pizza slice1

With the power vested in me.

By the city of New York.  The state of New York.  The country of the United States.  The northern hemisphere at large.

I now pronounce it.

Summer.

whole pizza2

Okay, so the “official” start to summer was supposedly on Monday.  But actually.  No one consulted me on that.  So I’ve decided to have it annulled.

And start over.  Do it up right this time.

For two reasons.  The first being that I want to practice saying things like “with the power vested in me”.  One of my good friends is getting married this weekend.  Just outside of Boston.  And, you know, there will be a priest and all.  But what if something happens such that the priest can’t make it?  Someone needs to be prepared to officiate at the ceremony.

I’m on it.

zucchini

The second reason being that up until yesterday.  I found the weather to be totally bearable.

Sure, it was hot.  But my apartment has a knack for remaining remarkably cool, even through the hottest of hots.  In addition to which, I personally have a knack for remaining remarkably cool, even through the hottest of hots.  (Yes, there is something seriously amiss with my hypothalamo-pituitary axis.)

But yesterday?  Yesterday was rough.

I felt like vomiting when I walked outside.  I almost couldn’t make it to the salon to get my hair cut (but after a year of not being cut.  I had to grab the bull by its horns.  Just do it.).

And so you can bet that the second I made it back to my apartment.  I ran for the AC switch.  (Given the current state of my stress fractures. I’m not supposed to run.  Anywhere.  But trust me.  This was entirely necessary.)

eaten pizza

Hence why.  Of all the days.  I have declared this one.  To be.  Summer.

However.  Once I had sufficiently cooled down to the point that my shirt was no longer sticking to my back.  I thought.

Well.  So long as the AC is on. I might as well turn the oven up to 500 and make some pizza.  Right?

After taking inventory of my fridge and freezer, I discovered some turkey sausage and some LOCAL zucchini that I had bought from Whole Foods earlier this week.  A quick Google search brought me to this zucchini-sausage pizza, a recipe that was published by Bittman in The Minimalist in July of 2000.

And if Bittman can bake pizza in the middle of summer.  Then damn it.  So.  Can.  I.
meat2

And what can I say about this other than that it was actually.  Mind blowing.  Not something that you would expect given it’s simplicity.  But trust me on this one.  If you do anything with the mounds of summer squash that are going to be knocking down your door in a few weeks. Making this pizza.  Should.  Be. It.

This is my submission to this week’s IHCC, the theme of which is Summer Lovin’!  It is also going to Our Krazy Kitchen’s Birthday Bash!  Because who doesn’t love a pizza party!

Pizza Dough
Makes 1 12-inch pie, adapted from The Minimalist 

3 cups AP flour
1 tbsp yeast
2 tsp coarse sea salt
1 cup water
2 tbsp roasted garlic-infused olive oil

1. In a small bowl, mix together the yeast with 1/4 cup lukewarm water.  Add a pinch of sugar.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour and sea salt.  Add in the olive oil, 3/4 cup lukewarm water, and yeast.  Stir with a wooden spoon until the dough gets too stiff, then incorporate the rest of the flour with your hands.  Knead for 5-10 minutes.  Cover with a damp cloth and let rise for 2 hours.

3. Flour the dough, form it into a ball and let it rise on a floured surface, covered with a damp cloth, for 20 minutes.  Stretch out on a pizza peel, parchment paper, or baking sheet.

Zucchini-Sausage Pizza
Serves 4, adapted from The Minimalist 

3 medium zucchini, sliced thinly
coarse sea salt
2 spicy Italian turkey sausage links, cases removed
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
freshly ground pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees, with your baking stone already inside the oven (if using).

2. Mix the zucchini with the salt in a large bowl and let sit for 20 minutes.  In the meantime, heat a small nonstick skillet and saute the sausage, breaking it into crumbles with spatula as you go, until it is cooked through,

3. Rinse the zucchini and pat dry.  Layer the zucchini slices on your pizza dough.  Sprinkle the sausage on top, along with a tad bit of salt, some parmesan cheese, and freshly ground pepper.

