Description
Pizza Toast Pockets are a delightful finger food that combines a homemade vegetable-packed pizza sauce with melty buffalo mozzarella, all enclosed in crispy air-fried bread pockets. Perfect for quick snacks or kid-friendly meals, they offer a fun and nutritious alternative to traditional pizza slices.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Sauce
- Drizzle olive oil
- 1 courgette, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup frozen peas
- Large handful spinach leaves
- 2 tbsp tomato puree
- 1 tin (400g) chopped tomatoes
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- Fresh basil leaves, to taste
Pockets
- Sliced bread, crusts removed
- 2 eggs, whisked
- Buffalo mozzarella, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the pizza sauce: Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add chopped courgette, minced garlic, and frozen peas, sautéing until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add remaining sauce ingredients: Stir in the spinach leaves, tomato puree, chopped tomatoes, dried oregano, and fresh basil leaves. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the spinach wilts and the sauce is hot and fragrant.
- Blend the sauce: Transfer the cooked vegetable mixture to a blender and blend until smooth. Store the sauce in a jar in the refrigerator for up to one week, or freeze in small portions for later use.
- Prepare the bread pockets: Remove the crusts from the sliced bread. Using the back of a spoon, press down the center of each slice to create a well for the filling.
- Assemble the pockets: Spoon 1-2 teaspoons of the prepared pizza sauce into the center of each bread slice. Brush the edges with whisked egg to help seal.
- Add mozzarella: Place slices of buffalo mozzarella on top of the sauce. Use smaller amounts for young children and larger amounts for older kids.
- Seal the pockets: Fold the bread slices in half to enclose the filling and press down the edges firmly with a fork to seal completely.
- Coat and cook: Dip each sealed pocket into the whisked egg again for a light coating. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (356°F).
- Air fry the pockets: Place the pockets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 6-8 minutes until the bread is golden brown and crispy.
Notes
- Crusts removed from bread can be blended into crumbs and frozen for later use, perfect for breadcrumbs in other recipes.
- Adjust the amount of mozzarella according to child’s age and preference to manage richness.
- The homemade pizza sauce can be made in bulk and stored for quick meal prep throughout the week.
- Ensure the air fryer basket is not overcrowded for even cooking and crispness.
- For variation, add different herbs or spices to the sauce, such as thyme or chili flakes for older children.
