Swap olives for sliced figs, crumbled feta or sliced peppers.

Sardine pizza with caramelised onions

Makes 2 x 25cm pizzas 

Ingredients

For the caramelised onions 

1 red onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp granulated sugar

1kg store-bought bread dough
Olive oil, for brushing
70g tomato paste
250g mozzarella, torn
4-6 black olives, quartered
3 sprigs thyme, leaves picked
2 sardine fillets, drained
Salt and milled pepper 

Method

1. Place onions in a pan over medium-low heat along with the oil and butter. 
2. Stir and sauté for 10minutes until translucent.
3. Without stirring, sprinkle over the sugar and simmer for another 10 minutes. 
4. Stir onions for a final mix, then remove from the heat.
5. Preheat oven to 200°C.
6. Divide dough into two portions. Roll out into flat circles, pressing from the centre outward to create a risen rounded outer edge. 
7. Brush surfaces with oil, then lather tomato paste over the bases. 
8. Bake for 5 minutes to par-cook. Remove.
9. Dot pizzas with mozzarella, onions, olives and thyme. 
10. Halve sardines and remove bony spine. Flake fish over pizzas. 
11. Drizzle pizzas with extra olive oil, season and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until puffed, charred and gooey. 

Recipe & styling: Sjaan Van Der Ploeg
Photography: Zhann Solomons

Also read: Sicilian sardine pasta