Sausage, Fennel, and Ricotta Pizza
If you're craving a pizza that's a little more adventurous than the usual Margherita or pepperoni, the Sausage, Fennel, and Ricotta Pizza is the one to try. This pizza brings together the robust flavors of spicy sausage, the subtle sweetness of fennel, and the creamy, indulgent texture of ricotta. It's a perfect fusion of rich and fresh ingredients that elevate pizza to a whole new level.
Whether you're making dinner for family, friends, or simply treating yourself to something special, this pizza is bound to become a favorite. The combination of gourmet-style ingredients with an easy, straightforward process makes it an excellent choice for those looking to create a memorable homemade pizza experience.
Why This Pizza Stands Out
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Exciting Flavor Combination: The blend of savory sausage, aromatic fennel, and smooth ricotta cheese creates an exceptional mix of tastes that’ll surprise your palate in the best way possible.
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Easy but Impressive: Despite its gourmet vibe, this pizza is easy to prepare. The simple steps ensure anyone can make it, whether you're an experienced home cook or a beginner.
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Customizable to Your Preferences: Don’t like too much heat? Swap the spicy sausage for a milder version or try a plant-based alternative for a vegetarian option. You can also experiment with different cheeses or toss in a few chili flakes to suit your taste.
Crafting the Perfect Pizza Crust
The crust is the canvas that holds everything together, and getting it just right makes all the difference. For this Sausage, Fennel, and Ricotta Pizza, a crispy yet chewy crust is ideal. Whether you make your own dough or use store-bought, aim for a balance between sturdiness and tenderness to hold up the rich toppings.
A few tips for a perfect crust: preheat your oven as high as it’ll go—usually around 500°F (260°C)—and if you have a pizza stone, use it. The stone will help your crust bake evenly and give it that restaurant-quality crispness.
If you’re making dough from scratch, give it plenty of time to rise. This helps create a lighter, airier crust with more flavor from the fermentation process, enhancing the pizza overall.
Key Ingredients: Sausage, Fennel, and Ricotta
This pizza is all about the marriage of these three star ingredients. Here’s how they come together:
Sausage: Italian sausage is the best choice for this recipe. Its bold, spicy flavor complements the sweetness of the fennel and the creamy texture of the ricotta. You can use hot or mild sausage depending on your heat tolerance. If you want to add a smoky touch, grill the sausage beforehand for an added layer of flavor.
Fennel: Fresh fennel provides a slightly sweet, anise-like flavor that mellows as it cooks, perfectly balancing the savory sausage. Thinly slicing the fennel ensures it cooks evenly and doesn’t overpower the other ingredients.
Ricotta: Unlike mozzarella, which melts and stretches, ricotta stays soft and creamy, providing a luxurious texture. Adding dollops of ricotta across the pizza creates little pockets of creamy goodness in every bite.
Supporting Cast: The Other Essential Ingredients
While sausage, fennel, and ricotta take center stage, a few additional ingredients round out the pizza’s flavor profile:
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Mozzarella: For that classic pizza melt, a layer of mozzarella beneath the other toppings helps bind everything together. It gives the pizza that familiar cheesy pull we all love.
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Parmesan: A light sprinkle of grated Parmesan adds a sharp, nutty flavor that enhances both the fennel and sausage.
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Garlic and Olive Oil: Before piling on the toppings, brush the crust with a mixture of garlic and olive oil. This not only adds flavor to the crust but helps it bake to a beautiful golden brown.
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Red Pepper Flakes: For those who enjoy a bit more spice, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes ties the whole pizza together, adding a subtle kick without overpowering the other flavors.
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Fresh Herbs: After the pizza comes out of the oven, topping it with fresh arugula or basil brings a fresh, peppery brightness to balance out the richness of the cheese and sausage.
Step-by-Step Pizza Assembly
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Prepare the Dough: Whether you’ve made your own dough or bought it pre-made, let it rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes before you begin shaping it. This makes it more pliable and easier to work with.