4. Bake for 15 minutes or until nicely browned.

This has been yeastspotted!

whole pizza1

You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
blog_share_subscribe
Share →

95 Responses to Zucchini-Sausage Pizza

  1. monicajane says:

    just stopping in to say:

    OH YUM!

  2. doggybloggy says:

    scary freaky weird – I made bacon, zucchini pizza yesterday but I dont have a camera so so one will believe me….

  3. Simply Life says:

    happy summer! Great way to start it with that meal!

  4. So green and fresh! Yummy!

  5. You have a fun writing style that I smiled through and that pizza looks delicious too.

  6. What a beautiful looking pie! And with no sauce or heavy cheese! I bet it was bliss.

  7. Delicious pizza Joanne! I can’t wait for those local zucchini:D

  8. Nela says:

    Looks awesome and is delicious

  9. Pam says:

    Thank goodness summer is finally here. If only it could just stay longer even though it was incredibly humid and warm yesterday. Your pizza sounds and looks so inviting! Have a great time at the wedding, Joanne!

  10. Giovanna says:

    I am entirely overwhelmed with zucchini right now! And cucumbers, and cantaloupes. Your pizza looks yummolicious!
    I may have to try it out, I’m running out of ideas for my zucchini.
    I may top mine with some goat cheese, think that would be good?
    Have fun at the wedding! : )

  11. Catherine says:

    I love homemade pizza! This looks fabulous Joanne! I’m eating a slice with my eyes. Happy Summer!

  12. What a great idea of using zucchini as pizza topping!

  13. Kristen says:

    I have been craving pizza for the last week and this post is not helping! Looks delicious, sounds wonderful. If it weren’t going to be almost 100 today, I’d make it. I am destined to be pizza-less for at least another week, though.

  14. Kristin says:

    I love making my own pizza dough. I know that it takes longer than just buying a pizza crust but it tastes so much better. Your pizza looks amazing, at 9am I am craving pizza now. If you have any leftovers you can just send them my way. I will take care of them for ya. :o)

  15. I absolutely cannot wait to try this! I wanted pizza so badly last night but we found a centipede in our pillsbury dough! ICK!

  16. Tasha says:

    Zucchini and (turkey) sausage is a combination I LOVE! On a pizza- with just a little parmesan and no sauce- sounds like perfection!!

  17. Eliana says:

    I applaud you for making pizza in this heat. Especially one that looks as good as this one. You are one brave woman.

  18. Ameena says:

    I also applaud your pizza making abilities in the heat. And the fact you don’t keep your AC running 24/7. We are pretty lucky in L.A. with the moderate weather but come September our AC and Maya’s college fund have an inversely proportionate (sp?) relationship.

    Pizza looks great!

  19. girlichef says:

    Flippin’ delicious!! I’m totally making this as soon as I get some zucchini! Awesome =)

  20. Karla says:

    Yeah….thinkin’ I’m gonna have to try this…. 🙂

  21. Dawn says:

    love me some fresh zucchini.

  22. Suman Singh says:

    love the pizza toppings..looks delicious!

  23. Your haircut reminds me that I need one too.. I have to make an appointment at the Salon in Stamford mall and be done with it.
    I guess you are a serious fan of Bittman. You have adapted plenty of his recipes.Love the Pizza. Looks divine. Have a great time at your friend’s wedding and be ready to officiate the ceremony if something happens to the priest.
    I have something whipped for this Krazy Kitchen’s Birthday Bash too..actually two.. Will be posting it soon.

  24. It’s that time of the year when I start craving zucchini! And nothing’s going to stop me from turning on the oven… This looks fantastic!

  25. i am definitely going to try this! looks + sounds so delicious 🙂

    xo Alison

  26. Mary says:

    What a healthy and delicious looking pizza. I really love your sense of humor. You have a great day. Blessings…Mary

  27. Pierce says:

    You eat so well…..this looksm like I ought to bringing a plate over for a piece of my own!

