Super-stuffed French Bread Pizza Rustica

Total Time: 42 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
• 1 loaf french bread (2 feet long)
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 lb sweet italian sausage
• 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 large garlic cloves, chopped
• salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 lb sweet sopressata, sliced thick from the deli and chopped
• 3 -4 ounces pepperoni, chopped
• 10 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
• 10 ounces shredded provolone cheese
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 425°; defrost spinach in the microwave, 6 minutes on high; wring spinach dry in a clean kitchen towel.
• 2 split bread lengthwise and hollow it out; cut in half crosswise, making 4 shells for pizzas.
• 3 heat a skillet over med-high heat; add in olive oil, then the sausage; brown and crumble sausage using a wooden spoon.
• 4 add in bell pepper, onions, and garlic; cook 3-5 minutes, then add in the spinach.
• 5 remove pan from heat; season with salt and pepper; transfer mixture to a bowl.
• 6 mix the sausage mixture with the ricotta, parmesan, sopressata, and pepperoni.
• 7 fill pizzas with the mixture; top with mounded mozzarella and provolone cheese.
• 8 place pizzas on a cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes until cheese melts and bubbles and bread is super crisp.
• 9 top pizzas with oregano and hot pepper flakes; serve immediately.