Description
This Cast Iron Pizza recipe offers a deliciously crispy crust cooked in a cast iron skillet, topped with plant-based Italian sausage, creamy cashew cream or mozzarella, artichokes, roasted peppers, and fresh basil. Perfect for a quick and customizable homemade pizza that yields a golden, perfectly cooked crust with vibrant Mediterranean-inspired toppings.
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 14 ounces Homemade Pizza Dough (from 1 recipe)
Toppings
- 1 plant-based Italian sausage link (3 to 4 ounces), cut into small pieces
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing and drizzling
- Scoops of cashew cream or ½ cup grated mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped red onion
- ½ 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
- ⅓ cup roasted red peppers and/or roasted tomatoes
- Dollops of pesto
- Basil leaves
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 450°F to ensure it is hot enough for a crispy pizza crust and properly cooked toppings.
- Cook Sausage: Cut the plant-based Italian sausage into small pieces. In a small cast-iron skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage pieces until browned, about 1 to 2 minutes, to develop flavor and texture.
- Prepare Dough in Skillet: Press the pizza dough into a dry 10-inch cast iron skillet, shaping a thicker rim around the edge for the crust. Prick the dough all over with a fork to prevent bubbles. Heat the skillet over medium stove heat for 2 minutes; this step crisps the bottom of the crust before baking.
- Assemble Pizza: Remove the skillet from heat. Brush the crust lightly with olive oil. Spread a thin layer of cashew cream or sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese over the dough as the base layer.
- Add Toppings: Evenly layer chopped red onion, quartered artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and/or roasted tomatoes, and the browned sausage pieces on top of the cheese or cashew cream.
- Bake: Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the crust is lightly golden brown and fully cooked through.
- Finish and Serve: Remove pizza from oven and top with dollops of pesto, a drizzle of olive oil, fresh basil leaves, and red pepper flakes to taste for added flavor and color. Serve warm.
Notes
- For the dough, use your favorite homemade pizza dough recipe or store-bought dough as a shortcut.
- You can customize toppings to your preference, swapping in your favorite vegetables or proteins.
- Cashew cream provides a vegan alternative to mozzarella cheese.
- Heating the dough in the skillet on the stovetop before baking ensures a crispy, well-cooked crust bottom.
- Ensure the cast iron skillet is dry before pressing in dough to avoid sticking.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