  28. Nicole, RD says:

    Have fun at the wedding! It has been SO stinking hot here, too! It’s nice today, though! I hope it’s good weather for the wedding!

    That pizza seriously looks amazing…the crust looks incredible! Must make!

  29. I love all your Bittman recipes. Can’t get enough of them. I haven’t made a pizza since the morels and I think it’s time to get back in the game. Zucchini is a great summer veggie and it goes well with everything. Being a vegetarian, I might try this with sun dried tomatoes or something. Any suggestions?

  30. Mo Diva says:

    My heart is broken that I cant see a single word on this screen as I had my eyes dilated a little while ago and feel so blessed that i can type with my eyes closed.
    Plase forgive my typos but from what i can see that pizza is everything iw uld want a pizza to be. I adore zukes. I adore sausage. I adore them rogether. what I am envious of is how you make that dough look so pretty. when i work with pizza dough its uneven, lumpy and tough. secrets?

  31. I’m sipping a freshly brewed cup of hot coffee. It’s overcast. I’m in freakin’ California. I repeat. It’s overcast. It will soar to the mid 70’s sometime today. I love it just that way. I have never lived in a hot and humid climate. I can only imagine how hot and miserable other folks describe as a place I’d never survive in. We don’t have A/C, can you believe it? Warm weather or overcast, I can’t resist a homemade pizza. I’m totally hooked on making my own dough– try fermenting it a day or two. It’s a whole new animal. This combo is perfect and far healthier than take out. Joanne, I’m not sure what I enjoy most about your blog… your writing style. Brilliant. Funny. Or the photos and recipes.

  32. oh so yummy! i think i may have to steal your topping ideas….happy friday!

  33. Beautiful pizza, love the colours.

  34. Bob says:

    Ha! I have a pizza in the oven right now just because I can since the a/c is in. It’s been summer here in Boston for a while, it’s frigging nasty. Hope it’s nice for your friends wedding!

    The pizza looks awesome, too. Heh.

  35. Wonderful pizza recipe. Love the marriage of zucchini and sausage. Gorgeous photos as well.

    Cheers!

  36. Andreas says:

    Sounds and looks like a great pizza.

  37. Katerina says:

    One of the things I miss from my stay in the States-foodwise-is pizza. These huge, stuffed with tons of things pizzas were my favorites. I think I will like this too, as it has all the necessary ingredients to make it very attractive.

  38. sweetlife says:

    love your pizza, how refreshing to have zuchinni with sausage i bet it was da bomb…ha ha, excuse me I’m old

    sweetlife

  39. Sook says:

    Oh wow, sounds so healthy and delicious!

  40. RamblingTart says:

    Oh girl, you just never fail to make me laugh, remind me how hilarious life is, totally cheer me up no matter what’s going on in my little world. 🙂 The pizza is gorgeous!! 🙂

  41. Ms. Meanie says:

    Interesting how this pizza doesn’t have a sauce. Sounds like it would be good for when you’re looking for a lighter, more refreshing pizza to save you from these unbearable hot days. I feel your pain. It’s supposed to be 95 degrees tomorrow here in California!

  42. Amy says:

    It supposed to get up to 100 here this weekend. And someone said to me, “but at least it’s a dry heat.” I smirked. Do you think that logic works to people who live in Phoenix, when it’s say, 115 degrees? I doubt it. At a certain point, hot is hot.

    Maybe I should make pizza, too. You’d be proud of me, Joanne – I made my first dough from scratch last weekend. It came out pretty okay.

    Love that 1st picture, btw!!

  43. SnoWhite says:

    and I was just looking for a recipe to use up my sausage on 🙂 Thanks!

  44. Deborah says:

    I get tons of zucchini from the garden – I’m totally saving this recipe!!

  45. Mari says:

    I am so scared to see my electric bill! my ac has been on straight for 2 days straight! ::gasp::

    I hope you have a great time at the wedding…If I EVER get married, you might have to cater it lol

  46. Chris says:

    Our quandary is always “fire up the oven when it’s 90f outside or fire up the grill which is outside where it’s 90f?” I go with the grill 🙂

    Great looking pizza. That is very simple, so I’m glad you commented on the flavor vs. the simplicity. To be honest, I’d pass on it based on the lack of a sauce unless someone like you swore it worked.

