Canned fish is in style and this Anchovies on pizza will convince you that the salty, salty fish is seriously underrated as a pizza topping. You can easily change the toppings on this umami-filled pizza and make it a favorite in your home!

Canned fish is currently all the rage, and that includes tiny salty anchovies. Restaurants are rolling out full menus with canned fish as the star, and the public is finally giving anchovies the chance they deserve.

As a longtime lover of Caesar salads, I slowly came to appreciate anchovies. There was a time when I always asked for them to be left out of the salad… But I also knew that they add that wonderful hint of umami flavor to the dressing. And without them, it wouldn’t be a Caesar salad. Even if you think you don’t like anchovies, know that 95% of the time, anchovies are the secret ingredient.

Perhaps the most polarizing question about anchovies is whether or not you want them on pizza. Many say no… But once you try this anchovy pizza, you might change your mind!

Why you’ll love this recipe (Anchovies on pizza)

You’ll love this anchovy pizza recipe because it changes the way you think about anchovies or because it highlights the fact that you’re an anchovy fan. Because it is SO SO good!

It’s also super easy to make and very easy to customize. You can do it like I did or add any toppings you like. I will make many suggestions later in this post.

The benefits of Anchovies on pizza

Anchovies are not only full of umami flavor, but they also have many health benefits.

It’s a calorie-efficient food rich in protein, iron and omega-3 fatty acids, a polyunsaturated fat that supports heart health and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease ( source ).

Keep in mind that canned anchovies are often high in sodium, so the serving size is usually quite small.

But in the end, they are a great protein source for pizza!

Ingredients (for Anchovies on pizza)

As I said, it is easy to customize this pizza to your liking. But if you do like me, you won’t need too many ingredients. I like to make my own pizza dough and share that recipe with you here, but you can also substitute store-bought dough if you prefer.

You’ll find everything you need here (but be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions):

1. Olive oil

2. Pizza sauce

3. Grated mozzarella cheese

4. Red onion

5. Black olives: You can use regular black olives or Kalamata olives. I love kalamata, but they add an extra saltiness

other

6. Anchovy fillets

7. Red pepper flakes

8. Basil leaves

9. Shaved parmesan cheese

And if you make homemade dough, you will need:

10. Dry yeast

11. Lukewarm water

12. Salt

13. Extra virgin olive oil

14. Honey

15. All-purpose flour

16. Garlic powder

How to make homemade pizza dough

Have you ever made your own pizza dough? If so, you know how easy it is! Of course, buy the dough in the store or your favorite pizzeria, but if you have a few extra hours to spare, it’s always good to make it yourself!

Mix yeast and water in a large bowl and let stand for 2 minutes.

Stir salt, extra virgin olive oil and honey into the mixture.

Mix the flour and garlic powder into the mixture with a wooden spoon. After mixing, knead the dough in the bowl a few times with your hands.

Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let it rest in a warm place for about 2 hours so that the dough can rise. There’s not much I love more than taking the towel off a bowl or letting the dough rise and seeing how high it’s risen!

If you want to make the dough in advance, you can store it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for 7-10 days.

Make sure to bring it to room temperature before using.

How to make anchovy pizza

And now the rest of this recipe is a breeze…all you have to do is roll out the dough and top it with toppings. But first, preheat the oven to 450 degrees and lightly dust a round baking pan with some cornmeal. This will prevent the pizza from sticking to the pan after baking.

Roll out the dough to fit the prepared baking sheet.

Brush lightly with olive oil, making sure to preserve the edges.

And spread the tomato sauce over it.

Sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese on top.

And add anchovies, sliced ​​red onion and olives.

Check out these delicious little fish! If you want, you can chop them up so that there are small pieces of anchovy in each bite. But I like that they look whole.

Finish the pizza with shaved Parmesan cheese and a few basil leaves.

And bake for 9-13 minutes until the pizza turns golden brown.

Remove from the oven and garnish with more fresh basil if desired. I love fresh basil on pizza.

Whether you like them or not, you have to admit that anchovies make a very good pizza!

But it is also a pizza that is absolutely delicious and full of flavor.

This anchovy pizza contains three foods known for their umami properties: anchovies, parmesan cheese and olives.

It’s a salt lover’s dream, but it’s the kind of salt that’s also good.

How to store leftovers

Chances are there won’t be any leftovers from this anchovy pizza. But if you do, you can easily save it to enjoy later. Store the pizza in an airtight container or wrap tightly in aluminum or plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to eat. It should stay fresh for about 3 days.

You can heat it in the oven, toaster oven or deep fryer. You can also make them in the microwave, but that’s not my favorite way to heat pizza.

Recipe variants

I love pizza with red sauce, anchovies, olives, red onion and mozzarella and parmesan. But there are SO many topping combinations that would make a delicious anchovy pizza.

When planning your toppings, keep in mind that anchovies are quite salty. Additions like prosciutto and capers, while delicious, would add an even saltier flavor.

Here are some more topping ideas:

1. White sauce: I used red sauce for this pizza, but anchovies also go really well with white sauce on pizza. They make a great topping for this olive oil pizza with basil and garlic.

2. Fresh tomatoes

3. Paprika

4. Other cheeses: Goat cheese or Fontina cheese are delicious. Feta cheese is also a good addition, but be aware that it adds more salt. You can also use fresh mozzarella instead of grated mozzarella.

5. Spinach

6. Arugula

7. Artichokes

8. Finely chopped garlic

9. Fresh lemon juice and/or lemon peel

10. Fresh parsley

11. Black pepper (you definitely don’t need more salt!)

12. Pineapple: making the most controversial pizza in the world!

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