Pizza alla Diavola (Spicy Salami Pizza)
A fiery pizza of spicy salami, fresh chilli and bubbling mozzarella over bright tomato sauce.
Made with Basic tomato sauce and Pizza dough. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time40 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.13 a head
- Oven250°C (230°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat a heavy baking tray in the oven at 250°C (230°C fan), or its highest setting, for at least 30 minutes.
- 2
Divide your ready made pizza dough (see the base recipe) in half. Stretch each piece to about 30 cm and place on baking paper dusted with semolina.
- 3
Spread your ready made basic tomato sauce (see the base recipe) over each base, leaving a 2 cm rim. Add the mozzarella and oregano.
- 4
Arrange the salami slices over the top, overlapping slightly, and scatter over the chilli.
- 5
Slide the pizzas onto the hot tray and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the rim is blistered and the salami edges are crisp.
10 min - 6
Drizzle with the olive oil, rest for 2 minutes and slice.
Tips
- Salami curls and crisps at the edges in a very hot oven, which is exactly what you want. Use thin slices.
- Seed the chilli for a gentler pizza, or leave the seeds in for the full diavola heat.
- For more heat, add a few chilli flakes under the cheese or a spoonful of chilli oil at the table.
Storing and freezing
Best the same day. Cool leftovers within 1 to 2 hours, keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What does diavola mean?
Diavola means devil in Italian. It is the name for a pizza topped with hot, spicy salami and often chilli. In the UK it is also sold as a pepperoni and chilli pizza.
Which salami is best?
Use a spicy Italian salami such as salame piccante, spianata calabra or Napoli salami. Pepperoni works well too. Avoid very thick slices, as they stay chewy.
Can I make it less hot?
Yes. Leave out the fresh chilli and choose a mild salami. The tomato sauce and oregano still give plenty of flavour.
More made with basic tomato sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.