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Add a Base Layer: Start by brushing the dough with the olive oil and garlic mixture. This will infuse the crust with flavor as it bakes. Next, scatter a light layer of mozzarella cheese over the dough, creating a base for the rest of the toppings.
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Top It Off: Evenly distribute the sausage and thinly sliced fennel across the pizza. Use a spoon to drop small dollops of ricotta on top, spreading them around so every slice gets a bite of creamy ricotta.
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Final Seasoning: Add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan and, if desired, a few red pepper flakes. Drizzle a bit more olive oil over the toppings to help everything crisp up nicely in the oven.
Baking and Finishing Touches
Bake your pizza for about 10-12 minutes, or until the crust turns golden brown and the cheese starts to bubble and brown. The fennel will soften and caramelize, adding a slightly sweet contrast to the savory sausage.
Once out of the oven, let the pizza rest for a minute before slicing. This helps the toppings settle and makes the pizza easier to cut. If you like, you can add a final flourish of fresh arugula or basil and a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a tangy finish.
Pairing Suggestions
To complement the flavors of this Sausage, Fennel, and Ricotta Pizza, pair it with a light, crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. If you prefer red, a medium-bodied Chianti or a fruity Zinfandel works well. For beer lovers, a crisp Pilsner or a mildly hoppy IPA can provide a refreshing contrast to the pizza’s rich flavors.
Final Thoughts
This Sausage, Fennel, and Ricotta Pizza is an exciting way to elevate your homemade pizza game. With the bold, savory sausage, fresh fennel, and rich, creamy ricotta, it’s a delicious and satisfying dish that’s sure to impress. Whether it’s pizza night at home or a special occasion, this recipe is bound to become a go-to for its unique flavor combination and simple preparation.
Sausage, Fennel, and Ricotta Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
Directions
Place a pizza stone or heavy baking sheet in oven. Preheat oven to 500° (keep pizza stone or baking sheet in oven as it preheats). Let pizza dough stand at room temperature, covered, while oven preheats.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Remove casing from sausage. Add sausage to pan; cook 4 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring to crumble. Add fennel bulb; cook 4 minutes or until tender.
Roll pizza dough into a 16-inch oval on a lightly floured surface. Carefully remove pizza stone from oven. Sprinkle cornmeal over pizza stone; place dough on pizza stone. Brush dough evenly with oil. Sprinkle sausage mixture evenly over dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Combine ricotta and garlic in a small bowl; top pizza with teaspoonfuls of ricotta mixture. Sprinkle red onion and remaining ingredients evenly over pizza. Bake at 500° for 11 minutes or until golden. Cut into 8 slices.
4 servings
2 slices
- Amount per serving
- Calories344
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 9.9g13%
- Total Carbohydrate 46.4g17%
- Dietary Fiber 7.6g28%
- Protein 15.5g
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Sausage, Fennel, and Ricotta Pizza is one of many healthy recipe ideas that you can find on our recipe page.
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Ingredients
Directions
Place a pizza stone or heavy baking sheet in oven. Preheat oven to 500° (keep pizza stone or baking sheet in oven as it preheats). Let pizza dough stand at room temperature, covered, while oven preheats.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Remove casing from sausage. Add sausage to pan; cook 4 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring to crumble. Add fennel bulb; cook 4 minutes or until tender.
Roll pizza dough into a 16-inch oval on a lightly floured surface. Carefully remove pizza stone from oven. Sprinkle cornmeal over pizza stone; place dough on pizza stone. Brush dough evenly with oil. Sprinkle sausage mixture evenly over dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Combine ricotta and garlic in a small bowl; top pizza with teaspoonfuls of ricotta mixture. Sprinkle red onion and remaining ingredients evenly over pizza. Bake at 500° for 11 minutes or until golden. Cut into 8 slices.
