Pizza cones

It's the first day of Ramadhan and like all mothers, the first day is a challenge especially when the kids are old enough to fast. I don't force my kids to fast but I encourage them. When they were just starting out it was half-day fasts, a little snack in between. Then it turned to two fasts and then twice a week and then this year my little one announced he would try and fast every alternate day. 

So On this first day of Ramadhan,  let's get the kids in the kitchen to get their minds off how tired or bored they are and have fun making these for them to enjoy when they break their fast. 

A long time back I posted a recipe for pizza cones. It was a daunting task, cutting up empty soda cans and aluminium foil and all. While browsing on Pinterest I came across this recipe, where they make the cone using a tortilla and then the cooked tortilla is then halved and folded into a cone and filled with pizza toppings.

Then it is baked for a few minutes in the oven.  I mean how easy is that! I was almost banging my head just thinking of all the trouble I had to make my pizza cones way back then. 

Anyway, I gave it a try,  I divided my dough into smaller balls and made 8 tortillas which gave me 16  pizza cones. 

Then I spread each with some cream cheese spread . 

Then fold it to make a cone, secure with a toothpick.

Then spread some pizza sauce inside, then the filling, finishing off with the cheese. I am sharing two filling recipes, after consulting with some of my friends with kids who said that pepperoni and spicy chicken were most of their kid's favorites.  You can even use leftover tandoori chicken instead of the spicy chicken.

These can be arranged in a 10 inch round baking tray, have to be a bit careful when handling them as the filling tends to spill a bit. 

You can always add some more cones in the middle. I ran out of filling for this one so placed an empty can or use a oven-proof ramekin dish in the middle so the cones don't fall.

My kids loved it, so I guarantee you there will be a real crowd-pleaser. You can even get the kids to help out as it is so easy to make. 

Yield: 16

Author: Nammi

Pizza cones

Ingredients

Tortilla

• 2 cups flour
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• Hot water

For spreading

• Pizza sauce (Homemade or store-bought)
• Cream cheese spread (I used Almarai)

Pepperoni Filling

• 125g pepperoni ( or luncheon meat *see notes) finely chopped, (leave about 8 pieces whole for the top)
• Finely chopped red or green bell pepper

Spicy Chicken Filling

• 2 chicken breast pieces, or 1 cup of finely chopped leftover roast chicken
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• Salt
• A few mushrooms finely chopped
• Finely chopped bell pepper

Other

• Pizza cheese ( a mix of cheddar and mozzarella)
• Dried herbs or dried oregano
• Chilli flakes

Instructions

Tortilla

1. To make the dough, sift flour and baking powder into a bowl, add salt and stir through.
2. Make a well in the centre of the dough and add oil and warm water. Add water a little at a time, mixing in as you add. Once the dough starts to clump together don’t add any more water ( same as for making roshi or other similar flatbread). If you don't have time to make tortillas store bought ones will do as well.
3.  Knead well to make a smooth dough. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rest for 10 to 20 minutes.
4. Now Divide the dough into 8 balls and roll them out into about 8-inch circles.
5. Heat a dry frying pan or one that you use to cook flatbread, and cook all the flat breads.

Chicken Filling

1. For the chicken filling, finely chop the chicken if using fresh chicken. Heat a large frying pan with some oil and add the chicken to it. Spread it out and fry for a minute or two on high heat.
2. Add some salt, ground chilli and pepper, stir it around and cook until all the water evaporates and the chicken is slightly brown. Taste and adjust seasoning. Set aside to cool

Assembling

1. Prepare all the other ingredients for filling, grate the cheeses if using the cheeses, chop the mushrooms and peppers.
2. Cool the bread slightly, and cut each in half. ( see above pictures)
3. Spread some cream cheese on each half and some pizza sauce. Bring the cut side together so you get a cone shape. You can either hold it well or secure it with a toothpick.
4. To make a pepperoni cone, add some chopped-up pepperoni into the cone, then a layer of cheese, then some peppers, a little cheese, some more pepperoni and some cheese and top with a whole pepperoni. Place on a plate, making sure the filling doesn’t fall out.
5. Preheat the oven now to 200 to 220 degrees C.
6. To make the Spicy chicken cone, add some of the chicken mixes into the cone, then layer some cheese, then some mushrooms and peppers and some cheese and a second serving of chicken and finally top with some cheese.
7. Once all 16 cones are done, spread some olive oil on a 10 inch round baking pan. ( you may need one more pan, so have one ready as well just in case). Carefully arrange all the cones around and inside. Sprinkle some dried herbs or dried oregano and some chilli flakes on each cone and pop into the hot oven and bake for 20 minutes until all the cheese has melted and the sides of the pastry colours a little. 
8. Remove and cool for 10 minutes and then serve.

Notes:

If you are using luncheon meat, cut thin slices of the meat then place on a hot dry frying pan and cook on high heat, flip to cook the other side. Then remove , and chop it up once it is cool enough to touch.

Did you make this recipe?

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