the potatoes into ¼ inch thick slices. In an oven-proof dish, arrange the potato slices in a single layer. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and add freshly ground pepper and salt. Now bake this in a moderately hot oven for 10 – 15 minutes, until the edges of the potatoes becomes brown. Remove from oven and gently place each potato slice on a platter. Carefully put a spoonful of minced meat mixture on the potato slices. Add grated mozzarella cheese on top and your pizza.

Prosciutto and Feta Cheese Pizza

Ingredients

Pizza dough, 200 gm.
Feta cheese, ½ cup
Prosciutto, ½ cup (sliced)
Extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp.
Fresh basil, 2 tbsp.
Olives, 2 tbsp. (diced)

Method
To the pizza dough, add olive oil and feta cheese, and mix well. Roll out the dough making sure that it is 1 inch thick. Bake it in an oven for 8 – 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and then add sliced prosciutto, olives, and a handful of basil. Bake it for another 2 – 3 minutes. Cut the pizza appetizer into small bite sized pieces with a pizza cutter and serve.

Keep the portion of your appetizers small or your guests will be too full to enjoy the main course. Pizza appetizers are visually appealing and also delicious. The most wonderful thing about them is that it can be prepared in advance and you only need to reheat them before serving.