Cast-Iron Pizza with Fennel and Sausage

You use store-bought pizza dough and marinara for this weeknight cast-iron pizza recipe. By cooking the sausage first, you infuse the pizza crust with porky flavor. My advice - This recipe method yields great results! Vary the toppings to make it your own. Substitute 4 oz of mushrooms (I like crimini) for the fennel. Saute them after cooking the sausage. Or make it just pepperoni and cheese (garlic powder on the crust is delish for this one). Use pizza sauce instead of marinara for the fresher flavor you usually associate with pizza. Be sure to preheat the cast iron skillet even if not using any cooked toppings since this is crucial to getting the bottom of the crust starting to brown before putting it in to bake on the top rack. Other topping ideas: Pepperoni with both mozzarella and parmesan shredded cheeses Italian sausage, mushrooms, and onions Smoked sausage, barbecue sauce (instead of pizza sauce), and pineapple or green peppers and onions Bacon and pineapple Ham or bacon and onions the latest idea I've seen: pickles

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Place a rack in top-most position of oven; preheat to 475°. Place dough on a work surface; drizzle with 1 Tbsp. oil, turning to coat. Stretch out to a 10" round and cover loosely with plastic wrap.

Step 2

Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium. Cook sausage, breaking up into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned in spots and cooked though, 5–8 minutes. Transfer sausage to a small bowl.

Step 3

Remove skillet from heat and carefully lay dough inside (use spoon to help you extend dough all the way to the edges). Season with salt, then spread marinara over entire surface of dough. Top with mozzarella, then fennel, garlic, and cooked sausage. Drizzle with another 2 Tbsp. oil. Peek underneath the crust—the bottom should be golden brown and crisp from residual heat in the skillet. If it’s not, set over medium-low and cook until crust is golden brown, about 3 minutes.

Step 4

Transfer skillet to oven and bake pizza on top rack until crust is golden brown around the edges and cheese is browned in spots and bubbling all over, 10–14 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then top with red pepper flakes and basil. Sprinkle with more salt and drizzle with remaining 1 Tbsp. oil.

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