While I did not use just sausage (I added pepperoni because I love it) this Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza is a favorite of mine and the grandsons! I hope you enjoy it. Original recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour.
RECIPE
Ingredients
Crust
4 cups All-Purpose Flour
3 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
2 3/4 teaspoons instant yeast
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or salad oil
1 cup + 2 tablespoons lukewarm water
Filling
3/4 lb. mozzarella cheese, sliced (I used shredded mozzarella cheese)
1 pound Italian sweet or hot sausage, cooked and sliced; or about 3 cups of the sautéed vegetables of your choice (I added sliced Pepperoni)
28-ounce can plum tomatoes, lightly crushed; or 28-ounce can diced or chopped tomatoes
2 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced, optional
1 tbls sugar, optional
1 to 2 tsp Pizza Seasoning or mixed dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, rosemary), to taste
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese
2 tbls olive oil, to drizzle on top
Method
To make the crust: Mix the dough ingredients, and knead — by hand, mixer, or bread machine — to make a smooth crust. This will take about 7 minutes at medium-low speed in a stand mixer.
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl or 8-cup measure (which makes it easy to track its rise), cover, and let rise till very puffy, about 60 minutes.
While the dough is rising, ready your deep-dish pizza pan (I used a Spring Form Pan with the removable side). Grease it with non-stick vegetable oil spray, then pour in 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil, tilting it to cover the bottom of the pan, and partway up the sides.
Stretch the dough to make as large a circle as you can. You can do this on a lightly oiled baking mat, if you choose; or simply stretch the dough in your hands.
Lay the dough in the pan, and stretch it towards the edges till it starts to shrink back. Cover, and let it rest for 15 minutes. Start preheating the oven to 425°F while the dough rests.
Stretch the dough to cover the bottom of the pan, then gently push it up the sides of the pan. The olive oil may ooze over the edge of the crust; that's OK. Let the crust rest for 15 minutes or so, as your oven comes up to 425°F.
Bake the crust for 10 minutes, until it's set and barely beginning to brown. While it's baking, prepare the filling.
Drain the tomatoes thoroughly. Combine them with the Pizza Seasoning or herbs, and the garlic and sugar (if you're using them). Add salt to taste; you probably won't need any additional salt if you've used the Pizza Seasoning.
Cover the bottom of the crust with the sliced mozzarella, fanning it into the crust. Add the sausage (or sautéed vegetables), then the tomato mixture.
Sprinkle with the grated Parmesan, and drizzle with the olive oil.
Bake the pizza for about 25 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
Remove it from the oven, and carefully lift it out of the pan onto a rack (since I used a Spring-Form pan, all I had to do was release the sides). Allow the pizza to cool for about 15 minutes (or longer, for less oozing) before cutting and serving.
Yield: about 12 servings
Enjoy,
Mary
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