Grilled Pesto Pizza

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Whoever said less is more hasn’t tried this pizza! Using the classic pesto as the foundation, Johnsonville piles on the flavor with delicious Italian Sausage Links, peppers, greens, and mushrooms to make a truly light and refreshing pizza dish. Enjoy making your own pizza dough with this recipe and create a dish that’s truly homemade.

  • Servings: 4-6

Grilled Pesto Pizza

What you need

  • 2teaspoons
    sugar
  • 1envelope
    active dry yeast
  • 2tablespoons
    extra virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing and drizzling
  • 3cups
    all-purpose flour
  • 1teaspoon
    salt
  • 1cup
    warm water
  • 1package
    (19 ounce) JOHNSONVILLE® Hot or Mild Italian Sausage Links
  • 1/2cup
    prepared pesto
  • 1cup
    fresh Mozzarella, sliced
  • 1/2cup
    roasted red peppers, sliced
  • 1/2cup
    roasted green peppers, sliced
  • 2tablespoons
    extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • 1cup
    micro greens, pea shoots, or other baby greens
  • 1/2bunch
    basil, torn
  • 1medium
    red onion, wedged
  • 1cup
    Shiitake mushrooms, stems removed

Preparation

  • 1
    Prepare the dough: Whisk 1 cup warm water (about 105°F) and the sugar in a small bowl and sprinkle the yeast over top. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in olive oil.
  • 2
    Whisk the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, pour in the yeast mixture and stir to make a shaggy dough.
  • 3
    Place dough on a floured surface and knead about 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic, adding just enough flour to prevent it from sticking.
  • 4
    Form into a ball, place in a large oiled bowl, turning to coat with the oil. Turn seam-side down and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise at room temperature, about 1 hour 30 minutes, until doubled in size.
  • 5
    Meanwhile, preheat a grill to medium high (if using a charcoal grill, bank the coals to one side) and grill the toppings.
  • 6
    Add vegetables to grill, cook until tender or:
  • 7
    Onion: Cut 1 medium red onion into 8 wedges. Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning, until soft, about 10 minutes; slice.
  • 8
    Mushrooms: Toss 8 ounces stemmed shiitake mushrooms with 3 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning, until soft, about 2 minutes per side; cut in half.
  • 9
    Remove and arrange the grilled vegetables on a baking sheet, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil. Add the remaining toppings to the baking sheet; place near the grill.
  • 10
    Grill Sausage, remove and coin slice. Always cook sausage to internal temperature of 160°F
  • 11
    Reduce the grill heat to medium-low (on a charcoal grill, spread the coals into a single layer and let cool until they are covered in a light gray ash).
  • 12
    Divide the dough in half and dust the dough and work surface with flour. Roll each piece into a 7 x 12 inch rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick.
  • 13
    Brush baking sheet with olive oil and place both crusts on it. Lift each piece by the corners and place on the grill, oiled-side down; cook about five minutes until the dough puffs and the underside is stiff and marked.
  • 14
    Flip the dough with tongs, brush with olive oil, spread with the pesto sauce and top with mozzarella. Arrange the grilled vegetables and sliced sausage on top.
  • 15
    Cover and cook about five more minutes or until the cheese melts.
  • 16
    Remove pizzas from grill and transfer the pizzas to a cutting board. Top with the greens, basil, a drizzle of olive oil and salt. Cut and enjoy!

Grilled Pesto Pizza