Italian Sausage and Summer Vegetable Pizza

It’s that time of year-vegetables are fresh, tasty, and cheap. All of us are a little bit overzealous when we are in the produce department at the local Kroger. It is as if the vegetables look like colorful gems that are calling our name. But by the end of the week you open your produce crisper and those gems don’t look like they are going to be colorful for much longer. In these hard times no one can justify throwing away food. Here is your solution:

ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND

SUMMER VEGETABLE PIZZA

Italian Sausage and Summer Veggie Pizza
Vegetables from Katie Stiers home garden

I know what you are thinking, "there is no way with this 90 plus degrees heat that I am turning on the over!" No worries. No oven required.

Italian Sausage and Summer Vegetable Pizza

Heat up the outside grill on high heat. Place pizza stone directly on the grill. Close the lid of the grill and let the stone get hot. Meanwhile go inside and prepare your pizza.



Pizza Dough:


You have 3 options:


1. You can buy pre-made pizza dough from the dairy section of your grocery store.


2. Many local stores have fresh pizza dough in the bakery department. Publix carries whole wheat pizza dough but you have to ask for it.


3. You can make is from scratch. King Author Flour has a great recipe. http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/pizza-margherita-recipe



Pizza toppings: The options are endless


(I do not like pizza sauce on my pizza so if you prefer you can coat the pizza dough with olive oil.)


1. Coat pan with olive oil. Heat up pan. Open the casing of Italian sausage and crumble into a pan. Brown sausage in pan and continue to break up with spoon. Once sausage is brown remove from pan and drain grease. DO NOT CLEAN THE PAN. If you clean the pan you are wiping away all the flavor from the sausage.


2. Chop whatever extra vegetables you have handy. Place vegetables in the same pan you browned the sausage. You may have to add a little bit more of olive oil to coat the pan. Saute the vegetable with the sausage drippings.



Now it is time to assemble your pizza.


1. Spoon pizza sauce or olive oil on dough.


2. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on the dough next-yes the cheese goes on first and not last.


3. Next place your meat on the dough and finally your sautéed vegetables and any fresh herbs you have left over in your fridge.


4. Once your pizza is assembled place your pizza on a sheet pan to carefully take it outside to the grill.


5. Place pizza on the hot pizza stone on the grill. Lower flame to a medium heat and close grill. Let pizza cook on the grill for about 20 mins. After about 15 mins. peek at your pizza. Remember all of your toppings are already cooked. On the grill you are just cooking the dough and melting the cheese.






Enjoy!