Don Pepino Pizzas Sauce Hidden Treasure Pizza: A Merry Kitchen Mistake!
My mistake turned into a culinary treasure! If you have spent any time in the kitchen, you know that some of the best recipes happen completely by accident. That was certainly the case with Don Pepino’s Hidden Treasure Pizza, my pizza entry for the Don Pepino Pizzeria Blogger Recipe Challenge!
While setting up my cameras to shoot an Antipasto Pizza, (the original name) I got distracted by lighting and angles and completely messed up my assembly plan. Instead of artfully displaying the colorful green olives, kalamata olives, artichokes, roasted red peppers, and sliced Fresno peppers on top of the cheese, I layered them straight onto the Don Pepino Pizza Sauce, topped them with Calabrese salami, and buried everything under a solid layer of shredded mozzarella.
When I pulled the pizza out of the oven, it looked like a standard plain cheese pizza. There was no contrasting color, no visible toppings—just golden, melted cheese. Yes, still yummy but not the showpiece I wanted.
I was ready to start over, but then I took a bite. It was pure genius.
The antipasto ingredients were sealed beneath the salami and cheese while being smothered in pizza sauce, locking in every bit of moisture and flavor without drying out or burning. The rich, vine-ripened tomato base of Don Pepino Pizza Sauce tied all the bold, briny, and spicy notes together in a way that wouldn’t have happened if the toppings were exposed on top.
It just goes to show: sometimes mistakes are simply treasures in disguise!
Thanks so much to Don Pepino Pizza Sauce for delivering just an easy to make (with no mistake) & tasty pizza!
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Don Pepino’s Hidden Treasure Pizza
Prep time: 10 minutes
Bake time: 10–12 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients
1 (9 to 10-inch) prepared artisan pizza crust
1 (14.05 oz) can Don Pepino Pizza Sauce (divided)
2 tbsp jarred green olives, chopped
2 tbsp jarred kalamata olives, chopped
2 tbsp jarred roasted red pepper, chopped
2 tbsp jarred marinated artichokes, chopped
2 tbsp jarred pepperoncini, chopped
1 tbsp jarred Fresno peppers, thinly sliced
1 tbsp fresh basil, finely minced
2 oz sliced Calabrese salami (enough to cover the pizza)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Garnish: Extra grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil chiffonade
Instructions
Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F (or according to package directions). Place a pizza pan or baking sheet into the oven 7 minutes prior to baking to heat up.
Sauce the Base: Place the pizza crust on a flat surface or sheet of parchment paper. Spread about ½ can of Don Pepino Pizza Sauce evenly across the crust, leaving a 1-inch border. Set the remaining sauce aside for serving.
Mix the Treasure Layer: In a medium bowl, combine the green olives, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, artichokes, pepperoncini, Fresno peppers, and minced basil. Spread the mixture evenly over the sauce.
Layer & Cover: Cover the entire antipasto layer with Calabrese salami slices. Top generously with the shredded mozzarella and ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
Bake: Open the oven door, carefully drizzle the olive oil into the center of the preheated baking pan, and slide the pizza directly onto the hot pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
Garnish & Serve: Allow the pizza to cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with additional fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese. Slice and serve with the remaining warm Don Pepino Pizza Sauce on the side for dipping!
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