How to Make Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza

This pizza is the most unbelievably easy, most delicious pizza you'll ever make!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 tbsp or 1 packet quick yeast
• 1 cup hot water
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup corn meal (coarse)
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 cups flour
• 1 large can diced tomatoes
• 1 block mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• Italian seasoning
• 1 large pizza dish, or 2 cake dishes (springform is best)
• Italian sausage (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 425 F.

2. Pour hot water over yeast in a large mixing bowl. Stir until yeast is dissolved.

3. Add corn meal, salt and olive oil to yeast mixture and mix thoroughly.

4. Add first 3 cups of flour to bowl and mix. Add last cup of flour slowly, stopping when dough is no longer sticky. It should be moist and slightly springy, not tough.

5. Knead dough a few times, folding over. To allow to rise, form it into a ball and leave covered in a warm place for an hour or two. This will result in fluffier crust. For crunchier crust, simply proceed without allowing dough to rise.

6. Grease pan(s) with a thin coat of olive oil applied with a paper towel. Sprinkle corn meal over the olive oil and pour off any that doesn't stick.

7. Use your hands to form dough into a rough disk shape (or split in half and do the same if you are using 2 cake pans.) Place the disk in the center of the greased pan and spread outward using the ball of your hand. Working from the center out, push the dough to the edges until it is about a quarter of an inch thick all the way across. Pull the excess dough on the edges upward to form 'walls' of crust around the pizza.

8. Slice the block of mozzarella as thin as you can and place in a solid layer over the bottom of the pizza. If you are making a sausage pizza, the sausage goes directly over the cheese.

9. Drain the diced tomatoes and spread in a layer over the cheese.

10. Sprinkle grated parmesan and some Italian Seasoning over the top of the tomatoes.

11. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 425 F, or until crust is golden brown. Allow to cool 5 minutes before cutting. Enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• If making a sausage pizza, cook the sausage first. Break up the sausage and mix in Italian Seasoning, turning often over a medium heat stovetop. Drain thoroughly and layer over cheese and under tomatoes.

[charlotteanne]

on 10/14/2009 Looks delicious! 5*

[QABumper]

on 10/13/2008 Ahh... deep-dish pizzas. I can't wait to try your recipe. Thanks!