Italian Sausage Grilled Pizzas on Garlic and Herb Crust

Italian sausage, roasted red peppers, and fresh spinach combine to make this delicious grilled pizza!

Italian Sausage Grilled Pizzas on Garlic and Herb Crust

Yield

8 (8-inch) pizzas 8 (8-inch) pizzas

Difficulty

Easy Easy

Prep Time

0:20 0:20

Grill Time

6 to 8 minutes 6 to 8 minutes

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Ingredients

  • Crust
  • 3-1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 (2-1/4 tsp.) envelope Fleischmann's® Pizza Crust Yeast
  • OR Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® Instant Yeast
  • 1 tablespoon Italian herb seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1-1/3 cups very warm water (120° to 130° F)*
  • 1/3 cup corn oil
  • Additional flour for rolling
  • Toppings
  • 1 cup pizza sauce
  • 1 pound (500 g) ground mild Italian sausage, cooked and drained
  • 1 cup sliced roasted red peppers
  • 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh baby spinach
  • Additional Italian herb seasoning

Directions

  1. Combine 2 cups flour, undissolved yeast, Italian seasoning, garlic, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add very warm water and oil; mix until well blended, about 1 minute. Gradually add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Dough should form a ball and will be slightly sticky. Knead** on a floured surface, adding additional flour if necessary, until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. (If not using Pizza Yeast, allow dough to rest 10 minutes.)
  2. Divide dough into 8 equal portions. Pat or roll dough on a well-floured counter to about 8-inch circles; they do not need to be perfect.
  3. Start charcoal fire or preheat gas grill to medium-high heat.
  4. Lift each crust carefully, using hands, and place on grill. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes until bottom is lightly browned and top appears set. Using long handled tongs, remove crust from grill, grilled side up, to a platter or baking sheet.
  5. Brush the sauce on the on the grilled side of each pizza crust. Top each pizza with about 1/3 cup sausage, 2 tablespoons peppers, 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.
  6. Carefully slide each pizza onto the grill. Cook an additional 3 to 4 minutes until bottom of crust is browned and cheese is melted. Remove from grill. Top with fresh spinach and Italian seasoning, if desired. Serve immediately.
  7. *If you don't have a thermometer, water should feel very warm to the touch.
  8. **To knead the dough, add just enough flour to the dough and your hands to keep the dough from sticking. Flatten dough and fold it toward you. Using the heels of your hands, push the dough away with a rolling motion. Rotate dough a quarter turn and repeat the "fold, push and turn" steps. Keep kneading dough until it is smooth and elastic. Use a little more flour if dough becomes too sticky, always working the flour into the ball of dough.
  9. Make Ahead: Dough (but NOT individual crusts) may be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator. Punch down and roll out just before grilling. OR, pizzas may be partially grilled ahead of serving. Here’s how: Grill one side of the pizza crust. Cool. Tightly wrap and refrigerate until serving time. Top pizzas with desired toppings (on grilled side) and finish grilling on preheated grill.
  10. Dough sticking to grill? Make sure grill has been preheated and cleaned. To prevent sticking, drizzle oil over paper towel and carefully wipe over grates. Or lightly brush pizza crusts on both sides with oil before grilling.

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