Description
These Upside Down Puff Pastry Pizza Tarts combine crispy golden puff pastry with classic pepperoni pizza flavors for a quick and delicious appetizer or snack. Each tart is filled with pepperoni, garlic, pizza sauce, and mozzarella, then baked until golden and topped with parmesan, sweet chili jam, and fresh basil for a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and herbal notes.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 18 slices pepperoni
- 6 garlic cloves, crushed (or use confit garlic)
- 3/4 cup pizza sauce (or crushed tinned tomatoes)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Good grind of black pepper
- 1 cup grated mozzarella
Pastry and Toppings
- 1 sheet ready-rolled puff pastry
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- A handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sweet chilli jam
- 1 egg, for egg wash
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Tray: Heat your oven to 200°C (400°F) fan forced and line an oven tray with baking paper.
- Arrange Pepperoni and Garlic: Divide the pepperoni into six piles (three slices each) evenly spaced on the tray. Scatter one crushed garlic clove over each pile.
- Prepare Sauce: If using crushed tinned tomatoes instead of pizza sauce, mix them with 1 teaspoon salt and a good grind of black pepper to taste.
- Assemble Filling: Spoon pizza sauce or seasoned crushed tomatoes evenly over each pepperoni pile, then sprinkle grated mozzarella on top of each mound.
- Cut and Place Puff Pastry: Unwrap the puff pastry and cut it into six equal rectangles sized to cover and encase each filling portion. Place each pastry piece on top of the filling and press down gently around the edges to seal securely.
- Apply Egg Wash and Add Parmesan: Whisk the egg in a small bowl. Using a pastry brush, brush the egg wash over the top of the exposed pastry. Scatter grated parmesan evenly over the pastry tops.
- Bake the Tarts: Transfer the tray(s) to the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the pastry is deeply golden and crispy.
- Flip and Garnish: Remove the tarts carefully from the oven. Using a spatula or fish slice, flip each tart upside down onto a serving plate. Drizzle each with sweet chilli jam and scatter chopped fresh basil over the top.
- Serve Immediately: Enjoy the tarts while they are crispy, oozy, and gooey for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- This upside-down method prevents soggy pastry by sealing the filling underneath, keeping the crust crisp.
- Sweet chilli jam adds a subtle sweet heat that complements the savory pepperoni and cheese perfectly.
- If you don’t have confit garlic, crushed raw garlic works well but can be more pungent; roasting garlic ahead can mellow the flavor.
- You can substitute fresh basil with dried oregano or Italian herbs if desired for a different flavor profile.
- Using ready-rolled puff pastry saves time and effort, but if using frozen, thaw it completely before assembling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tart
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
