HALLOUMI PIZZAS IN A HURRY

I do love a good pizza, particularly my homemade ones. Homemade is always best in my eyes. Proofing pizza dough is all well and good when you have a the time to prepare it but what if you come in after a hard days work and need pizza NOW!!!! Well no need to shout. Grab yourself a packet of puff pastry from out of the freezer and it's simple; defrost said pastry, roll it out, spread over tomato sauce, add toppings of your choice and your done! A yummy twist on pizza in no time at all!

Our old friend liquid smoke makes an appearance again today. If you haven't hunted this out yet please do yourself a favor a buy a couple of bottles online. It adds such an amazing smoky BBQ taste to any tomato based sauce such as a bolognase, chili or in this pizza sauce. It's yummy! 

If you can't find or afford to get some then don't despair, you could still make the sauce zing by adding a tbsp of red wine vinegar for a sharp sweet kick or if you like your booze, a tbsp of red wine. The wine would add a nice punch to the sauce but always remember to use a wine you would be happy to drink.

We love Halloumi in our house and always have a packet sitting in the fridge waiting to be used, hence why it makes an appearance today (an it makes for good alliteration in the title which I love as well!). You don't have to use it, in fact you could put whatever topping you like on this pizza really! If your a veggie then take off the pepperoni. Don't like mozzarella, whack on some other cheese. It's really good for using up what you have in your fridge and is ripe for your own interpretation so get creative.

I'm using my trusty pizza stone again. Gotta love a crispy base. If you haven't got one (and you really should!) then you can use a baking tray instead although you might need to make two little ones depending on the size of your tray.

Anyway this is supposed to be pizza in a hurry so less waffle, let's crack on with the recipe:

Halloumi Puff Pastry Pizza

1 Large Chopped Onion

2 Grated Garlic Cloves

1 Tbsp Golden Caster Sugar

1 Tbsp Liquid Smoke (Optional)

400g Tin Chopped Tomatoes

2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
1 Tbsp Chili Flakes
Salt And Pepper To Season

375g Defrosted Puff Pastry

12 Slices Pepperoni

125g Mozzarella Pearls

250g Halloumi, Cut Into Cubes

Handfull Fresh Basil Leaves

Handfull Rocket 

1. Start by turning your oven up to full whack and stick in your pizza stone if using to start it warming up. If you have more time then stick this in about 1 hour before you start for added hotness.
2. In a lightly oiled pan, add in the onions, garlic and sugar and fry until the onions are beginning to soften.
3. Next, add in the liquid smoke if using, tinned tomatoes, tomato paste, chili flakes and season with the salt and pepper. Mix before bringing to the boil. Reduce to a simmer and leave covered for around 25 minutes to allow the sauce to reduce and thicken. Once done, remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
4. Reduce your oven temperature to 200 degrees (180 fan) and on a large floured piece of greaseproof paper and roll out the pastry to the size of your pizza stone or baking trays.
5. Spread over the tomato/onion sauce leaving a small gap from the edge of the pastry. Evenly distribute your pepperoni, mozzarella and halloumi over the top. 
6. Transfer the pizza onto your pizza stone or baking trays and fold over any hanging pastry  to form a large crust. Place in the oven and bake for around 25-30 minutes until the halloumi has browned and the crust has puffed up and gone golden.
7. Remove from the oven and scatter oven the basil leaves and rocket.

And without that long proofing time your pizza is done. Let it cool slightly as it will be molten hot and burn the roof of your mouth off (I learnt this the hard way, trust me!). Cut into slices, plop in the centre of the table and let everyone dig in. Remember to prepare your pizza dips as well for those flaky crust and make sure you haven't got your best on, that flaky puff pastry will go everywhere.

So hurry hurry hurry now, quick quick quick into that kitchen and get that pizza on.