Sweet, spicy and packed with big flavors, this pizza from Ooni Ambassador Jonathon Schuhrke (@santabarbarabaker) combines merguez, the fragrant North African lamb sausage, with creamy whipped feta cheese spiked with apricot preserves. Homemade quick-pickled red onions, toasted pine nuts and fresh mint combine to deliver a pizza that hits all the senses.

When you’re looking for an alternative to pork sausage, merguez might just become your new favorite protein. Made of beef or lamb (or a mixture of the two) these sausages include flavoring from harissa, a spicy chili sauce from Tunisia, for a welcome kick–though the level of spiciness varies from region to region and chef to chef. 

Of course, making your own sausages from scratch can be a little intimidating–luckily, here you don’t have to. Merguez sausage can be found pre-made in most specialty grocery stores or online. Added to the top of a pizza, the savory-spicy lamb meets creamy-sweet apricot feta, balanced with vinegary pickled red onions and fresh mint.