This homemade anchovy pizza is rich in umami flavor and creamy and crunchy on the edges. Savory pizza sauce, melting cheese, delicious toppings, and salty anchovies come together to make a homemade pizza that will keep you and your family coming back for more! Pizza night has never been better—it's easy and efficient.
It will astound you with its incredible umami taste, which is incredibly genuine, flavorful, and uncomplicated. Pizza with anchovies? Real Italian pizza contains anchovies for a reason: these tiny fish burst with umami, salt, and savory taste. Furthermore, anchovies are among the world's most sustainable and nutrient-dense fish!
Pasta alla Puttanesca, a meal that features this taste combination, is particularly well-liked in Italy. Pizza is elevated when you put this daring blend of ingredients on it!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Bold tastes. If you enjoy strong flavors, this is the pizza for you!
- Italian classic. Pizza and anchovies have been a popular pairing in Italy for ages. This custom "cocina povera"
- Flavor contrast. Creamy mozzarella pairs beautifully with salty anchovies, contrasting the flavor.
- Thick crust. Pizza al taglio is baked in rectangular pans with a thick crust and various toppings. The slice offers it and is a popular and delicious street dish. Pizza al taglio translates as "pizza by the cut."
Main Ingredients
Not many, only nice pizza dough and a few high-quality ingredients:
- Pizza dough: Although I like to create my own pizza dough, you are welcome to use store-bought dough instead. Make your pizza dough with flour, yeast, water, sugar, salt, and olive oil. Compared to dough purchased from a store, this dough is fresher, will taste better, and is likely to be simpler to shape and form.
- Pizza sauce: You may use your preferred store-bought sauce or make your own pizza sauce as I did!
- Anchovies: The highlight of this pizza is the anchovies! For the finest flavor, go for anchovies that are packed in oil. Make use of the highest quality you can afford. It must be nice because this is the main element. Try a fillet. Use them if you enjoy the flavor.
- Mozzarella cheese: Select mozzarella that is low in moisture. Drain the fresh mozzarella well if it's packaged in whey. Pre-shredded mozzarella doesn't melt as well, so stay away from it. It is recommended to grate or chop the cheese.
- Parmesan cheese: I prefer to sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top of pizzas for added taste! For optimal results, use high-quality aged Parmesan cheese.
- Black olives: Kalamata, green, or black olives can be used. Although I adore Kalamata, they contribute a significant amount of added salt.
- Red Onion: The red/purple onion is what I like best. I adore red onions because they have a strong, somewhat sweet taste that goes well with pizza.
- Garlic: Only fresh!
- Extra virgin olive oil: This recipe doesn't require a high-end kind. A typical grocery shop kind will work just fine.
- Basil.
How to make the best anchovy pizza
- Set the oven temperature to 450°F.
- After stretching the dough to fit on the baking sheet, lightly coat it with olive oil, being careful to go all the way to the edges.
- Then cover the dough with the pizza sauce, leaving a 1-inch border.
- Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese and top with anchovies, sliced red onions, garlic and olives.
- Top with shaved parmesan cheese and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Then bake the pizza for 15 to 20 minutes, or until bubbling and golden brown.
- Drizzle the pizza with olive oil as soon as it comes out of the oven, then sprinkle the chopped basil on top. Cut into slices and serve.
Variations and Substitutions
- Spicy: Before baking, sprinkle red pepper flakes on the pizzas to provide a little spiciness.
- Garlicky: Add a large clove of peeled and finely chopped garlic to the tomato sauce.
- Additional toppings: Sprinkle the tomato puree with caramelized onions before baking. Once baked, garnish the anchovy pizza with arugula or rocket leaves and a few dollopings of sun-dried tomato pesto or black olive olivada.
Frequently Asked Questions
There's not a very good substitute for anchovy fillets on pizza. I would suggest either integrating a few fillets into the pizza sauce, skipping completely, or cutting the fillets into smaller pieces to get acclimated to the unique but great flavor! This pizza will be fantastic no matter how you cook it!
