Mini Pizzas with Olives, Cheese and Tomatoes; Zeytinli Mini Pizza
By Ozlem Warren - http://ozlemsturkishtable.com/
Ozlem: 'I love the savory pastries, pogacas and these little melt-in-the-mouth mini pizzas with various fillings sold in bakeries, firin and patisseries, pastanes, in Turkey. We Turks love them for breakfast as well as for a morning or afternoon snack with cup of tea, cay; such a delicious treat. They are easy to make at home and a real crowd pleaser, hope you enjoy them - afiyet olsun'
Serves: 35 mini pizzas
- 375 gr/ 3 cups all-purpose plain flour
- 7gr dry yeast (1 sachet)
- 5 ml/ 1 tsp. salt
- 10 ml/ 2 tsp. sugar
- 240 ml / 8 fl. oz. / 1 cup warm milk
- 15 ml/ 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 50 gr / 2 oz. butter, melted
- For the filling:
- 3 small tomatoes, deseeded and finely chopped
- Handful - about 15- green and black olives, roughly chopped
- 200 gr / 7 oz. / 2 cups grated mozzarella or cheddar cheese
- 15 ml / 1 tbsp. olive oil
- For the topping:
- 1 egg, beaten
Combine the warm milk, sugar and dry yeast in a small bowl and mix well. Let it stand for 5 minutes so that it gets foamy.
Stir in the flour and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Add the melted butter and slowly pour in the milk & yeast mixture.
Knead well with your hands for a few minutes, until the dough comes together. Have a drizzle (about 1 tbsp.) of olive oil in your hands if the dough gets too sticky; knead and shape the dough like a ball.
Place the dough in the large bowl and cover with a cling film and a tea towel. Let it rise in a warm place for 45-60 minutes or until doubled in size.
Prepare the filling while the dough is rising. Deseed the tomatoes and olives and chop finely. Place them in a medium sized bowl and stir in the grated cheese and olive oil. Combine and mix well. Set the filling aside.
Once the dough has risen, punch down and divide 3 equal pieces and roll into balls.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out each of the ball of dough with a rolling pin into thin flat rounds in ⅓ cm (0.14”) width. Using a round mold or round glass of 8 cm/3” in diameter, cut the flat dough into circles. Repeat until all the dough is used.
Line baking parchment paper on your baking tray and place the dough circles on it. Using your finger, make a little dent in the middle of each dough circle.
Place a dessert spoonful of filling in each dough circle (in and around the dent).
Brush the pastries with the beaten egg and bake in the preheated oven (180 C/ 350 F) for 15 minutes or until golden around the edges.
Serve hot immediately. This recipe makes 35 mini pizzas; afiyet olsun!
