Welcome to the world of Cracker-Thin with Fennel Sausage pizza—a delightful combination of a crispy, paper-thin crust with the rich flavors of homemade fennel sausage. If you’ve been eager to try your hand at making cracker-thin pizza at home, this recipe is the perfect place to start. While the homemade fennel sausage adds a touch of gourmet flair, you can always opt for store-bought sausage if time is of the essence. Whether you’re a seasoned pizza maker or a novice in the kitchen, this pizza is sure to win hearts and taste buds with its incredible taste and texture. So let’s roll up our sleeves, dust our work surfaces, and embark on a pizza-making adventure that will leave you craving for more!
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 (10-ounce/280-gram) ball Cracker-Thin Dough
- Medium-grind cornmeal, for dusting
- ⅓ cup (85 grams) Cracker-Thin Tomato Sauce, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon (3 grams) finely chopped garlic
- 1 ounce (30 grams) provolone cheese, sliced (1 slice)
- 6 ounces (170 grams) part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded (1½ cups)
- 4 ounces (115 grams) Sweet Fennel Sausage
- Grated Pecorino Romano cheese, for dusting
- Dried oregano, for dusting
- Red pepper flakes, for dusting (optional)
- Garlic Oil, for drizzling
PREPARATIONS:
- Remove the dough ball from the refrigerator and leave wrapped at room temperature until the dough warms to 60°F to 65°F. Meanwhile, set up the oven with two pizza stones or baking steels and preheat to 500°F for 1 hour.
- Dust the work surface with a generous amount of cornmeal, then transfer the dough to the surface and dust the top with cornmeal.
- Following the instructions in Rolling Pizza Dough, roll out the dough into a thin round 13 to 15 inches in diameter. Trim the dough to a 13-inch round and dock the surface of the dough.
- Spoon the tomato sauce onto the center of the dough, then spread it evenly over the surface, leaving a ¼-inch border. This will keep the dough flat as it bakes.
- Slide the pizza onto the top stone and bake for 3 minutes. Remove the pizza and sprinkle with garlic.
- Scatter the provolone evenly over the pizza, then mound the mozzarella in the center and spread it evenly from the center to the edge. Distribute the sausage evenly around the pizza.
- Rotate the pizza, transfer it to the bottom stone, and bake for 3 minutes. Rotate and bake for another 4 minutes. Finish on the top stone for a final 1 minute to crisp the bottom.
- Transfer the pizza to a cutting board and make 3 evenly spaced cuts in one direction and 4 in the other to make 16 squares.
- Finish with a light dusting of pecorino, oregano, pepper flakes, and a drizzle of garlic oil.
YIELD:
- Makes one 13-inch pizza or 16 small squares
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
- Baking the crust without cheese will yield a crispier crust.
TIPS:
- For a truly gourmet experience, consider making your own Sweet Fennel Sausage using high-quality ingredients.
The Cracker-Thin with Fennel Sausage pizza is a delightful fusion of textures and flavors, showcasing the art of pizza-making at its finest. The thin, crispy crust serves as the canvas for the rich tomato sauce, gooey mozzarella, and homemade fennel sausage, creating a symphony of tastes that dance on your taste buds.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility—you can either opt for store-bought ingredients for a quick and delicious meal or take the time to craft your own sweet fennel sausage for a gourmet experience. Whichever path you choose, the end result will surely leave you and your guests craving for more.
As you dive into the process of pizza-making, remember to roll out the dough with care and precision to achieve the perfect thinness. The docking of the dough ensures an even bake, allowing for a consistent texture and taste in every bite.
The final touches of pecorino, oregano, and red pepper flakes elevate the flavors and add a burst of color to the pizza. A drizzle of garlic oil brings all the components together, making this pizza an exquisite creation that is both pleasing to the eye and the palate.
Whether you’re sharing this pizza with friends and family or savoring it all to yourself, the Cracker-Thin with Fennel Sausage pizza is a celebration of the joys of homemade pizza. The aroma that fills the kitchen as it bakes is a testament to the love and dedication that go into crafting this culinary masterpiece.
In conclusion, this pizza is a true crowd-pleaser, perfect for gatherings, weeknight dinners, or a special treat to spoil yourself. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a pizza-making adventure that will create memories and tastes to last a lifetime.
