A tantalizing blend of sweet and savory, this sun-dried tomato, sausage, and fontina pizza is an ultimate comfort food. The rich flavor of sun-dried tomatoes pairs beautifully with the hearty sausage and the creamy fontina cheese, creating a taste sensation that is sure to impress your dinner guests. This pizza is perfect for weeknight dinners, casual get-togethers, or even a fun family cooking session.
The key ingredients for this recipe might not be everyday items in your pantry. Sun-dried tomatoes are ripe tomatoes that lose most of their water content after spending a majority of their drying time in the sun. They have an intense sweet-tart flavor that's much more potent than fresh tomatoes. Fontina is a cow's milk Italian cheese with a mild and slightly sweet flavor. It melts beautifully making it perfect for pizzas. Finally, sweet Italian sausage is a type of sausage that is seasoned with a sweet or mild blend of spices. It's available in most supermarkets but you can also use any other sausage of your choice.
Sun-Dried Tomato, Sausage, and Fontina Pizza Ingredients
Sweet Italian sausage: A type of sausage that is seasoned with a sweet or mild blend of spices. It adds a rich and hearty flavor to the pizza.
Sun-dried tomatoes: These are ripe tomatoes that lose most of their water content after spending a majority of their drying time in the sun. They add an intense sweet-tart flavor to the pizza.
Pizza shells: These are pre-baked pizza crusts. They are a convenient option for quick weeknight pizzas.
Fontina: A cow's milk Italian cheese with a mild and slightly sweet flavor. It melts beautifully, making it perfect for pizzas.
Parmesan: A hard, granular cheese that originates from Italy. It has a sharp, complex fruity-nutty taste with a strong savory flavor.
One reader, Batsheva Mace says:
This sun-dried tomato, sausage, and fontina pizza recipe is a game-changer! The combination of flavors is simply divine. The sweet and savory sausage pairs perfectly with the tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and the fontina cheese adds a rich, creamy finish. It's a must-try for any pizza lover!
Essential Techniques for Making Pizza
How to cook sausage: Cook the sausage over moderate heat, breaking it up with a fork or wooden spoon, until cooked through and just beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
How to brush oil on pizza shells: Brush the sun-dried-tomato oil over the pizza shells.
How to assemble pizza: Spread the cooked sausage over the pizza shells, scatter the sun-dried tomatoes over the sausage, put the fontina on top, and sprinkle the parmesan over all.
How to bake pizza: Bake the pizzas, directly on the oven rack (for a crisper crust) or on two baking sheets, until the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.
How to use prebaked pizza shells: Prebaked pizza shells offer a fantastic way to make quick weeknight pizzas. If the shell is still frozen, either add five minutes to the cooking time or pop the naked shell in the oven for five minutes before topping it.
How to use store-bought or homemade pizza dough: If you prefer to start with store-bought pizza dough or your own homemade pizza dough, simply prebake the crust before topping it.
How to pair wine with the pizza: This pizza works well with either a white or red wine, but a pinot grigio is the best choice to echo the sausage's fennel and the fontina. Pinot grigios have slight apple and nut flavors and enough acidity to leave the palate refreshed.
How To Make Sun-Dried-Tomato, Sausage, and Fontina Pizza
Grab a bite of this delectable 5-ingredient fontina pizza, topped with rich sun dried tomatoes and sweet Italian sausages, for a filling dinner meal!
Serves:
Ingredients
- 1lbsweet Italian sausage
- 1cupsun dried tomatoes,oil packed, chopped, drained
- 2pizza shells,(12 inch)
- ½lbfontina
- ¼cupparmesan,grated
Instructions
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Heat the oven to 450 degrees F.
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In a large frying pan, cook the sausage over moderate heat, breaking it up with a fork or wooden spoon, for about 10 minutes, until cooked through and just beginning to brown.
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Brush the sun-dried-tomato oil over the pizza shells. Spread the sausage over the pizza shells. Scatter the sun-dried tomatoes over the sausage, put the fontina on top, and sprinkle the Parmesan over all.
