Sausage and onion pizza

Homemade pizza is perfect for a Saturday night in winter. With a little planning, this can be a quick meal after a long day of skiing because everything can be prepared a day ahead and assembled at the last minute. Just plan time for the dough to come to room temperature and the oven to heat.

  
    Recipe serves
    Active time
    Total time
  
    3 - 4 people
    15m
    1h 15m

  
    Special equipment needed
  
    Pizza pan or cookie sheet
  
    Rolling pin

Ingredients
1 recipe of Pizza dough, at room temperature
1/2 recipe of Pizza sauce, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped, sliced, or slivered
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 - 2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese

  
    Instructions
  
    • Preheat oven to 500º.
  
    • Have the dough at room temperature for at least 1 hour. The sauce should be thawed, if frozen.
  
    • Add the onion and vegetable oil to a skillet and sauté until the onion is tender. Add the sausage and cook thoroughly. Remove the sausage mixture with a slotted spoon and put it ona paper towel-lined plate to absorb some of the oil.
  
    • Roll the dough into approximately a 14-inch circle; don't worry about it being perfectly round! Top with the sauce. Spread the sausage and onion mixture on top.
  
    • Sprinkle the cheese on top, making sure to spread it to the edges.
  
    • Bake 10 - 15 minutes, until golden on top.

  
    Variations
  
    • Cooked sliced mushrooms in the sauté pan after you remove the cooked sausage mixture. Cook until the mushroom liquid evaporates.
  
    • Add sliced garlic and/or raw onions.
  
    • Add roasted red bell peppers or olives.
  
    • Add a raw egg once the pizza is cooked. Cook another 2-5 minutes until the egg is done to your liking. Important: the egg should be at room temperature for faster cooking.
  
    • Experiment with different types of cheese. Cheddar, Gruyère, pepperjack, mozzarella, or add some blue cheese.
  
    • For a spicier pizza, add hot pepper flakes or giardiniera.

  
    Storage
  
    • The dough can be made the night before and refrigerated; bring to room temperature for one hour before rolling out. The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen. The sausage and onions can be made ahead and refrigerated.
  
    • Store any leftover pizza covered in the refrigerator. Eat it cold or warmed in a low oven. It can be frozen.

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