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Whole pizza salsiccia e friarielli on a wooden board with charred crust, broccoli rabe, and crumbled sausage

Pizza Salsiccia e Friarielli: Neapolitan Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Pizza

A classic Neapolitan pizza with crumbled pork sausage, wilted broccoli rabe, and fior di latte, baked on a screaming-hot surface for a chewy, slightly charred crust.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 620

Ingredients
  

Pizza Dough
  • 500 g strong bread flour (or tipo 00 flour) plus extra for dusting
  • 7 g instant dried yeast 1 standard sachet
  • 10 g fine sea salt
  • 325 ml lukewarm water about 65% hydration
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Friarielli (Broccoli Rabe)
  • 400 g fresh broccoli rabe (friarielli) tough stems trimmed
  • 3 garlic cloves thinly sliced
  • 0.5 tsp dried chili flakes or one small fresh chili, sliced
  • 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 pinch fine sea salt
Toppings
  • 280 g fresh Italian pork sausage with fennel casings removed, meat crumbled
  • 300 g fior di latte mozzarella torn into pieces, drained if very wet
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil for finishing
  • 2 tbsp semolina flour for the pizza peel

Method
 

Make the Dough
  1. Combine the flour, yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the lukewarm water and olive oil, then mix until a shaggy dough forms.
  2. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and slightly tacky. It should spring back when you press a finger into it.
  3. Divide into 2 equal balls (about 420 g each). Place each in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and rest at room temperature for 1 hour until puffed. For deeper flavor, refrigerate overnight and bring to room temperature 1 hour before use.
Prepare the Friarielli
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli rabe and blanch for 2 minutes, then drain and squeeze out excess water firmly with your hands.
  2. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and chili flakes and cook for 1 minute until the garlic is pale gold and fragrant.
  3. Add the blanched broccoli rabe, season with a pinch of salt, and sauté for 4-5 minutes until wilted and coated in the oil. Set aside to cool slightly.
Bake the Pizza
  1. Place your pizza steel or baking stone on the top rack of the oven. Heat the oven to its maximum temperature, at least 250 C / 480 F, for 45 minutes minimum.
  2. Dust a pizza peel or rimless baking sheet generously with semolina flour. Stretch one dough ball by hand into a rough 28-30 cm round, working from the center outward and leaving a slightly thicker edge.
  3. Distribute half the friarielli evenly over the dough, leaving a 1.5 cm border. Scatter half the crumbled raw sausage across the top in small, irregular pieces.
  4. Tear half the fior di latte into 6-8 pieces and distribute evenly. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil.
  5. Slide the pizza onto the hot steel or stone and bake for 6-8 minutes until the cornicione is puffed and charred in spots and the sausage is cooked through. Repeat with the second dough ball and remaining toppings.
  6. Remove from the oven, rest for 1 minute, then cut into slices and serve immediately.

Notes

If your oven doesn't reach 250 C, use the broiler for the last 2 minutes to get color on the cornicione. Keep a close eye - it goes from golden to burnt quickly.