Anchovy, Chilli & Caper Pizza Recipe

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This Anchovy, Chilli & Caper Pizza is a salty and spicy recipe, which is made with high-quality anchovies and briny capers. It’s a classic, foolproof recipe, a bold and flavorful pizza for true anchovy lovers, ready in about 15 minutes after the dough is prepped.

Anchovy, Chilli & Caper Pizza Ingredients

A classic Italian combination for a powerfully flavorful pizza.

For the Pizza Base:

1 ball of basic pizza dough
3 tablespoons tomato sauce

For the Topping:

4 good-quality anchovy fillets in olive oil
½ a fresh red chilli, thinly sliced
1 heaped teaspoon small capers, rinsed if salty
50g (1.8oz) fresh mozzarella or buffalo mozzarella, torn
1 tablespoon finely sliced fresh flat-leaf parsley
Zest and juice of ½ a lemon
Extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

How To Make Anchovy, Chilli & Caper Pizza

A step-by-step guide to this classic and intensely savory pizza.

Prep Oven and Dough: Preheat your oven to its highest setting (250°C/500°F/gas 9), with a pizza stone or heavy baking tray inside. On a floured surface, roll or stretch your pizza dough out into a thin circle.
Marinate the Toppings: Cut the anchovy fillets in half lengthwise and place them in a small bowl. Add the sliced chilli, the rinsed capers, a couple of tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and the lemon zest. Squeeze in a little lemon juice, mix gently, and let the mixture marinate for about 15 minutes.
Assemble the Pizza: Place the pizza base on a piece of floured parchment paper or a pizza peel. Smear the tomato sauce evenly over the base, leaving a small border for the crust. Scatter the torn-up pieces of mozzarella over the top.
Add Toppings and Bake: Evenly lay over the marinated anchovy fillets. Scatter over the capers and chilli slices from the marinade. Sprinkle with a little fresh parsley and a pinch of black pepper. Drizzle with the flavorful marinating oil.
Bake and Serve: Carefully slide the pizza onto the hot stone or tray and bake for 7 to 10 minutes, until the crust is golden and crispy and the cheese is bubbly. Serve immediately.

Recipe Tips

For the most authentic and perfectly balanced anchovy pizza.

How to get a crispy pizza crust? The secret is intense heat from below. Preheat your pizza stone or a heavy, overturned baking tray inside the oven at its absolute highest temperature for at least 30-45 minutes. Launching your pizza onto this screaming-hot surface is what gives you that classic, crisp base.
Why marinate the anchovies? Letting the anchovies sit in the olive oil with the chilli, lemon, and capers for a few minutes helps to meld all the flavors together and creates a delicious, infused oil to drizzle over the pizza before baking.
What are the best anchovies to use? As the recipe notes, for a pizza where anchovy is the star, it’s worth seeking out high-quality, oil-packed anchovy fillets. They will have a much better flavor and a firmer, less “mushy” texture than cheaper varieties.
Can I make this ahead of time? This pizza is at its best when served hot and fresh from the oven. You can have all your toppings, including the marinade, prepped and ready to go, which makes the final assembly take only a couple of minutes.

What To Serve With Anchovy, Chilli & Caper Pizza

Simple sides to complement this bold and savory pizza.

This powerful, flavorful pizza is a classic on its own. It pairs wonderfully with:

A simple, crisp arugula or green salad with a sharp lemon vinaigrette
A cold, crisp Italian lager beer like a Peroni or Moretti
A glass of a dry, mineral-y white wine

How To Store Leftover Pizza

Keeping your pizza delicious for another day.

Refrigerate: Store any leftover pizza slices, once completely cooled, in an airtight container or wrapped in foil in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: For the best results and to re-crisp the crust, reheat the pizza in a hot, dry frying pan for a few minutes per side, or directly on the rack in a hot oven for 5-7 minutes.

Anchovy, Chilli & Caper Pizza Nutrition Facts

An estimated guide per serving (½ of the pizza).

Calories: 600 kcal
Carbohydrates: 80 g
Protein: 22 g
Fat: 20 g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Is this pizza very salty?

Yes, this is a pizza for lovers of salty, savory flavors! The anchovies and capers are both inherently salty. If you are sensitive to salt, make sure to rinse your capers well and you can use slightly fewer anchovies.

How can I control the spice level?

The heat comes from the fresh red chilli. For a milder flavor, make sure you remove all the white seeds and membranes from inside the chilli before you slice it. For a bigger kick, leave some of the seeds in.

Can I use a different kind of cheese?

Yes. While mozzarella is classic, this pizza would also be delicious without any cheese at all, which is a very traditional Neapolitan style (Pizza Napoli). A few shavings of salty Pecorino after baking would also be a great addition.

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Grape, Rosemary & Ricotta Pizza Recipe
Egg, Prosciutto & Artichoke Pizza Recipe
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