Cajun Pizza
Love pizza? Love Cajun food? Here is the fusion for you!
Things to know:
Where did pizza originally come from?
Pizza was invented in Naples, Italy, where it evolved from a simple flatbread into the dish we know today, particularly in the 18th century. It was initially a cheap and quick food for the poor but became a global sensation after its creation was associated with royalty, such as when baker Raffaele Esposito created the “Margherita” pizza for Queen Margherita in 1889.
What is tasso ham made of?
Tasso ham is made from the pork shoulder (butt), not the hind leg, which is heavily seasoned with a spicy Cajun blend (cayenne, paprika, garlic, thyme, etc.), cured with salt/sugar, and then smoked, resulting in a lean, intensely flavored, salty meat used primarily as a flavoring agent in dishes like gumbo, beans, and rice.
What does tasso ham taste like?
Tasso ham tastes intensely spicy, smoky, and salty, with a bold, savory pork flavor, due to heavy seasoning with Cajun spices (like cayenne, pepper, garlic) and hot smoking. It’s firm but tender, meant to be used as a powerful seasoning meat in dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, or beans, rather than eaten alone in large quantities.
What are traditional Cajun foods?
We consider jambalaya, gumbo, étouffée and red beans and rice to be the “big 4” of Cajun dishes. There are more out there such as po’ boys, a delicious Cajun sandwich with an huge variety of versions.
What is Creole vs Cajun food?
Cajun food is the food of the Acadians, an ethnic group descended from the French who settled in the New France colony of Acadia during the 17th and 18th centuries. Cajun food is often spicy (though you can make it flavorful with much less “heat”), rustic and hearty. Creole food comes from the city of New Orleans and is a fusion of French, Spanish, African and other influences.
Ingredients:
For the Cajun Red Sauce:
1 cup tomato sauce
1 T Cajun seasoning
1 t smoked paprika
1/2 t garlic powder
For the Pizza:
1 pizza dough (store-bought or homemade, we used Aldi’s Mama Cozi’s Pizza Dough)
2 T butter
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup sliced spicy sausage (such as Andouille)
1/2 cup Tasso ham
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 550°F. If you have a pizza stone, warm it in the oven as well.
2. Prepare the Cajun red sauce by mixing tomato sauce, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Set aside.
3. In a skillet over medium high heat, melt the butter, then add the onions, peppers and celery and sauté until the onions are translucent. Set aside.
4. Roll out pizza dough on a floured surface to desired thickness and transfer to a pizza stone or baking sheet.
5. Spread a generous layer of Cajun red sauce over the dough.
6. Sprinkle on a layer of shredded cheese. We used a Mexican blend, but you can substitutes mozzarella or cheddar.
7. Add a layer of the sautéed onions, peppers and celery.
8. Next add a layer of sausage, then Tasso ham.
8. Cover with shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
9. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
10. Remove from oven, garnish with fresh parsley or herbs, slice, and serve warm. ENJOY!
DISCLOSURE: When we link to products and services, those links may be customized affiliate links. If you click on any of those affiliate links and make a purchase within a certain time frame, We’ll earn a small commission. The commission is paid by the retailers.
Here’s an example: If we link to our favorite vegetable peeler, and you click on that link and complete a purchase within the next 24 hours, we may receive a commission somewhere between 1 to 10 percent of your total order.
We are careful to link to products and retailers that we use ourselves and recommend. These affiliate programs use cookies to track visits for the purposes of assigning commission on these sales. Money earned keeps Galley of the Sun running and allows us to do what we love.
Thank you for your support.
SELECT AFFILIATE PROGRAM DETAILS: We are currently members of affiliate programs with Amazon and Dalstrong. We are eligible to earn from qualifying purchases.