Description
These Upside Down Puff Pastry Pizza Tarts are a clever twist on classic pizza, featuring a crispy puff pastry base encasing a flavorful blend of pepperoni, garlic, pizza sauce, and mozzarella. Topped with parmesan, fresh basil, and a drizzle of sweet chilli jam, these tarts make a delicious, easy-to-make appetizer or snack perfect for parties or a quick lunch.
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
- A handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sweet chilli jam
Pastry & Topping
- 1 sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Tray: Heat your oven to 200C/400F fan and line an oven tray with baking paper.
- Arrange Pepperoni and Garlic: Divide the pepperoni into six piles (three slices each) and place them evenly on the tray. Scatter one crushed garlic clove on top of each pepperoni pile.
- Prepare Sauce: If using tinned crushed tomatoes, mix them with 1 teaspoon salt and a good grind of black pepper to season. Spoon the pizza sauce or prepared crushed tomatoes evenly over each pepperoni and garlic pile.
- Add Cheese: Scatter grated mozzarella over each portion of sauce on the tray.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Unwrap the puff pastry sheet and slice it into six equal rectangles, making sure each piece can cover and encase the filling completely.
- Assemble Tarts: Place a pastry rectangle over each arranged filling pile and use your fingers to press down and seal the edges, fully enclosing the filling.
- Apply Egg Wash and Parmesan: Whisk the egg in a small bowl, then use a pastry brush to coat the top of the pastry tarts. Sprinkle grated parmesan all over the pastry surfaces.
- Bake: Transfer the tray to the oven and bake for 20 minutes until the tarts are deeply golden and crispy.
- Flip and Garnish: Carefully remove tarts from the oven and use a spatula to flip each tart upside down so the filling is on top. Drizzle sweet chilli jam on each tart and scatter chopped fresh basil over them.
- Serve: Enjoy the tarts immediately while still crispy, gooey, and warm.
Notes
- Using crushed or confit garlic adds rich flavor—confit garlic is milder and less pungent.
- Ensure to seal the puff pastry edges tightly to prevent filling from leaking during baking.
- Flipping the tarts after baking keeps the pastry crisp and prevents sogginess.
- Sweet chilli jam adds a subtle sweetness and a slight kick that complements the savory toppings.
- For extra crispiness, use a fan oven set to 200C or 400F.
- These tarts can be served as a party snack, appetizer, or light lunch option.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tart
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