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Bake the pizzas, directly on the oven rack (for a crisper crust) or on two baking sheets, for about 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
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Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Calories: 894.39kcal
- Fat: 35.61g
- Saturated Fat: 17.53g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 11.10g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.92g
- Carbohydrates: 91.09g
- Fiber: 5.98g
- Sugar: 7.36g
- Protein: 52.11g
- Cholesterol: 106.11mg
- Sodium: 2241.99mg
- Calcium: 589.89mg
- Potassium: 903.48mg
- Iron: 7.49mg
- Vitamin A: 173.16µg
- Vitamin C: 5.52mg
Crucial Tip for Achieving the Perfect Pizza Crust
When working with sun-dried tomatoes, it's important to remember that they pack a concentrated flavor punch. To ensure that their flavor doesn't overpower the other ingredients in your pizza, consider chopping them into smaller pieces. This will distribute their intense flavor more evenly across the pizza, allowing the sausage and fontina to shine through as well. Additionally, don't discard the oil the tomatoes are packed in. It's infused with tomato flavor and can be used to brush the pizza crusts, adding an extra layer of depth to your dish.
Time-Saving Tips for Making Pizza at Home
Prep ahead: Prepare the sausage and sun-dried tomatoes in advance and store them in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Use pre-made pizza dough: Save time by using store-bought pre-made pizza dough instead of making it from scratch.
Double the recipe: Make extra pizza and freeze it for a quick and convenient meal option on busy days.
Invest in a pizza stone: Using a pizza stone can help achieve a crispy crust without the need for pre-baking the pizza shells.
Organize your workspace: Before you start cooking, make sure all your ingredients and tools are easily accessible to streamline the cooking process.
Substitute Ingredients For Sun-Dried-Tomato, Sausage, and Fontina Pizza Recipe
sweet italian sausage - Substitute with vegan Italian sausage: This substitute provides a similar savory and slightly spicy flavor, while also being suitable for those following a vegetarian or vegan diet.
oil packed sun dried tomatoes - Substitute with rehydrated sun dried tomatoes: Rehydrated sun dried tomatoes can be used as a substitute for oil-packed sun dried tomatoes, providing a similar intense flavor and chewy texture.
pizza shells - Substitute with naan bread: Naan bread can be used as a convenient and delicious alternative to traditional pizza shells, offering a slightly different texture and flavor.
fontina - Substitute with gouda: Gouda cheese can be used as a substitute for fontina, providing a rich and creamy flavor with a smooth texture.
parmesan - Substitute with pecorino romano: Pecorino Romano cheese can be used as a substitute for parmesan, offering a similar salty and tangy flavor profile.
How to Beautifully Present This Pizza
Artful arrangement of sun-dried tomatoes: Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a circular pattern on the pizza, creating an eye-catching and appetizing display.
Garnish with fresh herbs: Sprinkle freshly chopped basil or oregano over the finished pizza to add a pop of color and a burst of fresh flavor.
Carefully slice the pizza: Cut the pizza into precise, even slices to showcase the toppings and create an elegant presentation on the plate.
Use high-quality serving platters: Present the pizza on sleek, modern serving platters that complement the vibrant colors of the toppings and enhance the overall visual appeal.
Incorporate edible flowers: Consider adding edible flowers, such as arugula blossoms or nasturtiums, to add a touch of sophistication and a delicate floral element to the dish.
Utilize negative space: Ensure that the pizza is not overcrowded on the plate, allowing for negative space to highlight the beauty of the dish and create a visually striking presentation.
Consider the balance of colors: Aim for a harmonious balance of colors on the plate, using the rich reds of the sun-dried tomatoes, the golden hues of the melted fontina, and the vibrant green of the fresh herbs to create an enticing visual composition.
Attention to detail in plating: Pay close attention to the placement of each ingredient, ensuring that the pizza is presented with precision and finesse, reflecting the care and skill that went into its creation.
Essential Tools for Making Pizza at Home
- Frying pan: A flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods.
- Fork or wooden spoon: Utensils used for stirring and breaking up ingredients while cooking.
- Baking sheets: Flat, rectangular metal sheets used for baking and cooking in the oven.
- Oven rack: A metal rack used for holding food in the oven while it cooks.
How To Store and Freeze Leftover Pizza
- To store leftover pizza, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days
- For best results, reheat refrigerated pizza in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is melted
- To freeze the pizza, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil, making sure to remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn
- Label the wrapped pizza with the date and contents, and store it in the freezer for up to 2-3 months
- When ready to eat, remove the frozen pizza from the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight
- Once thawed, reheat the pizza in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is melted
- For a crispy crust, you can also reheat the thawed pizza directly on the oven rack for the last 5 minutes of cooking time
- If you have leftover sausage or sun-dried tomatoes, store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months
How To Reheat Leftover Pizza
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover pizza slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy. This method helps to restore the crispiness of the crust while evenly heating the toppings.
