Hawaiian Mango Pizza
Over a year ago we took a family trip to Hawaii. We spent a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center and were unable to get tickets to their Luau dinner. Instead we walked around the Hukilau Marketplace and stumbled on Pounders restaurant in Laie, Hawaii. The menu looked good and we were all hungry from walking around all day. I ordered their Hawaiian Mango Pizza and I have been thinking about it ever since. Sweet and salty, creamy and delicious, this Hawaiian Mango Pizza was completely different than any pizza I’ve had before and utterly delicious. I knew I wanted to re-create it when I got home. A year later…I’m still thinking about the pizza from Pounders and finally figured out the perfect combination of flavors and ingredients.
Hawaiian Mango Pizza Ingredients
Pizza Dough: This pizza would work well with many pizza dough recipes. I love this sourdough version and this quick and easy version.
Mascarpone Cheese: Mascarpone cheese is spread in a layer on top of the pizza dough and gives the whole pizza a nice creamy base.
Prosciutto: Prosciutto is torn into small pieces and spread on top of the mascarpone. It bakes up crispy and salty, giving the perfect balance of sweet/salty to this pizza.
Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan is sprinkled on top of the mascarpone and prosciutto before the pizza is baked. It bakes up creamy and salty making the perfect pizza layer.
Honey: Honey is drizzled over the top of the pizza right after it is pulled out of the pizza oven for a signature sweet/salty flavor.
Arugula: Arugula is added to the top of the pizza right after the honey. Arugula adds a bright, tart and peppery flavor that pairs so well with the sweet/salty flavors in this pizza.
Fresh Mango: Freshly diced mango is put right on top of the arugula giving the signature flavor in this Hawaiian Mango Pizza
Using a Pizza Oven or a Conventional Oven
Pounders restaurant uses a beautiful pizza oven to make their pizzas. For this Hawaiian Mango Pizza Copycat version, the pizza is best made in a pizza oven. I’ve made pizza many times in an Ooni Koda 16 oven. Pizza ovens give the best texture, taste and crispness using the high heat and baking stone of a pizza oven. If you don’t have a pizza oven, you can still make delicious pizza, though the crust won’t be quite the same. Crank your home oven up to the highest temperature it will go (550 Fahrenheit is the highest my oven will go). Place a pizza stone in the oven and let it pre-heat for at least 30-40 minutes. This long pre-heat is crucial to the texture of the pizza dough. Proceed with the recipe as written and bake the pizza in the regular oven for 5-7 minutes, until the dough is puffed up and baked through.
Pick the Perfect Pizza Dough
I am partial to a really good sourdough pizza crust, though it takes some planning ahead. I also love this quick and easy pizza crust that takes about 2 hours start to finish. You could also use this favorite recipe that we’ve used for years before we bought our outdoor pizza oven and it’s another great option for a conventional oven pizza dough. If you want to make it really easy, grab some pizza dough at the store and bake according to the package directions. This recipe makes 1 personal-sized 10 inch pizza. On our family pizza nights the kids almost always choose pepperoni or cheese, and the adults get creative with toppings. If you’d like to make a pizza larger than a one 10 inch pizza, increase the ingredients for the recipe toppings.
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Assembling Hawaiian Mango Pizza
Once you’ve got your dough, get to work assembling the ingredients and the pizza. Chop/dice the fresh mango and set it aside. Cut or pull the prosciutto apart into smaller pieces and set aside. Stretch the pizza dough into a 10 inch circle by pulling and stretching it, being careful not to rip the dough. Once the dough is shaped, carefully spread the mascarpone onto the pizza dough. I had to do this part with my fingers to get it completely covered. Don’t worry if it clumps up a bit, just do your best to get it covered as much as possible. Sprinkle on the prosciutto and parmesan and bake the pizza. As soon as it comes out of the oven, drizzle on the honey and top with the arugula and diced mango. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I store leftover pizza?
This pizza stores well in ziplock bags or air-tight containers in the refrigerator for a few days.
Can I substitute cream cheese for mascarpone on the pizza?
I have never tried this. Cream cheese has a little more “tangy” flavor than the mascarpone but it may work. The baked mascarpone reminded me a little of brie so I would consider substituting some brie if you don’t have mascarpone.
Can I drizzle honey on top of pizza before baking?
I like drizzling the honey on right after the pizza comes out of the oven. It doesn’t get your pizza oven all sticky and adds the best bit of sweetness to the pizza.
Hawaiian Mango Pizza (Pounders Copycat Recipe)
Ingredients
- 200 grams homemade pizza dough see recipe notes
- ¼ cup mascarpone cheese
- 2 slices prosciutto chopped
- 2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup arugula
- ¼ cup mango diced
Instructions
- Preheat a pizza oven to 700-800 degrees (see recipe note about using a regular oven) about 30 minutes before you plan on baking the pizza.
- Dice a ripe mango into small pieces. Set aside. Chop the prosciutto into small pieces and set aside.
- Spread a little cornmeal on a wooden cutting board or pizza peel. Stretch the pizza dough out to a 10 inch circle and lay it on the cornmeal.
- Spread the mascarpone cheese over the dough, covering it completely. You may need to use your fingers to gently spread the cheese over the dough. Be careful not to let the dough tear, but do your best to make sure the mascarpone is covering the majority of the dough.
- Lay the chopped prosciutto on top of the mascarpone. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Check that the dough is not sticking to the board (this can happen if you don't work quickly enough). If it is sticking, unstick it with your fingers, add a bit of cornmeal if needed and try again.
- Launch your pizza into the pre-heated pizza oven with a quick thrust forward. Let the pizza cook for about 45 seconds, then using the pizza peel pull the pizza out of the oven, turn it with a fork and return it to the pizza oven for another 30-45 seconds. This ensures that the pizza is cooked on both sides. You can watch a video of this process here.
- Right after the pizza comes out of the oven, drizzle the honey on top of the warm pizza. Top with arugula and diced mango. Enjoy warm!
Amazing! I think I need this in my life! The arugula must really finish it off nicely! 🍕🥭🌱😋