Three Tasty Sausage Options For Pizza

When you visit a chain pizza restaurant, you'll almost always see sausage as a topping option. A lot of people enjoy adding this protein source to their pizza, given that it contributes a good amount of flavor and even a little bit of spice. At gourmet pizza establishments, there will often be multiple sausage options—and, instead of simply being identified as "sausage," the menu will typically share more information about its flavor. If you plan to visit a gourmet pizzeria in the near future, browse the menu for pies that feature sausage. Here are some options that you may find.

Italian Sausage 

Without question, Italian sausage is the most common type of sausage that you'll find at pizza restaurants. This type of sausage can vary significantly in its flavor—particularly in terms of its spice level. Mild Italian sausage has a fairly gentle heat level, while hot Italian sausage contains more hot peppers to give more of a kick. Some pizzas that contain hot Italian sausage also have other spicy toppings such as spicy salami, hot peppers, and more. This can be a popular choice for any pizza enthusiast who loves spicy flavors.

Garlic Sausage

At some pizza restaurants, you'll also see garlic sausage as a topping option. As its name indicates, this sausage has a pronounced garlic flavor that can be evident in every bite you take. Some garlic sausage even has subtle sweet flavor notes, which you may enjoy because the sweetness can help to balance out the salty and spicy flavors that may be present on your pie. Many garlic sausages contain other ingredients, including sage and celery seed, that can complement the taste of the garlic and give you a unique flavor.

Smoked Sausage

Another exciting sausage type that you'll occasionally encounter at gourmet pizza eateries is smoked sausage. This is a protein that has a noticeable smoky flavor, which can be evident as soon as you bite into a slice. Some pizzerias get their smoked sausage from a local smokehouse, which can especially be common if you're in an area that has a big meat-smoking scene. You can even find pizzas that use smoked cheese as a topping; combined with smoked sausage, this type of pizza will offer a flavor that you likely haven't experienced in the past.

Look for one of these sausage types when you visit a gourmet pizza restaurant in your area or while traveling. Visit a local Italian restaurant to learn more about pizza.