    And I know you swear it works…..being all official, sworn in, and all 😉

  47. Lynn says:

    Yum, homemade pizza. Nothing like it. I’ve made a few of Bittman’s recipes and they’ve been excellent. Nice and simple.

  48. Debinhawaii says:

    This pizza looks delicious and well-worth the air con /hot oven/ electricity bill! 😉 Love the sausage and zucchini pairing.

  49. Another wonderful use for the truckload of zucchini I’ll have in my garden very soon! Seriously good use!

  50. polwig says:

    Looks amazing… on the begning I thought it was you getting married, maybe it was a flashback from watching the hangover last night…

  51. Sophie says:

    I so love fresh pizzas like this tasty & fab looking one!! It is all about the best ingredints that are in season & the sausage meat looks incredibly tasty!!

    Yummmmmmm,…

  52. Faith says:

    This definitely looks mind-blowing! And I’m always looking for new zucchini recipes during the summer — once they’re in season and $.79 a pound it’s like some sort of compulsion, I just buy and buy them (really, it’s out of control 😉 ). At least now I’ll have a great new use for them!

  53. gotnomilk says:

    What a great combination of ingredients. Yours looks delicious. Happy Summer.

  54. Pam says:

    Bookmarked this for when the zuchinni start coming in!

  55. sophia says:

    This pizza is gorgeous! I do adore zucchini. This the season to sweat and burn. And you just got your hair cut? So did I! I look like a freaking fobby Korean now!

  56. Holy cow that looks good! I love the thought of zucchini on pizza! It’s been hot here too, like today, 90 and humid. Can’t wait. Thank goodness the airconditioner and I are good friends!

  57. Katy ~ says:

    I should probably be ashamed to say this, but I think your pizza looks so good I could eat the whole thing by myself. Might have to spread it out over a couple of meals, but I have an idea that I would not want to share this, grins.

  58. It has been unbearably hot – UNBEARABLY! This pizza looks terrific. The crust looks chewy, and I love the supple crunch of roasted zucchini on pizza.

  59. Lori says:

    Oh, I bet that garlic infused oil topped this off. We have been pizza crazy this year. I made broccoli and sausage the other night so I know I’d also love this combo!

  60. Laurie says:

    This looks wonderful Joanne.. even for summer!

  61. Sippity Sup says:

    Zucchini is summer and elevates a typical pizza to summer food… GREG

  62. Laetitia says:

    great mix for your pizza. The dough looks superb, seems like bread, delicious!

  63. Joanne

    I don’t think I have EVER had a pizza with these two ingredients and it sounds fab! We have so many zucchini coming out of our ears here in the mountain and what a great idea!

  64. grace says:

    if there’s anything worth sacrificing the coolness of the kitchen, it’s pizza. this is most definitely unique, and i fully intend to try it soon. yes, the zukes are knocking at my door. 🙂

  65. Kim says:

    I am a zucchini freak, so this pizza really turns me on 😉 Save me a slice! It looks delicious.

  66. Lea Ann says:

    I agree, 100 degrees in Denver yesterday says Summer to me. I love this pizza idea. Another bookmarked.

  67. wow this pizza rocks thanks for pronouncing it summer lol love the cranberry sauce and brie idea – yum

  68. Oooooh! Pizza is my favorite thing right now. It’s so easy to make and is adaptable to whatever’s in season or whatever I happen to have left over in the fridge! I don’t understand how you’ve been handling the weather so easily lately. I feel like I have to change my shirt at least twice a day as prophylaxis against any overactive sweating causing shirt staining. Heaven forbid. I’m jealous of your axis. I got a haircut last week too. Twas quite freeing. But I didn’t wait a year to get one. That’s crazy talk! I’m at Cornell in a week and a half!! Let’s plan a date, yes?

