Boston Pizza
Inspired by Boston's historic North End Italian neighborhood, this pizza features fennel-spiced Italian sausage, roasted bell peppers, and caramelized onions. A tribute to the Italian-American immigrants who brought pizza to New England.
Equipment Needed
Instructions
Make the dough: Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand 5-10 minutes until foamy. Combine flour and salt, add yeast mixture and olive oil. Knead 8-10 minutes until smooth. Cover and let rise 1 hour.
Cook the sausage: Remove sausage from casings and crumble into a hot skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Saute the peppers and onions: In the same skillet, saute sliced peppers and onions in olive oil until softened and slightly charred, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Make the sauce: Heat olive oil, add garlic, cook 30 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt. Simmer 15 minutes until slightly thickened.
Preheat oven: Place pizza stone on the lowest rack and preheat to 500°F (260°C) for at least 30 minutes.
Shape the pizza: Punch down dough and stretch or roll into a 14-inch round. Transfer to a cornmeal-dusted pizza peel.
Assemble: Spread tomato sauce over the dough. Top with mozzarella, then distribute sausage, peppers, and onions evenly.
Bake: Slide pizza onto the hot stone and bake 10-12 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly with some charred spots.
Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle with Parmesan. Let rest 2 minutes, then slice and serve. Best enjoyed with a cold Sam Adams!
💡 Pro Tips & Variations
- North End history: Boston's North End is one of America's oldest Italian neighborhoods and home to legendary pizzerias like Regina Pizzeria (since 1926).
- Use fennel sausage: The fennel seed in Italian sausage is essential for authentic flavor.
- Don't skip the char: Let the peppers and onions get some color - the slight char adds great flavor.
- Hot sausage option: Use hot Italian sausage instead of sweet for a spicier version.
- Add banana peppers: Pickled banana peppers are a popular addition on New England pizza.
- Bar pizza style: For South Shore bar pizza style, use a thin crust in a well-oiled pan with crispy edges.