Description
A classic Italian-style pizza featuring a crispy, golden crust topped with rich tomato sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, savory sweet sausage, and finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. This pizza is baked on a hot pizza stone for the perfect combination of crispy edges and gooey cheese, making it an ideal quick and delicious homemade meal.
Ingredients
For the Dough and Base
- 1 pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- Yellow cornmeal, a few tablespoons (for sprinkling)
For the Toppings
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or pizza blend cheese
- 2 links sweet sausage, partially cooked and sliced
- Italian seasoning, to taste
- Parmesan cheese, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Place a pizza stone into your oven and preheat it to 550°F (288°C) to ensure it is thoroughly heated for baking the pizza.
- Prepare the Dough: Roll out the pizza dough into a 12 to 14-inch circle. Sprinkle a wooden pizza paddle with a few tablespoons of yellow cornmeal to prevent sticking. Place the rolled dough on the paddle and gently pull it back and forth to keep it from sticking.
- Apply Olive Oil and Sauce: Using the back of a tablespoon, spread extra virgin olive oil over the dough surface, leaving a 1 to 1 1/2-inch border around the edges without oil. Do the same with the tomato sauce, spreading it evenly over the dough while maintaining the border. Continue pulling the paddle back and forth to keep the dough from sticking.
- Add Toppings: Evenly distribute the sliced sweet sausage and shredded mozzarella or pizza blend cheese over the sauced dough. Sprinkle Italian seasoning to taste for added flavor.
- Bake the Pizza: Quickly slide the uncooked pizza from the paddle onto the hot pizza stone in the oven. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is golden brown. Halfway through baking, carefully lift the pizza with the paddle and rotate it slightly to ensure even cooking before returning it to the stone.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the baked pizza from the oven. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top while the pizza is hot. Slice with a pizza cutter and serve immediately to enjoy the crispy crust and melty cheese combination.
Notes
- Using a pizza stone preheated at a high temperature is key to achieving a crispy crust similar to traditional Italian pizzas.
- Yellow cornmeal on the paddle prevents the dough from sticking and adds a slight texture to the bottom crust.
- Partial cooking of the sausage ensures it is fully cooked once the pizza baking is complete.
- Rotate the pizza halfway during baking to ensure even crust browning and cheese melting.
- If you don't have a pizza stone, a baking sheet can be used but results may vary.
