Crunchy Salty Sweet

It’s no secret that I love pizza, and while I usually make it a few times a month, I realized that I hadn’t rolled out a pizza dough in waayy too long.

One of Andrew and my favorite toppings is ricotta cheese. It adds the perfect creaminess that mozzarella just can’t provide. Combine that with a whole wheat crust, some chicken sausage and garlicky sautéed spinach, and the result is one of the best pizzas I’ve made in years.

With pizza stone in oven (or baking sheet), preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium sauté pan, over medium heat, brown the sausage in 1/2 tablespoon olive oil.

While sausage cooks, roll out your pizza dough, and brush with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Place onto hot pizza stone, and par-cook for 6-8 minutes.

When sausage is cooked through, remove from pan and set aside.

In the same pan, still over medium heat, add in the garlic and let cook for about 30 seconds. Add in the spinach and cook until it wilts, it should take about 2 minutes.

Remove pizza dough from oven and top with spinach, sausage, and dollops of ricotta. Sprinkle with mozzarella, parmesan, and red pepper flakes.

Bake pizza for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the crust is cooked through.

Try not to burn the top of your mouth on a molten puddle of ricotta.

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Makes: 8 slices

Prep: 5 minutes, Cook: 25 minutes, Total: 30 minutes

• whole wheat pizza dough, store bought (or I like this recipe)
• 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, divided
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 cups spinach
• 8 oz. chicken sausage
• 3/4 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

With pizza stone in oven (or baking sheet), preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium sauté pan, over medium heat, brown the sausage in 1/2 tablespoon olive oil.

While sausage cooks, roll out your pizza dough, and brush with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Place onto hot pizza stone, and par-cook for 6-8 minutes.

When sausage is cooked through, remove from pan and set aside.

In the same pan, still over medium heat, add in the garlic and let cook for about 30 seconds. Add in the spinach and cook until it wilts, it should take about 2 minutes.

Remove pizza dough from oven and top with spinach, sausage, and dollops of ricotta. Sprinkle with mozzarella, parmesan, and red pepper flakes.

Bake pizza for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the crust is cooked through.