Week #36 Oklahoma - Sausage & Gravy Pizza

State: Oklahoma

When thinking of Oklahoma, my first thought is Barbeque.  After researching, I learned that sausage and gravy is big there.  I had never thought of making a sausage and gravy pizza before, but I thought I would give it a shot. Let me tell you how amazing this pizza was.  Sometimes the simple pizzas are the best, so you have to give it a try. 

Ingredients:

1 pound of hot pork, chicken or turkey sausage (I used chicken sausage)

1 pizza crust

1/2 cup of cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

1/3 cup of flour

3-4 cups of milk

Sausage & Gravy:

In a large pan on medium heat, heat a tablespoon or so of canola oil.  Add in the sausage and cook until browned.  Next, slowly add in the flour and stir until it is mixed thoroughly.  After flour is mixed in, slowly add in milk while continuously stirring for 30 seconds or so. Reduce heat to low and allow milk to thicken.  Once mixture is thickened, add in salt and pepper to taste.  Set aside. 

Pizza:

Preheat oven to 450 or 400 depending on crust.  Cook crust for 5-10 minutes depending on crust or until slightly browned.  Remove from oven and set aside.  Add a layer of the sausage gravy over the base of the pizza or until completely covered.  Throw on the cheddar cheese and place back into the oven, cooking for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Remove from heat and allow to cool a little before cutting or eating. 

Pairing:

When pairing a beer with this pizza, I would go with a stout or porter and something darker.  This pizza would be great when it is cold outside and shared with a nice barrel aged stout or imperial porter.  I wasn't able to find a beer from Oklahoma, but once I do, I will add it to the blog.  When pairing a wine, a nice robust red like a Merlot would go very well.  

Learning Moments:

I have said this before, but again, sometimes simplicity is the best.  Sausage and gravy is good anytime, whether in the morning or at night.  Making a sausage and gravy pizza with cheddar cheese was tasty!  I was going to make a biscuit style crust, but I didn't have that much time and I have never made biscuits before, so there goes that.   I would highly recommend this pizza, because it was amazingly good.  Hope you like it!  Enjoy!