Quick Weeknight Pizza With Ricotta Broccolini And Sausage Food

SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLINI PIZZA

Steps:

• Put an inverted baking sheet on the lowest oven rack; preheat to 475 degrees F. Line another inverted baking sheet with parchment; drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Form the pizza dough into an 8-inch oval on the parchment; flip to coat with the oil. Drape with plastic wrap; set aside.
• Combine the tomatoes and basil in a bowl. Mix the ricotta, mozzarella and mint in another bowl; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausages and garlic; cook, breaking up the meat, 5 minutes. Remove to a plate using a slotted spoon. Add the broccolini and 1/2 cup water to the drippings in the skillet and cook 5 minutes.
• Stretch the dough to 11 by 14 inches on the parchment; spoon the ricotta mixture on top. Top with the tomatoes, sausage and broccolini. Slide the pizza (on the parchment) onto the hot baking sheet. Bake until the crust is golden, 15 minutes. Transfer the pizza to a cutting board to slice.

SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS PASTA WITH BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up the meat using a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Scrape the mixture into a medium bowl. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, the broccoli, peppers and garlic to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until they soften and begin to brown, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water and drain the pasta. Return the pasta and reserved cooking water to the pot over low heat. Add the broccoli mixture, cooked sausage and its accumulated juices, 1/2 cup Parmesan, the lemon juice and red-pepper flakes and stir vigorously until liquid is slightly thickened and saucy, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve the pasta with additional Parmesan for sprinkling on top.

SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLINI PIZZA POCKETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• To a medium skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and heat until it begins to shimmer. Then add the sausage, cooking and breaking it up into crumbles with a wooden spoon until it begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool slightly.
• Add the garlic to the skillet. Stir to combine, being careful not to burn it (reduce the heat if necessary). When the garlic is fragrant and just translucent, add the broccolini and toss to coat in the garlic and olive oil. Cook until just tender, about 7 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, to the medium bowl with the cooked sausage, add the mozzarella, ricotta, Parmesan, lemon zest and black and crushed red pepper to taste. Stir to combine.
• Divide the pizza dough into four equal parts and roll into balls. On a lightly floured work surface, flatten them into circles, about 1/4 inch thick. Spread them each with one-quarter of the cheese mixture, sausage and broccolini, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Fold them in half to make a calzone shape, pinch the edges to seal and then transfer the pizza pockets to a pizza peel, pizza stone or baking sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake until lightly browned on top, 10 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve with warm marinara sauce.

QUICK WEEKNIGHT PIZZA WITH RICOTTA, BROCCOLINI, AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 550 degrees with a pizza stone or baking sheet positioned on the middle rack.
• Combine broccolini and one tablespoon olive oil in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat.
• Place pizza dough on a lightly floured pizza peel or the back of a baking pan. Using floured fingers, stretch to a diameter of 12-inches. Arrange mozzarella, ricotta, broccolini, and sausage on top of dough in a rustic fashion. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Shake pan to ensure that pizza doesn't stick to pan. Open oven and, in one jerky motion, shake pizza and release onto pizza stone or preheated baking sheet. Bake until golden and puffed, about 10 minutes. Finish with olive oil, basil, and lemon zest, if desired. Cut into wedges and serve.