Can I make the pizza canapé dough the day before?

Yes, and you should. The dough is made the day before and given an overnight cold proof in the fridge, which develops flavour and makes it easier to handle. The truffle béchamel can also be made ahead, cooled and chilled.

How hot does Charlie need to be for mini pizzas?

Heat Charlie to 350 to 400°C (660 to 750°F) using a whole football of lumpwood charcoal, with the pizza stone on the upper rack. Put the stone in from cold so it heats with the oven, then the canapés bake in about 3 minutes.

What can I use instead of Tunworth cheese?

Baron Bigod or any good Brie-style cheese works well in place of Tunworth. Slice it thinly and keep the toppings light so the mini pizzas cook quickly and the bases stay crisp.

How many pizza canapés does this recipe make?

The dough makes 12 mini pizzas from balls of about 30g each, enough for 4 to 6 people as a canapé. Finish each one with fresh thyme and shavings of black truffle just before serving for the best aroma.

Outdoor Cooking & Charcoal Oven Recipes / Bake

Pizza Canapés with Truffle, Serrano Ham and Tunworth

Name: Pizza Canapés with Truffle, Serrano Ham and Tunworth
Prep time: 8 h
Cook time: 3 min
Yield: 4 to 6 (12 mini pizzas)
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 250g strong bread flour; 112g water; 3.5g dried yeast; 150ml warm water; 6g salt; 25g butter; 25g flour (for béchamel); 250ml whole milk; 1 tsp truffle oil; 25g Parmesan, grated; 50g sliced Serrano ham; 100g Tunworth or Brie-style cheese, sliced; 25ml extra virgin olive oil; Half tsp thyme leaves; 1 black truffle, about 50g (for finishing)

Little pizzas with black truffle béchamel, Tunworth and Serrano ham. Chris Mackett made these at our Festive Masterclass, baking them quickly on Charlie's pizza stone. Rich toppings on small bases. One is a useful starting point.

Chris MackettChef, former Head Development Chef at The Hand and Flowers

Bake

Prep8 hours plus overnight proving

Cook3 minutes

Serves4 to 6 (12 mini pizzas)

DifficultyEasy

Method

Day before: Add warm water to a jug with dried yeast, stir, and leave for 15 minutes. Combine flour, yeasted water, and remaining water by hand. Knead until smooth, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
Make the béchamel: Warm the milk, melt butter in a separate pan, stir in flour and cook 3 minutes. Gradually add warm milk, stirring until smooth. Cook on low for 15 minutes, then stir in Parmesan, pepper, and truffle oil. Cool and refrigerate.
On the day: Heat Charlie with a pizza stone on the upper rack to 350 to 400°C (660 to 750°F). Ensure the stone heats from cold inside the oven.
Tip the dough onto a floured surface and knock back. Divide into 12 balls of about 30g each, then press or roll into mini pizza rounds.
Spread a spoonful of truffle béchamel on each base. Top with slices of Tunworth cheese and torn Serrano ham. Divide the listed 25ml olive oil across all 12 mini pizzas as a finishing drizzle.
Slide the mini pizzas onto the hot stone and bake for about 3 minutes until puffed and blistered. Finish with fresh thyme leaves and shavings of black truffle.

More recipes

The cook

Chris Mackett

Chef, former Head Development Chef at The Hand and Flowers

Chris Mackett is the former Head Development Chef at The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, the famous pub with two Michelin stars. He spent 16 years working with Tom Kerridge.

More recipes by Chris Mackett

Frequently asked questions

Can I make the pizza canapé dough the day before?

Yes, and you should. The dough is made the day before and given an overnight cold proof in the fridge, which develops flavour and makes it easier to handle. The truffle béchamel can also be made ahead, cooled and chilled.
How hot does Charlie need to be for mini pizzas?

Heat Charlie to 350 to 400°C (660 to 750°F) using a whole football of lumpwood charcoal, with the pizza stone on the upper rack. Put the stone in from cold so it heats with the oven, then the canapés bake in about 3 minutes.
What can I use instead of Tunworth cheese?

Baron Bigod or any good Brie-style cheese works well in place of Tunworth. Slice it thinly and keep the toppings light so the mini pizzas cook quickly and the bases stay crisp.
How many pizza canapés does this recipe make?

The dough makes 12 mini pizzas from balls of about 30g each, enough for 4 to 6 people as a canapé. Finish each one with fresh thyme and shavings of black truffle just before serving for the best aroma.