| One of the most popular pizza toppings, pepperoni, | | | | cheeks, has a little stronger flavor and is leaner and |
| packs a lot of flavor in a convenient, inexpensive | | | | more tender. It's traditionally used for carbonara or |
| package. It's zesty, spicy, and satisfying but not too | | | | pasta al'amatriciana. |
| good for your diet. Which is true of another all-time | | | | Italian meatballs are a great pizza topping. But you can |
| favorite, Italian sausage. Both are high in fat and | | | | also just saute ground beef and use that as a |
| sodium. | | | | substitute for Italian sausage. It works well with |
| But there are plenty of healthier choices that let you | | | | traditional pizzas with tomato sauce and mozzarella. |
| satisfy your craving without sabotaging your waistline. | | | | Or you can use it for a Mexican pizza with cheddar |
| A simple switch to reduced-fat pepperoni and chicken | | | | cheese, green onions, black olives, and jalapenos. |
| or turkey Italian sausage can cut hundreds of calories | | | | If you're trying to watch your weight or eat healthy, |
| from your pizza. And give your heart a break too. | | | | don't forget about chicken. It's easy to prepare and |
| Pepperoni and sausage aren't the only game in town | | | | goes with just about anything. Saute fresh chicken |
| though. Plenty of cured and uncured meats add lots of | | | | strips, use leftover chicken, or buy a rotisserie chicken |
| flavor without adding a lot of calories. Ham, which is | | | | at the grocery store. One of the most popular pizzas, |
| often paired with pineapple, is great with mild cheeses | | | | a barbecue chicken pizza, goes together in a flash. |
| and subtle pizza toppings. Capicolla and other spicy | | | | Just use barbecue sauce instead of pizza sauce, and |
| Italian cold cuts work well with other bold flavors like | | | | add red onion rings, Gouda cheese, cilantro, and |
| Kalamata olives, garlic, and roasted red peppers. | | | | chicken. Or substitute hot sauce and add some |
| Prosciutto, the Italian dry-cured ham that's sliced paper | | | | Gorgonzola crumbles to make a Buffalo chicken pizza. |
| thin, is very good with sautéed onions and | | | | Shrimp makes a great Greek-style pizza when you |
| Fontina or Gruyere cheese. | | | | combine it with tomatoes, olives, artichokes, and feta |
| Bacon adds a great smoky flavor to pizza. If you can | | | | cheese. Or pair it with pesto, goat cheese, and pine |
| find apple wood-smoked bacon or Vermont | | | | nuts for a gourmet pie. Most people either love or hate |
| cob-smoked bacon, they are especially good. Cook | | | | anchovies. If you use them, combine them with other |
| the bacon before adding it to your pizza and drain off | | | | bold flavors that they won't overpower like olives, |
| the fat. Then cut it into bite-sized pieces or crumble it if | | | | garlic, and tomatoes. And don't rule out smoked |
| it's crispy. Bacon pairs really nicely with smoked | | | | salmon, which is great with red onions, capers, dill, and |
| cheeses like smoked Gouda, caramelized onions, wild | | | | a tangy sauce like crème fraiche. |
| mushrooms like chanterelles and shitakes, and | | | | When you're looking for new and different pizza |
| tomatoes. | | | | toppings, don't be afraid to look in your refrigerator for |
| There are two kinds of Italian bacon that you can use, | | | | inspiration. When combined with the right ingredients, |
| if you can find them. Pancetta is readily available in | | | | leftover pork tenderloin, steak, or sausage can all |
| most urban markets. It's cured, but not smoked and | | | | contribute to a great pizza. |
| often comes pre-chopped. Guanciale, made from pigs' | | | | |