Best Homemade Sardine Pizza
on Dec 10, 2020, Updated Nov 19, 2023
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Sardine Pizza is my go-to meal when I have canned sardines and onions on hand. This classic Italian recipe is really easy and delicious. You’ll want to make this homemade pizza over and over again!
My family loves fun pizza ideas, from Anchovy Pizza, Dill Pickle Pizza, and of course, this simple and delicious pizza with sardines and caramelized onions.
When I feel like making an easy pizza without too many ingredients, this sardine pizza is my top choice – it’s quick, easy, and tastes so much better than the store-bought pizza. It features a nice tomato sauce base with canned sardines, caramelized onions, fresh tomatoes, lots of cheese, and a sprinkling of parsley. Pizza night will never be boring again!
Ingredients & Substitutes
- Pizza Dough – I like homemade pizza dough, which is very easy to make with a few simple ingredients. You can also use store dough.
- Tomato Sauce – Homemade tomato sauce is the best. You can also use store-bought pizza sauce or marinara sauce.
- Canned Sardines – I recommend using olive oil-packed sardines as they really complement the fish well. Water-packed sardines won’t have the same rich flavor.
- Mozzarella Cheese – Choose high-quality mozzarella that’s not packed in water. Also avoid pre-shredded which sometimes browns too fast and forms an unattractive crust. Other options include cheddar, aged Havarti, or Provolone cheese.
- Onion – I like red onions as they add a beautiful color and a nice sweet caramelized flavor to the pizza. You can substitute white or yellow onions.
Equipment You’ll Need
You can make the homemade dough completely by hand without any special equipment.
For the pizza, a regular pizza pan or baking sheet works well. If you’d like to make it more professional you can use a pizza stone and pizza steel.
How Do You Make Sardine Pizza
1. This recipe starts with pizza dough, which can be homemade or pre-made from the store.
2. Transfer the dough to a non-stick pizza pan, and stretch it by gently flattening the dough into a 12-inch circle.
3. Use a fork to poke holes across the surface of the dough.
4. Brush with olive oil and top it with a layer of tomato sauce evenly.
5. Add plenty of mozzarella cheese, sardines, and sliced onions.
6. Bake in the oven at 450 F degrees for 12 to 15 minutes until the cheese has melted. Serve and enjoy!
Tips for Sardine Pizza
- I recommend baking your pizza at a high temperature. I like to set it to 450°F. If you use a baking stone or cast-iron skillet, let it preheat for about 15 minutes. Once you put the pizza in the oven, it’ll take 12-15 minutes.
- If you like a thin and crisp pizza crust, make sure your dough is thinly stretched out. If you like a fluffy pizza, make your crust thicker.
- I prefer to use freshly shredded mozzarella cheese. The pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents and doesn’t melt well.
- Use olive oil-based canned sardines instead of water-packed ones.
Sardines vs Anchovies on Pizza
Both sardine and anchovy pizza come out of Italy. Anchovy pizza is basically a Napoletana style pizza where a few high-quality local anchovies are added to Margherita pizza. The toppings of anchovy pizza usually include olives, capers, and basil in addition to anchovy fillets. Sardine pizza is much simpler, and usually the fish and onions are added.
How to make pizza dough
To make homemade pizza dough, all you need is some simple ingredients: all-purpose flour, yeast, water, sugar, salt, and olive oil. Follow the instructions to make the dough, and it’s really easy.
Let it rise for about 30 minutes. Remember that you don’t need to knead the dough after rising. Simply press it out gently with your fingers in order to preserve the air bubbles that make pizza fluffy. Use a fork to poke holes across the surface of the dough crust so it doesn’t develop large bubbles while baking.
What is the Best Canned Sardine Brand?
The best canned sardines are packed in oil, as water-packed sardines often taste a bit water-logged. Oil locks in the flavor and helps to keep sardines moist. Look for olive oil based sardines as it complements the fish well.
As for sardine brands, my favorite is Clover Leaf. Some other good options include Wild Planet Wild, King Oscar, and Matiz Sardines.
Is it Ok to Cook Canned Sardines?
Yes, absolutely. Canned sardines are already cooked so you’ll just reheat them. Cooking sardines with pizza is a great way to bring them to life.
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I hope you like this recipe. If you tried it, please comment below and let me know how your Sardine Pizza turns out!
Easy Sardine Pizza Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Homemade Pizza Dough
- 1 packet active dry yeast, (2 ¼ teaspoons)
- 1 cup warm water, 105-110°F
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Toppings
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed or shredded
- 6-8 canned sardines, (It’s best to use olive-oil packed sardines)
- 1/4 medium-sized red onion, thinly sliced
- Optional chopped parsley for garnish.
Instructions
Make Pizza Dough (skip this step if you use store-bought dough)
- In a small bowl, combine yeast, sugar, and warm water. Let it sit for 10 minutes, and you should see the yeast foaming up.
- Mix together flour, salt, olive oil and yeast mixture with a wooden spoon until the dough just begins to come together.
- Transfer the dough to a well-floured cutting board. Knead the dough by hand for about 5-8 minutes until it’s soft and elastic.
- Then place the dough in a greased mixing bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm and dry area for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
Make Sardine Pizza
- Preheat the oven to 450°F.
- Stretch the dough by gently flattening the dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer it to a non-stick pizza pan or pizza stone. Use a fork to poke holes across the surface of the dough.
- Brush the dough lightly with olive oil. Add the tomato sauce and spread it evenly, leaving a 1/2-inch border on all sides. Add mozzarella, distributing it evenly over the surface.
- Add sliced red onions, and sardines on top of the cheese.
- Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted, and the crust is golden brown.
- Remove the pizza from the oven, and transfer to a cutting board. Garnish with chopped parsley or basil. Slice and serve immediately.
Notes
- The homemade pizza dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours or frozen for 3 months.
- As each oven works differently, I recommend checking the doneness after 10 to 12 minutes.
- To reheat leftover pizza, bake it in the oven for about 5 minutes or until the crust is crispy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
Great. Sardines not overpowering, perhaps balanced by the acid in tomatoes. The sardines I had were not small but I cut them into pieces and placed on the pizza base. Most enjoyable and will make again and will certainly look at trying your other recipes