Step 1

Gather all the ingredients.

Step 2

Heat a small frying pan (or saucepan) over medium-low heat. When it's warm (not hot), add the olive oil, red pepper flakes, and minced garlic.

Step 3

Sauté the garlic and pepper flakes without burning them, about 2 minutes. Once fragrant, add the ketchup.

Step 4

Stir and combine all the ingredients together until homogeneous.

Step 5

Add the salt and black pepper to taste. Transfer the sauce to a bowl and set aside to cool.

Step 6

Using a bread knife, cut the Japanese milk bread into slices ¾ inch (1.5 cm) thick, if you haven't already.

Step 7

Thinly slice the onion and green bell pepper.

Step 8

Using a sharp or serrated knife, thinly slice the cherry tomatoes into thirds (if possible). Cut the ham into thin, short strips.

Step 9

If you will be serving the pizza toast to children, cut the slice(s) in half (I cut it diagonally). Then, put the two pieces back together as if it's one uncut slice. Now, add the toppings. First, spread the homemade pizza sauce on top, about 1 Tbsp for each slice.

Step 10

Sprinkle a little bit of cheese on the pizza sauce (once melted, this cheese helps hold the toppings in place). Next, scatter some onion slices on top.

Step 11

Then, scatter the green pepper slices and ham.

Step 12

Finally, add a few tomato slices and top with more cheese.

Step 13

Adjust the wire rack of a toaster oven in the middle. Place the pizza toast directly on the wire rack, taking care not to let the toppings fall or hang off the edges. Tip: I place my slice on a wire rack with a tray underneath. This helps catch any melted cheese that might drip down. While the bottom of the slice doesn’t get as crisp, the tray keeps the oven clean.

Step 14

Serve hot immediately. Sprinkle more red pepper flakes on top, if you'd like.

Step 15

You can wrap the leftover (uncooked or cooked) pizza toast tightly in plastic and store it in the refrigerator for 2 days or put the wrapped pizza toast in a plastic bag and freeze for 2 weeks. Reheat the defrosted or frozen pizza toast in the toaster oven before serving.