Description
This Pesto Potato Pizza with Sausage is a delicious and hearty homemade pizza featuring a vibrant pesto base topped with sautéed thinly sliced potatoes, savory Italian sausage, and a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Perfectly baked to a golden crust and garnished with fresh basil, this recipe combines comforting flavors with a fresh herbal twist for a satisfying meal in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base
- 1 pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Toppings
- 2 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1/2 cup pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Line a baking sheet or pizza stone with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
- Sauté Potatoes: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced potatoes, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 5-7 minutes until they become slightly golden. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook Sausage: Using the same pan, add the Italian sausage, crumbling it as it cooks over medium heat. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, then drain any excess fat and set aside.
- Prepare Dough: On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to your desired thickness. Transfer the rolled dough onto the prepared baking sheet or pizza stone.
- Add Pesto: Spread the pesto evenly over the pizza dough, leaving a small border around the edges to form the crust.
- Assemble Toppings: Arrange the sautéed potatoes and cooked sausage evenly over the pesto-covered dough.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese uniformly over the toppings.
- Bake Pizza: Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust turns golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Slice and serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For best results, use thinly sliced potatoes to ensure they cook properly during the sauté step and in the oven.
- You can substitute Italian sausage with turkey sausage for a leaner option.
- Homemade pesto adds freshness, but store-bought pesto works well for convenience.
- Consider par-cooking the potatoes if desired for extra tenderness.
- Use a pizza stone if available to get a crispier crust; otherwise, a baking sheet lined with parchment paper works fine.
