I still remember… Growing up in Brazil, Pizza à Portuguesa used to be one of my favorite pizzas.
I don’t know exactly why it got the name à Portuguesa (Portuguese-style pizza)– I suppose it is because the pizza is topped with hard-boiled eggs and Portuguese chouriço sausage. For those who may not know, eggs are a very important ingredient in Portuguese cuisine, and have a prominent place in many popular dishes.
This Pizza à Portuguesa is topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, tomato, hard-boiled eggs, onions, ham, chouriço sausage, green bell peppers, olives, and oregano. Are you overwhelmed? Trust me: it is one of the best — if not the best– pizzas that you will ever eat. The thickness of the crust as well as its texture vary from place to place nowadays, although the traditional pizza crust, brought initially by Italian immigrants to São Paulo, was thin and crispy.
Pizza à Portuguesa is one of those dishes that are quick and easy to prepare, yet extremely flavorful — ideal to share with family during a busy week, or with friends on weekends. Well, I do hope you try and enjoy our dish for today, Pizza à Portuguesa, as much as my husband and I enjoyed ours…
xx
Pizza à Portuguesa
(Portuguese-Style Pizza)
Segment: Brazilian cuisine
Yield: 1 (12-inch/30.5 cm) pizza
Ingredients:
1 (12- inch/30.5 cm) homemade or store-bought pizza crust (I used Mama Mary’s thin and crispy crust)
Olive oil to brush crust and drizzle the pizza (optional)
1/3 cup tomato sauce
3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
8-10 thin slices deli smoked ham
6-8 slices of chouriço sausage, stir-fried (optional)
1 large tomato, sliced
1 medium yellow onion, sliced
1/2 medium green bell pepper, small diced
2 large hard-boiled eggs
6-8 pitted black olives
Fresh oregano
A pinch Kosher salt
A pinch freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425º F/ 218º C (or at the temperature indicated on the package). Line a large, round baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. To make the pizza a portuguesa: Brush one (12-inch) pizza crust with olive oil if desired (It seals the crust and makes it crispier). Spread the tomato sauce on top and then distribute the shredded cheese. Overlap the ham in the center of the pizza, and arrange the slices of sausage (optional), tomato and onion.
3. Slice one of the hard-boiled eggs and reserve to decorate the pizza when it comes out of the oven. Chopped the yolk of the other hard-boiled egg and sprinkle in the center of the pizza. Decorate with black olives, sprinkle the oregano, and season with salt and pepper.
4. Bake for 10 minutes (or follow instructions on the package of the pizza crust), remove from oven, and decorate with the slices of hard-boiled egg. Drizzle the pizza a portuguesa with a little bit of olive oil if desired. Enjoy!
You might also enjoy:
Nydia
April 2, 2013 at 8:58 pmNothing better than a pizza made at home
Denise Browning
April 3, 2013 at 7:47 amI do agree with you, Nydia!
Thanks for visiting me…
The Café Sucré Farine
April 2, 2013 at 10:04 pmThis is just beautiful, the colors are so vibrant and such a delightfully unique combination of ingredients!
Denise Browning
April 3, 2013 at 7:46 amThanks, Chris! This is one of my two favorite pizzas…It’s so flavorful that nobody believes until they take a bite and fall in love with it — like my husband did yesterday. 🙂
Coffee and Crumpets
April 3, 2013 at 8:24 amLove the colours and flavours of this pizza Denise! It really is so vibrant. I love the boiled eggs on the pizza too, what a great idea!
It was really good seeing you and thank you for lunch! I hope the girls are well. I have some lovely pictures of them. I will email them to you.
Nazneen xx
Denise Browning
April 3, 2013 at 9:07 amThank you, Nazneen! It was a real pleasure to meet you and your family.
