Roasted Garlic Pizza Bread
This isn't your average French bread pizza, oh no. We're kicking things up a notch with ciabatta, a whole head of roasted garlic, two cheeses, fresh herbs and savory toppings. So, preheat those ovens and let's get cooking!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 head garlic
- olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper
- 16 ounce loaf of ciabatta, (or other crusty bread)
- ¾ cup pizza sauce
- 8 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup pepperoni slices
- 1 link Italian sausage, (use spicy sausage for an extra kick)
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, (plus more for serving)
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, sliced thin
- red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Remove the outer layers of paper around the head of garlic. Cut about 1/4" off the top; you may need to cut a few cloves individually if they are shorter. Nest the garlic in some foil and drizzle with a little olive oil. Seal the foil around the garlic and roast for 40 minutes until the cloves are soft and slightly caramelized.
- Meanwhile, remove the sausage casing and place the meat into a small cold skillet. Sauté it over medium heat until cooked through, using a wooden spoon to break the sausage into bite size crumbles. Drain and set aside.
- Once the garlic is cool enough to handle, squeeze the cloves out into a small bowl. Add the butter and mash together. Season with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste.
- Slice the bread in half lengthwise. Spread the roasted garlic butter over the cut sides. Place the bread on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes until slightly crispy.
- Spread with pizza sauce, then distribute the mozzarella, pepperoni and sausage. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and oregano. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese is melted; broil for a minute or two if you like. Remove from the oven and rest for 5 minutes.
- Top with fresh basil and red pepper flakes; slice and serve with additional parmesan, if desired.
Notes
- Make-ahead options – roast the garlic, make the garlic butter and sauté the sausage earlier in the day or the day before; store in the refrigerator. Allow the garlic butter to soften before using.
- Storing leftovers – Wrap slices in aluminum foil and refrigerate for 1-2 days. To freeze, pop wrapped pizza bread into a zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheating leftovers – Refrigerated or thawed pizza can be warmed up in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes to maintain crispiness; add extra time for frozen pizza. Zap it in the microwave for a quick reheat, but it won’t be as crispy.
Nutrition
Calories: 697kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 1621mg | Potassium: 347mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 988IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 466mg | Iron: 2mg
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