Description
These Pear Gorgonzola Pickled Walnut Pizzettes are delightful mini pizzas featuring a crisp pizza dough base topped with sweet ripe pear slices, tangy Gorgonzola cheese, and crunchy pickled walnuts. Enhanced with fresh thyme, black pepper, and a drizzle of honey, these pizzettes offer a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors, ideal as a sophisticated appetizer or light snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base
- 8.8 oz pizza dough, store-bought or homemade
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Toppings
- 1 large ripe pear, thinly sliced
- 3.5 oz Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
- 6 pickled walnuts, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon honey, optional for drizzling
- Fresh arugula leaves, optional
Instructions
- Prepare oven and baking surface: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.
- Shape dough rounds: Roll out the pizza dough to approximately 0.2 inch thickness. Use a 2.75 inch round cutter to cut out 12 circles and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking tray.
- Oil the base: Lightly brush each dough round with olive oil to help the crust crisp and add flavor.
- Assemble toppings: Evenly arrange thin slices of pear over each pizzette. Sprinkle crumbled Gorgonzola cheese on top, followed by sliced pickled walnuts. Finish by sprinkling fresh thyme leaves and freshly ground black pepper over each.
- Bake pizzettes: Place the baking tray in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges of the dough turn golden and crisp and the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Finish and serve: Remove the pizzettes from the oven. Optionally drizzle with honey for a touch of sweetness and top with fresh arugula leaves to add freshness and color. Serve warm for the best flavor experience.
Notes
- Use a ripe but firm pear to maintain texture when baked.
- If you don’t have a round cutter, a small glass can be used to cut the dough circles.
- Pickled walnuts add a unique tangy crunch—substitute with regular walnuts if unavailable but note flavor differences.
- Honey drizzle is optional but enhances the sweet-savory balance.
- Fresh arugula adds a peppery note; omit if preferred.
- These pizzettes are best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated gently in the oven.
