Italian Sausage Bread Pizza

 

1

lb bulk mild or spicy Italian pork sausage

2

tablespoons olive oil

1

onion, halved, thinly sliced

2

cloves garlic, finely chopped

1

cup pizza sauce or tomato pasta sauce

1 1/2

teaspoons dried oregano leaves

1/4

teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4

teaspoon salt

1

loaf French bread (about 14 inches long)

2/3

cup ricotta cheese

2

cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)

1/4

cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 Heat oven to 425°F. Lightly spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray.
• 2 In 12-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink. Push sausage to edges of skillet; add 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add onion and garlic; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened. Remove from heat; stir in pizza sauce, oregano, pepper flakes and salt.
• 3 With serrated knife, cut bread in half lengthwise; scoop out center of each bread half, leaving 1/2-inch border (discard removed bread or reserve for making bread crumbs). Place bread halves on cookie sheet. Spread 1/3 cup of the ricotta cheese down center of each; top evenly with sausage mixture, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle loaves with remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
• 4 Bake 6 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted. Cut into slices. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.