The pizza sauce used in this dish has a different consistency than marinara. Since pizza sauce serves as a foundation that all of the toppings highlight, it is typically thicker and more concentrated. Marinara is normally a little thinner and seasoned slightly differently because it is typically consumed on its own. In a pinch, marinara is fine, but try creating my delicious pizza sauce instead!
What to Serve with Anchovy Pizza
You may want to serve this anchovy pizza with a side dish or two, but it makes a great pizza night meal. Here are some delicious serving ideas:
- Caesar Salad: Incorporate the anchovy element into your meal with this delectable salad. I enjoy including kale in my salad to boost the dish's nutritional value. Brussels sprouts can also be used as an alternative to Caesar salad.
- Greek Salad: Add cucumbers, tomatoes, and salty feta cheese to add more taste.
- Salad with Shaved Asparagus
- Chopped salad of kale
- Salad with Chick-fil-A Kale
- Green Beans with Blisters
- Asparagus with Lemon Pepper
If you tried this Anchovy Pizza or any other recipe on my website, please feel free to leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. And remember to tag me on Instagram!
More Easy Dinner Recipes
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- Quick And Easy Dump And Bake Meatball Casserole
- The Best Chicken Mozzarella Pasta
- The Best Crispy Chicken Parmesan
- EASY Lipton Onion Soup Meatloaf Recipe
Recipe
BEST Homemade Anchovy Pizza Recipe (Homemade Dough!)
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ball homemade pizza dough
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup homemade pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup red onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 6 anchovy fillets from a jar or can
- ¼ cup black olives
- ⅓ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
- Set the oven temperature to 450°F.
- After stretching the dough to fit on the baking sheet, lightly coat it with olive oil, being careful to go all the way to the edges.
- Then, cover the dough with the pizza sauce, leaving a 1-inch border.
- Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese and top with anchovies, sliced red onions, garlic, and olives.
- Top with shaved parmesan cheese and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Then, bake the pizza for 15 to 20 minutes until bubbling and golden brown.
- Drizzle the pizza with olive oil when it comes out of the oven, then sprinkle the chopped basil. Cut into slices and serve.
NOTES
- Prepare your sauce and dough in advance.
- Stretch your dough by hand rather than rolling it.
- Instead of using anchovies packed in water, use those packed in oil.
- Use a very hot oven, ideally 500°F (260°C), to bake your pizza.
Celeste Hayes says
'Simple yet delicious' perfectly describes this anchovy pizza recipe! The crispy crust combined with those savory little fish creates an unforgettable taste experience. I'm definitely going to experiment with different cheeses next time—sounds amazing!
Frances Rose says
This recipe is a total winner for pizza night! It’s so easy to throw together, especially with store-bought dough. I love how the umami from the anchovies pairs with the rich tomato sauce; it’s simply delightful!
Rachel Harris says
I never thought I'd enjoy anchovy pizza, but this recipe changed my mind completely! The blend of flavors is fantastic—the sharpness from the Parmesan really complements those salty fillets. Definitely adding this to my regular rotation!
Allison Cooper says
'Absolutely obsessed' is how I feel about this dish! The way all these flavors come together is incredible—the creaminess of the mozzarella balanced by the briny anchovies makes every bite exciting. Can't wait to share this with friends!
Daisy Hamilton says
Anchovies on pizza? Yes, please! This recipe makes it so approachable. I love how you can customize it with extra toppings too; it opens up a world of possibilities for flavor combinations that are just mouthwatering.
Laila James says
This pizza sounds like a dream come true for any foodie! The layers of flavor—from tangy sauce to creamy cheese and those tasty anchovies—are just perfection. Can’t wait to try making it myself at home!
Lena Ford says
'Wow' is all I can say about this pizza! I've always been hesitant about anchovies, but they really do add something special here. Plus, who doesn't love a quick and easy dinner option that tastes gourmet?
Angelica King says
Who knew anchovies could be such a game-changer on pizza? The combination of creamy mozzarella and salty anchovies creates this perfect balance that’s just delicious. Plus, the fresh basil adds such a lovely touch to each slice!
Amelia Diaz says
I have to say, I was a little skeptical about anchovies on pizza at first. But once I tried it, I was hooked! The salty flavor really enhances the whole experience, making every bite so flavorful and satisfying.