deep dish pizza

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Oozing with cheese and stuffed with spicy Italian sausage, this Chicago deep dish pizza recipe offers a rich, flaky crust with savory tomato sauce and melty mozzarella for a perfect homemade feast.

Prep : 10 Total : 25 minutes

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Ingredients

Main Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1.5 cups bread flour
0.25 ounce active yeast
1.5 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1.25 cups warm water
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
1 pound hot Italian sausage casings removed
28 ounce crushed tomatoes
14.5 ounce diced tomatoes drained
1 teaspoon kosher salt
0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
1.5 tablespoons dried oregano
1 tablespoon fresh basil
1 teaspoon garlic salt
4 cups mozzarella cheese freshly grated

Instructions

Preparation Steps

In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, bread flour, active yeast, salt, and sugar. Gradually add warm water and olive oil while mixing with a paddle attachment for 2 minutes, then knead dough with a hook for 2-3 minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 2 hours. Divide dough into two balls, knead softened butter into each, then press into a 9-inch deep dish pizza pan. Allow to rise for an additional 1-2 hours.
Brown the hot Italian sausage in a large skillet, breaking it into small chunks. Drain excess fat. If sausage is not spicy, add red pepper flakes to taste.
Simmer crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, kosher salt, black pepper, oregano, basil, and garlic salt in a large pot over low heat while the dough rises, about 1-2 hours.
Preheat oven to 450°F. Press the dough lightly with your fingertips to cover the bottom and sides of the pan. Layer 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly on the dough's base. Top cheese with browned sausage, then pour about 2 1/2 cups of tomato sauce over the top.
Bake the pizza at 450°F for 25 minutes. Allow the pizza to sit for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes