Choosing Healthier Restaurants

Posted on: 5 April 2017

Delivery pizza can be delicious, but sometimes it's nice to create something equally as spectacular in your own kitchen instead. This recipe for spicy sausage and onion pizza – with a 100% homemade crust – is sure to have everyone asking for seconds.

Crust Ingredients:

·         ¾ cup warm water

·          1 3/4 cups bread flour

·         1 teaspoon sugar

·         1 teaspoon kosher salt

·         1 tablespoon olive oil

·         1 teaspoon active, dry yeast

Topping Ingredients:

·         1 ½ cups of your favorite pizza sauce

·         2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

·         ½ cup shredded pepper jack cheese

·         ½ pound bulk spicy Italian sausage

·         1 medium onion, sliced

·         ¼ cup fresh basil, minced

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast, water, and sugar. Stir them together gently, and then let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes. It should begin to look foamy.

Stir 1 cup flour, the salt, and the olive oil into the yeast mixture. A soft dough should form. Beat this dough by hand for 1 minute. Then, slowly stir in the remaining flour. The dough should be medium-soft and just slightly sticky at this point.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and knead it by hand for 5 minutes. It should become smoother and more elastic. If it is still sticky, work in a little bit more flour as you knead.

When you're done kneading, drizzle a little additional olive oil into a bowl, and place the dough inside. Turn it over once to coat it. Cover the bowl in plastic wrap, and place it in a warm place to rest for 1 hour.

While your dough is rising, prepare the sausage and onions for the top of the pizza. Place them in a saute pan together, and saute until the sausage is fully cooked and the onions are tender. Set this mixture aside.

When the dough is finished rising, shape it into a ball. Place it on a lightly greased baking sheet, and let it rest for another 20 minutes before stretching it out into a circle or rectangle.

Spread the pizza sauce over the prepared crust, and top it with the cheeses. Then, sprinkle the sausage and onions over the pizza. Place it in a 400 degree F oven, and bake for 15 – 20 minutes. The cheese should be melted and just beginning to brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Top your pizza with some red pepper flakes if you like it super spicy. Bon apetit!

To get inspiration for different kinds of homemade pizzas, try eating out a pizza restaurant like Pazzo's Pizzeria.