This pizza celebrates a classic Korean combination: kimchi and pork (in this case, sausage). Start with a simple homemade pizza dough and preheat your oven to the hottest setting for the perfect crust.
When I was in junior high, my parents bought a pizza restaurant in Inglewood, California. What did a Korean family who recently relocated from Pennsylvania know about pizza? Absolutely nothing! But that didn’t stop my people. They let us kids scrub the house. They bought a pizza oven. They hired a Mexican chef. A sign was put up and we were open!
Our fridge was stocked with risen dough my mom had learned to make. We had a meat cutter to cut pepperoni, salami and Canadian bacon and the pizza sauce was homemade.
I prefer mine with kimchi and Italian sausage. Kimchi and pork are a classic combination in many Korean dishes. This kimchi and sausage pizza recipe is reminiscent of the one I grew up with.
Tips and tricks for preparing homemade pizza
This homemade pizza is easy. Good tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella, crumbled Italian sausage and lots of kimchi is all you need. If a little 11-year-old girl from Seoul can do it, so can you! Here are some tips and tricks:
- Although a home oven isn’t hot enough to get that perfect crust, a pizza stone retains heat well and can help. Make sure you preheat your oven for at least 30 minutes, which can happen while you’re assembling the pizza.
- If you don’t have a pizza stone, use a large (at least 12 inch) cast-iron skillet or sturdy baking sheet that can withstand high heat. Lightly grease the cast iron skillet with cooking oil before preheating. If the pan is smaller than 30 cm, the batter will be thicker, so you will have to cook it a little longer.
- You can also grill your pizza when it’s too hot to turn on your oven. Here is a guide to grilling pizza.
- The dough may shrink as you roll it out. Let sit for 15 minutes before trying again to give the gluten in the dough a chance to relax.
Reheat pizza in a pan
Instead of reheating leftovers in the microwave (they’ll get mushy), heat the pizza in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat with a little oil. You can also reheat it in the oven. For more tips on reheating pizza like a pro, click here!
More pizza recipes to try
- Grilled Vegetable Pizza
- BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Pizza
- Sliced asparagus and potato pizza
- Grilled pizza with peppers, broccoli and onions
- Sheet Pan Pizza with Roasted Cauliflower and Vegetables
Pizza with kimchi and sausage
ingredients
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2 lb bought in store or homemade pizza dough
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8th ounces store-bought Chinese cabbage kimchi, or homemade quick kimchi
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all purpose flourfor dusting
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meal with cerealsfor dusting
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1 Cup store-bought marinara sauce or homemade pizza sauce
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1 Cup grated mozzarella cheese
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8th ounces crumbles italian sausage
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Fresh basil leavesfor garnish (optional)
method
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Prepare pizza dough:
When the dough is chilled, let it come to room temperature on your counter for about an hour. Divide the dough in half, place both halves in a large bowl, and cover the bowl with plastic wrap to keep the dough from drying out.
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Preheat the pizza stone or tray:
Position the oven rack in the center of the oven and place a pizza stone or large baking sheet on it. Preheat the oven to 500°F for at least 30 minutes to get the pizza stone really hot.
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Prepare kimchi:
Roughly chop the kimchi into 1/4-inch pieces. Use your hands (wear food-safe gloves if you want) to squeeze the juices out of the kimchi to keep the batter from getting soggy. (Don’t throw away the liquid! Make this stew with it.)
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Roll out the pizza dough:
Lightly dust your countertop with flour. Working with one (1 pound) portion of dough at a time, use a rolling pin to roll it into a 10- to 12-inch circle. You can also spread the batter with your fingers. Don’t stress that you have to be specific about the size or shape. It doesn’t have to be a perfect circle!
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Prepare the pizza peel:
Spread a thin layer of cornmeal on your pizza peel and place the rolled out dough on top.
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Top pizza:
Scoop half of the marinara sauce onto the dough, using the back of a spoon to spread evenly around the outer edges. Sprinkle half of the cheese over the sauce. Distribute half of the sausage and the squeezed kimchi evenly.
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Bake pizza:
Gently sprinkle some cornmeal onto the preheated pizza stone. Slide the pizza on top and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the sausage is cooked through.
While the first pizza is cooking, assemble the second pizza with the remaining ingredients.
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Allow to cool slightly and serve:
Take the pizza out of the oven, place it on a cutting board and let it cool for a few minutes. Sprinkle with fresh basil, if you like, and serve.
Bake the second pizza while enjoying the first.
Did you like the recipe? Leave us a rating in the comments!
| nutritional information (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 593 | calories |
| 21g | Fat |
| 78g | carbohydrates |
| 22g | protein |
