Rustic Sausage and Mushroom Pizza

The rustic pizza with sausage and mushrooms is a delicious dish that draws from Italian tradition. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

• 500 g of pizza dough (ready-made or homemade with 300 g of flour, 200 ml of water, 25 g of yeast, 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt)
• 200 g of mushrooms (like champignon or porcini)
• 200 g of pork sausage
• 150 g of mozzarella (or a stringy cheese of your choice)
• Tomato puree as needed
• 1 clove of garlic
• Salt and pepper as needed
• Extra virgin olive oil as needed
• A pinch of oregano
• (Optional) 100 g of ricotta to make the filling creamier

Preparation

1. If you are making the pizza dough at home, start by dissolving the yeast in lukewarm water, then mix it with flour in a bowl. Add the oil and salt and knead until you have a uniform mixture. Let it rise, covered, in a warm place for about 2 hours.
2. Clean the mushrooms with a damp cloth and slice them. In a pan, heat a stream of oil with a garlic clove and then remove it before adding the mushrooms. Sauté them until golden brown and season with salt and pepper. Set them aside.
3. Remove the casing from the sausage and crumble it. Cook it in a pan without adding oil until it is nicely browned.
4. Roll out the pizza dough on a previously greased baking tray, creating a slightly raised edge on the sides.
5. Spread a layer of tomato puree on the base, add oregano, then distribute the sausage and mushrooms evenly.
6. Cut the mozzarella into cubes and distribute it on the pizza, if you decide to add the ricotta, dollop it around amongst the other ingredients.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 220 °C for about 15-20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is well melted.
8. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Fun Fact

The rustic sausage and mushroom pizza is a true celebration of autumnal flavors in Italy, especially when using porcini mushrooms, known for their intense flavor and somewhat nutty taste. Many local variations may include the use of wild mushrooms typical of the Italian regions.