Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Recipes

Steps:

• Pour 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons warm (90-110 degree F) water into a bowl, then stir in the sugar and yeast.
• Let sit until the yeast begins to bubble, about 5 minutes.
• In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the flour, cornmeal, and salt on low to combine.
• Pour in the yeast mixture and the olive oil to combine while still mixing.
• Once the dough comes together, switch to the dough hook, and knead on med-high speed to make a smooth dough, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add a little more water or flour as needed to make a soft dough.
• Put the dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled in size, from 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 400°; punch down the dough, and press it into a 14 x 10 inch oiled baking pan or an oiled 12 inch cast iron skillet, gently pressing the dough up the sides to make a shell.
• Fill the shell with an even layer of provolone and mozzarella, then spread the sauce to cover the cheese completely.
• Top with the pepperoni, and sprinkle with the grated cheese and oregano.
• Cover with foil, and bake 45 minutes.
• Then uncover, and bake until the crust is deep golden brown and the pizza is bubbly, about 20 minutes.
• Let sit about 5-10 minutes before cutting into wedges and serving.

Steps:

• Pour water into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Sprinkle in yeast and let dissolve, about 10 minutes. Add olive oil, melted butter, sugar, salt, cornmeal, and most of the flour. Knead, stopping to scrape down the sides occasionally and adding more flour as needed, until smooth and elastic.
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface. Knead in extra flour if needed. Roll into a ball and place in a bowl greased with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil. Cover with a plate and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in volume, 1 to 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, let pizza sauce simmer in a pot over low heat until very thick, 60 to 90 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Poke dough to deflate and turn out onto your work surface. Press and stretch out dough into a round shape 3 to 4 inches larger than a 12-inch cast iron skillet. Brush skillet with 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil. Place dough in the skillet; stretch and pull to evenly distribute it over the bottom and sides.
• Lay provolone cheese over the bottom of the crust. Scatter fresh mozzarella on top. Add Italian sausage and firm mozzarella. Ladle pizza sauce generously on top. Grate Parmesan cheese on top. Fold the edges of the crust in towards the center to seal in the sides. Drizzle crust and center with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until crust sounds hollow and pizza is beautifully browned, about 35 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Steps:

• 24 Hours Prior to Baking: In a mixing bowl, add the water, sugar, yeast, flour, cornmeal, and salt.
• Mix on low speed for a few minutes until the dough comes together, then slowly add the oil. Continue to mix dough for 7 more minutes.
• The dough should be somewhat moist and smooth, but not sticky. Form the dough into a ball and place into a bowl twice the size of the ball. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and then put a dish towel over it and place in the refrigerator for 24hrs.
• Remove the bowl from the refrigerator about one hour prior to making the pizza. Set the bottom oven rack to its lowest position and preheat the oven to 450° F for at least 30 minutes prior to baking.
• After letting the dough rest for one hour, coat the bottom of a well seasoned 15" × 2" deep cast iron skillet with a light layer of canola/vegetable oil (do not use olive oil).
• Place the dough ball in the center of the pan and press it out until it covers the entire bottom. Then, using you fingers, work the dough up the sides of the pan about 1 1/2 inches.
• The top of the edges should be pinched up against the side of the pan. If the dough resists holding shape, cover with a towel and allow to rest for 15-20 minutes before trying again.
• Using sliced mozzarella (NOT fresh, only low-moisture), or a blend of sliced mozzarella and provolone, cover the bottom of the dough with cheese.
• Add your desired toppings (Italian sausage is very popular). If you are going to use pepperonis, it is recommended to chop them into 1/4's before layering them in the pizza.
• Top with 1 LARGE can of crushed tomatoes, no seasoning added. Use your hands if necessary to spread out the tomatoes. **Note that 6 IN 1 brand tomatoes are very fresh tasting, as are Bianco DiNapoli if you can find then at a store near you**.
• Finish topping with Italian herbs/seasonings (chopped fresh basil and dried oregano flakes are favorites) and finally with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
• Place the pan in the center of the bottom oven rack and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, turning once half way through, until the crust is golden brown.
• Remove the pizza from the oven and allow to cool for about 3 minutes.
• Remove the pizza from the baking pan and place on a cutting board or serving pan. Slice and serve.