I hope we can get together one of these days again…
Laura King
April 3, 2013 at 11:00 amCan you tell me more about the chouriço sausage? From the recipe I think it is maybe smoked or something so it is firm enough to slice? Where can I find it here in SA? I find the “optional” ingredients in your recipes are maybe what sets them apart and gives me a more authentic taste of your
homeland 🙂
Denise Browning
April 3, 2013 at 12:43 pmLaura: I am glad to have you here! Chouriço is a Portuguese sausage made with pork, fat, wine, paprika and salt. It is stuffed into natural or artificial casings and slowly dried over smoke. It is similar to the Spanish chorizo (the sweet one — not the spicy). I have tried to find it here in San Antonio without success so far though. You can use the sweet chorizo from Spain instead (not the one from Mexico because it contains different seasonings). I think Central Market might carry the sweet Spanish chorizo. I put as an optional ingredient because on the region that I grew up in Brazil, the Portuguese pizza is not topped with chorizo — although it is in other regions. Moreover, it is not available in Texas unfortunately. Thanks for stopping by!!!
Deb
April 3, 2013 at 12:23 pmGreat pizza Denise! We often add hard boiled eggs to sandwiches. The vibrant colors are evocative of our spring that is dancing on the horizon!
Denise Browning
April 3, 2013 at 12:26 pmThanks, Deb! Yes, this pizza is very springy…
Lail | With A Spin
April 3, 2013 at 2:12 pmLove the vibrant color of this pizza, Denise. I don’t eat pork but boiled eggs are going on my pizza topping list next time I make a homemade one. What a great idea!
Denise Browning
April 3, 2013 at 3:15 pmThanks, Lail! It’s always good to have your visit.
You can skip the sausage…I do! You can also use deli chicken breast instead of ham. I hope you try this pizza one of these days.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
April 4, 2013 at 5:13 amThat’s a beautiful and beautifully photographed pizza. I think I’d like it!
Denise Browning
April 4, 2013 at 7:17 amThanks, Maureen!
Kate@Diethood
April 4, 2013 at 9:06 amOh goodness…that is beautiful, and delish!
One of my favorite pizza toppings is eggs!! Looks like I will fit right into the Brazilian culture!!! 😉
Denise Browning
April 4, 2013 at 4:37 pmThanks, Kate! Great to know…
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com
April 6, 2013 at 12:19 pmPizza with eggs on top? Love it! My type of pizza – with this my protein, it will keep me full for hours and I could eat it for breakfast too! Pinned!
Denise Browning
April 6, 2013 at 4:43 pmMine too, Julia! I love eggs — and with cheese is even better!!! 🙂
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com
April 6, 2013 at 12:20 pmWith this much protein (eggs) – it will keep me full – that’s what I meant to say…. 🙂
Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen
April 6, 2013 at 2:18 pmOh wow yum, that is such a delicious looking pizza Denise!
Denise Browning
April 6, 2013 at 4:43 pmThanks, Rosie! Glad that you like the idea.
Nami | Just One Cookbook
April 6, 2013 at 5:53 pmI love your pizza, especially eggs on it! I have had a Japanese fusion pizza once which has boiled eggs and I liked it a lot. This is a must try when I recover. I know my kids will love it.
Denise Browning
April 6, 2013 at 7:22 pmNami: Thanks a lot! I had no idea that you were sick. I do hope that you recover soon. We all miss you.
Liz
April 6, 2013 at 6:58 pmI don’t think I’ve met a bad pizza…and this one looks darn delicious!!!!
Denise Browning
April 6, 2013 at 7:20 pmThanks, Liz! I love pizza a lot as well — and this one is very special to me!!!
Raymund
April 8, 2013 at 3:18 amI feel like I want this for breakfast, looks awesome
Denise Browning
April 8, 2013 at 7:10 amThanks, Raymund! I hope you do…This pizza is awesome!
Wizzy
April 8, 2013 at 2:57 pmThis is surely a different flavor combination on pizza than what I am used to but it does look exceptionally good. Can’t wait to give it a try.
Denise Browning
April 8, 2013 at 3:33 pmThanks, Wizzy! Although hard-boiled eggs on pizza seem awkward in some countries, it is pretty popular in Brazil. I hope you give it a try. It’s quite delicious!!!