In Season: Spicy Sausage & Fennel Pizza

It may not feel like winter, but our in-season veggies certainly prove that it is. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and potatoes have been the staples around here, and even though I’m all for my usual stir-fry, sometimes we need to spice things up! Thank goodness for spicy Italian sausage! It’s a great complement to many winter veggies, adding a bit of heat and excitement to a number of meals. Throw in some fennel (a new favorite!) and you’ve got a burst of flavor!

Today I’m sharing a flavorful winter pizza (I told y’all I’m a pizza girl!), plus a few favorites from our Pinterest board: In-Season Recipes.

Spicy Sausage & Fennel Pizza

• 1 recipe thin crust pizza dough
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 pound Italian sausage, browned well
• 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
• 1/2 onion, sliced
• 1 jalapeno, sliced
• Pizza sauce: 1 can crushed tomatoes, 1 minced garlic, 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Parchment paper, pizza peel (or cookie sheet), pizza stone

1. The day before, make your pizza dough. An hour or so before making the pizza, take out the dough and let it rise.
2. Place your pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500 degrees.
3. Brown the sausage, and drain well.
4. Prepare your veggies: slice up the fennel bulb, onion, and jalapeno. You can also add a bit of cooked kale if you’d like to make it extra wintry!
5. Cut out a piece of parchment paper to cover the pizza peel. Place your dough in the center, and gently push out so you have a nice thin circle of dough with a slight ridge around the edge.
6. Spoon a bit of pizza sauce on the dough and spread with a spoon. Sprinkle a handful of mozzarella choice, then top with the sausage, fennel, onion, and jalapeno.
7. Slide the pizza (including the parchment paper) onto the stone and bake for 6 or so minutes. Enjoy!!!

Here are a few of the tools that I use and love!