Let’s go to Hawaii! Did you ever want summer in winter? I did. But since that is not always possible, except when you travel to a warm and sunny place, you can make yourself feel like on a sandy beach. You can feel Hawaii for example, but still being at home. Do you see the connection to Hawaii – food? Yesss, it’s time for pizza Hawaii!
Pizza Hawaii takes you instantly to a happy place. Moreover, not only the name but also the sweet pineapple takes you to an exotic place. I bet you all ate or at least heard of pizza Hawaii. I admit it is not a classic pizza and not everyone likes it but I think that fruity sweetness goes perfectly with the tomatoes and ham. However, there are “bolder” combinations of pizza toppings than pineapple and tomato.
Pizza Hawaii is simple, delicious and full of flavours. I love the combination of tomatoes, ham and sweet pineapple. It is simply the best. And let’s not forget the cheese! Cheese makes every dish richer and let’s admit it, more flavourful. Don’t you think so? I used mozzarella and some grated cheese.
What makes this recipe even more special is the dough made from scratch. Once you mastered it, found the right amounts and right ingredients, it will all be easy. You can check my other pizza recipes as well. Moreover, I used fresh pineapple. I find it more flavourful than the one from the can.
When I make pizza at home the day becomes a special day. Just like when I was little and my mum made pizza. However, back then the pizza dough was 2-3 cm high. So old school. He he he. I like the dough to be thin and with a crispy crust.
Ingredients for one ca Ø 50 cm big pizza Hawaii:
- 80 ml water (lukewarm)
- 80 ml milk (room temperature)
- 7 g fresh yeast
- 50 g polenta
- 3 pinches of salt
- a pinch of sugar
- 230 g flour (and some for dusting)
- ½ pineapple (fresh)
- 1 garlic clove
- oregano
- tomato sauce
- 4 – 5 slices of ham (prosciutto cotto)
- ca 8 mini mozzarellas
- a handful grated cheese
Since the dough needs to rest, let’s first make that. In a large bowl, mix water, milk and sugar. Then add the crumbled yeast and mix it on low speed with a hand mixer (having the hooks attached). The sugar will activate the yeast. Once it dissolves and becomes frothy, add the salt and polenta. Polenta will give that extra crunchy texture.
Next, sift in the flour (a little at a time) and mix until elastic and a little sticky. Then, dust the dough with some flour by keeping it still in the bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and put in a draft-free corner to rest for about 1 hour.
In the meantime, prepare the tomato sauce and cut the pineapple. I don’t know about you, but I love garlic. And guess what; I used garlic despite the pineapple. Chop the garlic in tiny pieces and put it in a pan drizzled with some olive oil. Sauté it for a minute and then add the tomato sauce and oregano. Cook for a couple of minutes and set aside. Cut the pineapple in half (crosswise), peel it and cut into about 0,5 cm thick round slices. I cut out the hard part in the middle.
When the dough has doubled or tripled its size you may preheat the oven to the maximum. If your oven’s capacity is 250º C like mine, that’s ok. Keep the pizza stone (that I am going to get) or the baking sheet you are going to use in the oven as well in order to give your pizza dough a lovely crust.
Place a parchment paper on your working surface, dust with some flour and lay the dough on it. Roll it out or simply use your palms to form the pizza shape you like. Since the dough is very soft, it’s going to be easy to manage it and make it really thin. Try to make it up to 5mm thin, leaving the border a little bit thicker (8mm).
When you have your oval, round or rectangle pizza, spread the tomato sauce on it and lay the ham slices on top. The pizza needs around 20 minutes to bake. I added the pineapple and cheese after 10 minutes of baking time. I didn’t want the pineapple to release too much juice and make the dough soggy.
Furthermore, carefully take the baking sheet out of the oven, quickly and carefully drag the parchment paper with the pizza on it. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes add the pineapple slices, mini mozzarellas and grated cheese. When adding those try to be quick or simply take the pizza out of the oven and close the oven door to keep the high temperature. Put to bake for another 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
You are going to love this pizza Hawaii. Place the pizza on a cutting board and cut into pieces. I also added some black Hawaiian salt at the end. Don’t you love that melted, still bubbly cheese and the steamy pineapple? Like I said, simply the best!
Enjoy!
Your opinion matters:
If you like the recipe, if you make the recipe or if you have any new ideas how to improve or change it, let me know in the comments section below or alternatively share your photos and reactions with me on Instagram (@Passionspoon), Facebook or Twitter (@PassionSpoon1). Simply use the hashtag #passionspoonrecipes in your posts. I would love to see them! (wink)