Steps:

• Mix sugar, yeast and 11 ounces room temperature water (about 80 degrees) in a bowl and let bloom for 15 minutes. Combine flour, salt and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Once yeast has bloomed, add to dry ingredients along with corn oil. Gently combine with a rubber spatula until a rough ball is formed.
• Knead on low speed with the dough hook for 90 seconds. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl and proof until doubled in size, about 6 hours. Punch down and let dough settle for 15 more minutes.
• Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Coat bottom and sides of a 12-inch cake pan or traditional Chicago style pizza pan with melted butter. Using your hands, spread out about three-quarters of the dough across the bottom and up the sides of the pan (save the remainder for another use). Cover entire bottom in mozzarella, all the way up to the edge. Cover half with a thin, even layer of raw sausage. Cover the other half with the pepperoni. Top with a couple handfuls of crushed tomatoes. Spread out with hands to the edge. Sprinkle top evenly with grated Parm.
• Bake, rotating halfway through, until golden around the edge, about 25 minutes. Let rest for about 5 minutes, then either gently lift pizza out of pan or just cut your slice out of the pan like a pie!

Steps:

• Make the dough: Combine the flour, cornmeal, salt, yeast, olive oil, melted butter, vegetable oil and warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Mix on medium speed until the dough comes together and pulls away from the side of the bowl but still sticks to the bottom, about 3 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low and knead 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and turn to coat. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place, 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic is slightly softened, about 1 minute. Add the tomato puree and 1 cup water. Stir in the oregano and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Generously brush two 9 1/2-inch round deep-dish pizza pans (or 9-inch cake pans) with about 3 tablespoons olive oil each. Divide the dough in half; press each half into the bottom of a pan. Let the dough rest, 15 minutes. Push the dough down and press it up the sides of the pans with your fingers. Layer the cheese on top of each crust and spread each with 1 1/2 cups sauce.
• Bake the pizzas until the crust is dark golden brown and the cheese is bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes (it will still be jiggly in the center). Sprinkle with parmesan (if using); let cool 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into wedges.
• You can freeze the baked pizza for up to a month. Let it cool, then tightly wrap in plastic and foil. To reheat, unwrap and bake at 325 degrees F until hot and bubbling, 50 to 60 minutes.

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast and water in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the oils and mix for 30 seconds. Add the cornmeal, 3 cups of the flour and salt and
• beat for 5 minutes. Switch to the dough hook and mix in the remaining 2 1/2 cups of flour and knead, using the dough hook for 2 minutes. Add the butter and knead until incorporated. The dough is a very moist dough so do not add more flour unless absolutely needed.
• Place the dough in a large bowl lightly oiled with vegetable oil, cover with plastic wrap or clean kitchen towels and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Punch down the dough and allow to double in size again.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place 2 pizza stones into the oven to preheat as well. Generously oil 2 (9 or 10-inch) deep dish pie pans with olive oil (about 2 tablespoons for each pan).
• Divide the dough in half and press the dough out slightly on the counter top. Place the dough in the prepared pans and push out to cover the bottom and up the side of the pans. (If using the 9-inch pans, pinch a 2-inch ball off each dough to make a better fit.).
• For assembly:.
• Combine the cheese in a bowl. Place half of the cheese of the bottom of each pie crust. Divide the sausage filling over the cheese and then top with the remaining cheese, patting the cheese firmly down over the filling. Spoon some of the sauce over the top of the cheese to cover completely. Place the pans into the oven on the pizza stones and bake in the oven until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the top with Parmesan. Let the pizza rest on a baking sheet for 5 minutes before slicing.

Steps:

• Prepare 2 deep-dish pizza dough, and set aside.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Add pepper, onions, and garlic, and saute 5 minutes.
• Add mushrooms, oregano, and salt, saute 3 minutes or until tender.
• Remove from heat and cool.
• Spread half of tomatoes over each prepred crust, and top each with half of vegetable mixture.
• Sprinkle monterey jack cheese and provolone evenly over pizzas.
• Bake at 475 degrees for 15 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 375 degrees, and bake 15 additional minutes.
• Cut and serve.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in1/4 cup of the warm water. Add the sugar and 1/4 cup of the flour and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to combine.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.
• Add the remaining 1 cup warm water and 3 cups flour, the cornmeal, salt, and 1/2 cup olive oil.
• Using a wooden spoon, mix the dough, incorporating as much of the flour as possible.
• Turn the dough out on a lightly floured work surface and knead until soft and elastic, 10 to 12 minutes. It will be a little sticky, but shouldn't stick to your hands.
• Add only a minimum amount of flour to the work surface to keep the dough from sticking.
• Lightly oil a large bowl. Add the dough and turn to coat on all sides.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place a clean, damp, kitchen towel over the top.
• Set the bowl in a warm spot and let rise until doubled in volume, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (For a slow rise, place the covered bowl in the refrigerator and let rise for 10 to 12 hours, returning dough to room temperature before using).
• When the dough has doubled in volume, punch it down and knead it for 2 to 3 minutes. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of an oiled 14-inch round deep-dish pizza pan.
• Let the dough rise in the pan for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Press the dough until it comes 2 inches up the sides and is even on the bottom and at the corners of the pan.
• Proceed with any deep-dish pizza recipe.