SHRIMP & PESTO PIZZETTES APPETIZER


A delicious appetizer to serve at your next gathering, Shrimp and Pesto Pizzettes! These bite-sized snacks are easy to make, packed with flavor, and sure to be a hit with your guests. To make these tasty treats, you’ll need some basic ingredients including extra virgin olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, shredded mozzarella cheese, cooked and butterflied extra large shrimp, prepared pesto, and pizza dough. You can easily find these items at your local grocery store or market.


To start, preheat your oven to 400°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or foil. Next, combine olive oil, grated garlic, and red pepper flakes into a small mason jar and shake until well combined. Then, lightly sprinkle some flour on a solid surface and roll out your pizza dough to about a 1/4-inch thick. Using a 2 1/2-inch diameter round cookie cutter, cut approximately 24 dough rounds. Place these dough rounds on the baking sheets and brush them with the olive oil mixture.

Shrimp & Pesto Pizzettes APPETIZER


PREP TIME: 15 minutes
cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2 dozen

Ingredients:


¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 large garlic clove, finely grated

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 lb extra large shrimp (cooked, peeled, deveined, tail off, and butterflied) - if frozen, thaw and pat dry

¼ cup prepared pesto (add more if desired)

1 16 oz (1lb) ball of prepared pizza dough

Instructions:


  • Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or foil and set them aside.
  • Prepare Olive Oil Mixture: In a small mason jar, combine the extra virgin olive oil, grated garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes. Shake the jar until the ingredients are well combined. Set aside.
  • Roll Out Dough: Lightly sprinkle all-purpose flour on a solid surface. Roll out the pizza dough to about 1/4-inch thick. Using a 2 1/2-inch diameter round cookie cutter, cut approximately 24 dough rounds. Place the dough rounds on the prepared baking sheets.
  • Assemble Pizzettes: Brush each dough round with the olive oil mixture. Then, sprinkle a small amount of mozzarella cheese on each round. Add one butterflied shrimp on top of the cheese. Lightly brush the shrimp with the olive oil mixture. Sprinkle a bit more cheese on top of the shrimp, and finish each pizzette with a small dab of pesto, dividing the toppings equally among the rounds.
  • Bake: Bake the shrimp pizzettes in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.
  • Serve: Arrange the cooked pizzettes on a serving platter and enjoy!

Recipe Notes:

  • Pre-Bake Option: For a more crisp crust, you can pre-bake the dough rounds for 3-5 minutes before adding the toppings and proceeding with baking as directed.

If you want a more crisp crust, you can pre-bake the dough rounds for 3-5 minutes before adding the toppings. Once the dough is ready, you can start assembling your pizzettes. Sprinkle each round with a bit of mozzarella cheese, add one butterflied shrimp, brush the shrimp with the olive oil mixture, sprinkle a bit more cheese on top of the shrimp, and finish with a small dab of pesto. Bake your shrimp pizzettes until they’re golden brown, which should take around 10-15 minutes. Once they’re done, arrange them on a serving platter and enjoy with your guests.


These shrimp pesto pizzettes are a great option for any occasion, whether it’s a dinner party, potluck, or even a casual get-together with friends. They’re easy to make, and you can customize them by using different types of pesto or adding other toppings like cherry tomatoes or olives. So next time you’re looking for a tasty appetizer, give this recipe a try and see for yourself how amazing they can be!


Recipe: Homemade Pizza Dough