For a quicker reheating option, use a skillet on the stovetop. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Place the pizza slices in the skillet and cover with a lid. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the bottom of the crust is crispy. This method helps to create a crispy crust while melting the cheese and heating the sausage and sun-dried tomatoes.
If you have a toaster oven, you can use it to reheat your leftover pizza. Preheat the toaster oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the pizza slices on the toaster oven tray and heat for 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy. This method is perfect for reheating small portions of pizza quickly and efficiently.
For a unique twist, try reheating your leftover pizza in a waffle iron. Preheat your waffle iron and place a slice of pizza in the center. Close the waffle iron and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted. This method creates a fun and crispy variation on traditional reheated pizza.
If you want to maintain the soft texture of the crust, you can reheat your leftover pizza in the microwave. Place a slice of pizza on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 30-45 seconds, or until the cheese is melted and the pizza is heated through. To prevent the crust from becoming soggy, place a glass of water in the microwave alongside the pizza to help absorb excess moisture.
Interesting Fact About Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Sun-dried tomato, sausage, and fontina pizza is a delicious and popular dish that originated in Italy. It is a versatile recipe that can be customized with various toppings and cheeses to suit different tastes. This pizza is a great option for a quick and easy weeknight meal, and it pairs well with a variety of wines, such as pinot grigio. Additionally, prebaked pizza shells offer a convenient way to make this dish, and they can be stored in the freezer for last-minute meals. Whether using store-bought pizza dough or homemade crust, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser that can be enjoyed by all.
Is Homemade Pizza More Economical Than Takeout?
The cost-effectiveness of this sun-dried tomato, sausage, and fontina pizza recipe largely depends on the availability and cost of the ingredients in your area. Sausage and fontina can be relatively pricey, but the flavor and satisfaction they bring to the dish are worth it. The sun-dried tomatoes add a rich, tangy flavor, enhancing the overall taste. Considering the quantity and quality of the ingredients, this recipe rates a solid 8. The approximate cost for a household of 4 people would be around $25-$30, making it a reasonable option for a delicious homemade meal.
Is This Pizza Recipe Healthy or Unhealthy?
The sun-dried tomato, sausage, and fontina pizza recipe is not particularly healthy. Here's why:
- The recipe uses sweet Italian sausage, which is high in saturated fat and sodium. Consuming too much saturated fat can increase the risk of heart disease and other health issues.
- The recipe calls for a significant amount of cheese, including fontina and parmesan. While cheese can be a good source of protein and calcium, it is also high in saturated fat and sodium.
- The recipe uses pre-baked pizza shells, which are often made with refined flour and may contain added sugars and preservatives.
- The recipe does not include any vegetables or whole grains, which are important for a balanced and nutritious diet.
To make this recipe healthier, consider the following suggestions:
- Swap the sweet Italian sausage for a leaner protein option, such as turkey sausage or ground chicken. This will reduce the amount of saturated fat in the recipe.
- Use a whole wheat or cauliflower pizza crust instead of pre-baked pizza shells. This will increase the fiber content and provide additional nutrients.
- Reduce the amount of cheese used in the recipe, or opt for a lower-fat cheese like part-skim mozzarella.
- Add some vegetables to the pizza, such as sliced bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms. This will increase the nutrient density of the dish and provide additional fiber.
- Use a smaller amount of sun-dried tomatoes, as they are often packed in oil and can be high in calories.
Editor's Opinion on This Delicious Pizza Recipe
The combination of sweet Italian sausage, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, and fontina cheese on a pizza is a delightful blend of flavors and textures. The richness of the sausage pairs beautifully with the tangy sweetness of the sun-dried tomatoes, while the creamy fontina adds a luxurious touch. The recipe's simplicity and use of prebaked pizza shells make it a convenient option for a quick and satisfying meal. The wine recommendation of a pinot grigio is a thoughtful addition, as it complements the dish's flavors. Overall, this sun-dried tomato, sausage, and fontina pizza recipe is a winner for a delicious and fuss-free dinner.
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