  69. Kelsey says:

    holy yum!!! zuchinni sausage BOO YAHHH!

    cut me a slice or two 🙁

    i dont mind me a yeasty pizza either. hehe, yeastier is tastier.. ummm.. yea doesnt sound too great when i say it liek that tho lol

    xoxo <3

  70. knk says:

    i never saw this pizza before it looks great nice post dear

  71. What a fabulous and fresh take on pizza. who would have thought to finely slice that zucchini and add that crumbled sausage…you! and Bittman. Sorry to hear the knarly NY heat has been fired up. I grew up there and I remember it well. Our Cali summers are much more pleasant, not sticky and humid. Keep a smile on your face cooking up some more goodies! xo

  72. Raina says:

    I love summer but I can’t take the oppressively hot days either, especially a few in a row. I am crazy sometimes and put my oven on when it is hot too..lol.

    Your pizza looks fantastic! I am a huge zucchini fan. This would be a big hit in my house..thanks!

  73. Jen says:

    what a pretty pizza, I just LOVES pizza!

  74. Alisa says:

    OMG, now I am so craving sausage pizza!

  75. Velva says:

    Happy Summer to you Joanne. You are allowed to declare Summer to be any day that you would like-
    Pizza looks wonderful. Perfect for summer and more healthy than your standard pizza.

  76. PJ says:

    yes, summer it is indeed! have fun at your friend’s wedding. the pizza looks so tempting, love the first photo! reminds me of summer actually 🙂

  77. I love this combination on the pizza. I wish, I had time to make everything, I would like to.

  78. Tiff says:

    Oh my goodness, this pizza looks so delicious! It is so pretty and earthy looking! What a great combination!

  79. Mmm I love the idea of this and will have to try it when I finally get around to making vegetarian sausage.

  80. Elizabeth says:

    Hmm, this may be a way to get my husband to willingly eat zucchini. 😉

  81. Kerstin says:

    What a unique pizza! I think I would be forced to add some goat cheese on top though 🙂

    Hope you have fun at the wedding! Let me know if you have any extra time and would like to get together 🙂

  82. Carolyn Jung says:

    That’s one beautiful pie filled with the flavors of summer. One bite, and you’ll forget about the heat outside. 😉

  83. Cynthia says:

    I love zucchini and I love pizza! This looks sooo good! I’ve been wanting to make pizza for a while so this one will definitely be bookmarked!

  84. Can not get over how wonderful this looks!!

  85. tigerfish says:

    Summer! w00t! I’ll be back for all the lovely produce! Beautiful pizza – love the contrasting colors of green and red on your pizza.

  86. Shirley says:

    Doctor, chef, priest!! what next? Great pizza.

  87. Ivy says:

    I love zucchini and this pizza sounds great.
    I want to send you a recipe for Regional Recipes but haven’t found where to send it or a link to the event. I have just posted the recipe and shall be sending it at the e-mail you have in your profile.

    Ivy

  88. katiez says:

    Summer arrived here on Wednesday – 2 days late but at least it showed up. My zucchini exploded. I’m switching to eating the flowers to get it back under control.

  89. Marisa says:

    That looks seriously GOOD! I love zucchini on pizza, but people always look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them that.

    PS: great pics!

  90. Luigi says:

    Joanne only YOU could manage to include the words “hypothalamo-pituitary” into a recipe for a lovely looking Pizza. LOL!

  91. Superchef says:

    This pizza seriously looks awesome!! I cannot believe Im discovering your blog only now – missed out on soo much. Have to catch up on all posts now..

    Awesome job on the blog, recipes and photographs!

  92. Karen says:

    Perfect for summer… I can’t wait until our zucchini are big enough to pick!

  93. Pizza looks delicious! It cooled down here a lot the last couple of days, but last week, walking on my lunch break? It was huUmId. Warming up again today and more so on through the weekend!

  94. I love that you have no fear of turning on the oven in the summer! I’m like that too – if I want to bake then I will, whatever time of year. The crust for this pizza looks like it was delicious!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *