suemunzlinger's Recipe

Homemade Deep Dish Pizza

Category: Main Dish

(makes about 12 servings)

Ingredients:

For the dough:
4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
2 3/4 teaspoons instant yeast
2 tablespoons olive oil
5 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup + 2 tablespoons lukewarm water

For the sauce:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup grated onion
1 teaspoon dried oregano
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Salt
Pepper

For the toppings:
1 pound shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Your choice of toppings (pepperoni, sausage, peppers, etc.)

Directions:
1 To make the dough, mix all the dough ingredients together and knead them by hand or with a mixer for about 7 minutes (use a medium-low speed with the mixer). Then, put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise for about 60 minutes until it is nice and puffy.*see note

2 When the dough is almost done rising, start preparing the sauce. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, and then add the onion, oregano, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook the onion for about 5 minutes, until it starts to get tender and translucent.
3 Add the garlic to the sauce and cook for about a minute, then add the tomatoes and sugar. Bring the heat to high so the sauce starts to simmer, then lower the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for about 30-35 minutes (it should reduce in size by about 2 cups).
4 Get your deep dish pan ready you can use a 14 inch pan, cast iron skillet, or two separate 9-inch pans (springform cake pans work really well for this). Grease the entire thing with cooking spray and drizzle 3 or 4 tablespoons of oil into the bottom of the pan, making sure the bottom and partway up the sides are evenly oiled.

5 Stretch the dough with your hands to make as big of a circle as you can, then lay the dough in the pan and stretch it until it starts to shrink back. Cover the dough and let it rest for another 15 minutes, and preheat the oven for 425 degrees F.

6 Stretch the dough to cover the bottom of the pan and then press it up the sides of the pan with your fingers. Let the crust rest for another 10 to 15 minutes, and then bake it for 10 minutes until it is just starting to brown.
7.It is time to check the sauce once it has reduced by the 2 cups mentioned before, take it off the heat, add the basil and oil, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

8 Take the crust out of the oven and cover the bottom with cheese. Add whatever toppings you like, and then spoon the sauce on top of everything (enough so the sauce is not as high as the crust you want to leave a little room there). Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese.

9 Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the cheese on top starts to brown and the crust starts to look golden brown. Let it cool for about 15 minutes.

I had deep dish in Chicago, when I lived in Wheaton, Il., and still like St Louis thin crust better. Friend gave me this recipe and I have not tried it yet. :)

* Note America test Kitchen hint: After rising and rolling out spread soft, not melted, butter over dough and roll up and fold. If using 2 9 inch pans. cut in half. Make into a ball (or two balls if using 9 inch) and let rise again (if warm, let rise in fridge). Roll out then for last time before putting into pan. Will make a more flaky crust.