Ingredients
1garlic head,small, halved crosswise
2tspextra virgin olive oil
6tbspbutter,unsalted, melted
Nonstick cooking spray
all purpose flour,for dusting
1tubepizza dough
¾cupmozzarella cheese,shredded, divided, (75 g)
8pepperoni,slices
½cuppizza sauce,divided, (130 g)
1tbspparmesan cheese,grated
¼lbground italian sausage,cooked, (105 g)
2tbspgreen bell pepper,finely diced
2tbspyellow onion,finely diced
8cherry tomatoes,cut in half
balsamic glaze,store bought, for garnish
1tbspbasil,fresh, sliced, for garnish
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F or 200 degrees C.
Drizzle the halved garlic head with the olive oil and wrap tightly in aluminum foil.
Transfer to the oven to bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until the garlic cloves are golden and tender. Set aside to cool completely.
Squeeze the garlic cloves into a bowl and mash into a paste using a fork. Add the melted butter and stir to combine.
Keep in a warm place until ready to use. If the garlic butter solidifies, microwave for 15 to 20 seconds before using.
Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray.
Unroll the pizza dough onto a lightly floured surface. Cut the dough lengthwise into quarters and crosswise into thirds to make 12 squares in total.
Gently shape each piece of dough into a circle and place into a prepared muffin tin.
Press the dough gently against the sides and bottom. Brush each dough cup with the roasted garlic butter.
To 4 of the dough cups, add 1 tablespoon of shredded mozzarella and 2 slices of pepperoni. Top with 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce and a sprinkle of grated parmesan to create mini Chicago-style deep-dish pizzas.
To another 4 dough cups, add 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce, 1 tablespoon of Italian sausage, ½ tablespoon of diced green pepper, and ½ tablespoon of diced onion. Finish with 1 tablespoon of shredded mozzarella to create mini Italian sausage and pepper deep-dish pizzas.
To the remaining 4 dough cups, add 4 cherry tomato halves and 1 tablespoon of shredded mozzarella on each to create mini caprese deep dish pizzas.
Transfer the pizzas to the oven to bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
Drizzle the caprese pizzas with balsamic glaze and garnish with the basil.
Serve warm and enjoy!
