These adorable Heart Shaped Pizza Sandwiches are deliciously seasoned and made with freshly grated cheese, roasted tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil. They’re perfect for a romantic date night or a fun Valentine’s Day meal for the family!
While I’d love to take credit for the heart shaped pizza recipe, the hat tip goes to the marvelously talented and lovely Giada De Laurentiis. Clarkson Potter sent me her cookbook, Giada’s Italy: My Recipes for La Dolce Vita, with this recipe she calls Positano Pizzas. They must remind her of the Amalfi Coast!
Since I’ve never been to Italy and focus on US travel, I’m just calling them what they look like—heart-shape pizzas.
And this Valentine’s Day pizza recipe is sublime! It’s also super easy to make and will delight everyone with its heart-shaped pizza adorableness!
So cute, right?
Why We Love This Recipe
- Flavorful and Versatile: It offers a delightful combination of flavors, from the roasted cherry tomatoes and garlic to the richness of the cheeses, creating a burst of deliciousness. The heart shape is also perfect for special occasions like Valentine’s Day.
- Ease of Preparation: Store-bought pizza dough eliminates the hassle of making dough from scratch. The simple, accessible ingredients make this recipe approachable for everyone.
Key Ingredients
- Pizza dough: Forms the base and structure of the yummy pizza sandwich.
- Cherry tomatoes: Adds freshness, sweetness, and flavor.
- Olive oil: Used for roasting the cherry tomatoes and adding richness to the dish.
- Kosher salt: Enhances the flavor of the tomatoes and other ingredients.
- Garlic: Infuses a subtle garlic flavor into the dish when roasted with tomatoes.
- Basil: Adds aromatic and herbal notes to the pizza.
- All-purpose flour: Prevents the pizza dough from sticking and makes it easier to handle.
- Mozzarella cheese: Provides gooey and melty texture with a mild flavor.
- Parmigiano-Reggiano: Adds a nutty and savory taste to the pizza.
- Oregano: Enhances the overall flavor profile.
How to Make Heart Shaped Pizza Sandwiches
Step 1: Place the pizza dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and allow it to rest in a warm place for 1 hour.
Step 2: Pierce each tomato with the tip of a paring knife. On a small rimmed baking sheet, combine the tomatoes, olive oil, salt, garlic, and basil. Toss to coat and roast for 30 minutes or until the tomatoes are beginning to blister. Set aside to cool.
Step 3: On a lightly floured board, use a rolling pin to roll out the pizza dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a cookie cutter or the tip of a sharp knife, cut out six 5-inch hearts and place them on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake the hearts for about 12 minutes or until lightly puffed and beginning to brown. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
Step 4: Split the hearts in half horizontally, as if you were making a sandwich. Divide tomatoes over the bottom halves.
Step 5: Sprinkle the mozzarella over the tomato halves.
Step 6: Sprinkle on the Parmigiana-Reggiano cheese.
Step 7: Replace the tops and brush them with extra-virgin olive oil. Sprinkle each heart pizza top with oregano.
Step 8: Bake for 5 minutes until cheese is melted and tops are golden brown.
Step 9: Serve warm and drizzle on additional olive oil, if desired, before serving.
Thanks, Giada! This is a killer recipe.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
Heart Shaped Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce ball store-bought pizza dough
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 garlic cloves smashed and peeled
- 2 fresh basil sprigs
- all-purpose flour for dusting
- ½ cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Place the pizza dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and allow it to rest in a warm place for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Pierce each tomato with the tip of a paring knife. On a small rimmed baking sheet, combine the tomatoes, olive oil, salt, garlic and basil. Toss to coat and roast for 30 minutes, or until the tomatoes are beginning to blister. Set aside to cool.
- Raise the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.
- On a lightly floured board, use a rolling pin to roll out the pizza dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a cookie cutter or the tip of a sharp knife, cut out six 5-inch hearts and place them on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake the hearts for about 12 minutes, or until lightly puffed and beginning to brown. Remove from the oven and cool slightly. Split the hearts in half horizontally, as if you were making a sandwich. Divide the mozzarella and tomatoes over the bottom halves and sprinkle evenly with the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Replace the tops and brush with extra-virgin olive oil. Sprinkle each heart with oregano.
- Bake for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tops are golden. Serve warm, drizzled with more extra-virgin olive oil, if desired.
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