Deep Dish Pizza

This is a recipe that I use to make my deep dish pizza. I have several recipes that I have used over the years and still don’t have a favorite for a traditional crust but I have (for now) settled on this recipe for my deep dish. It comes from realdeepdish.com and he has a ton of recipes for you to try. I modified it a little using less yeast and flour but be sure to check him out. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Ingredients

Makes 2 – 8″ square pizzas

3/4 cup of water (luke warm – not hot)
1/2 tea of sugar
3/4 tea of yeast (fast rise)
1-1/2 tbsp oil (Corn or Vegetable)
1/2 tea of black pepper (optional)
3/4 tea salt
2-1/4 cups of flour (All purpose)
4 cups of mozzarella cheese (shreaded or sliced)
Sauce (I use tomato and basil spaghetti sauce)
Toppings of your choosing

Time needed 3:30
Oven temp 500 for 20 minutes, then broil on max for another 5min
Outside crust should show burnt on edges and be golden brown underneath. The center of the pie will be loose when you cut it.

If you plan on reheating then only cook for 15 minutes and broil for 5min. Reheat in air fryer or toaster oven. This really helps the bottom to get it crispy.

Depending upon your oven you may need to adjust times. Never walk away from and oven on broil. You want it dark on the outside but soft in the center.

Let’s get started!

Combine your water, sugar, yeast and then add your oil. Lastly add your salt and pepper. Since salt can kill yeast I recommend putting the salt on top of the oil. Quick yeast doesn’t really proof so don’t get too caught up looking for bubbles.

Next up add the flour. I know you are suppose to weigh it but I don’t. It’s 2-1/4 cups.
Set the mixer on low and within 2 minutes it should be starting to form a ball.

Turn the mixer off and scrap the sides then put it back on for 5 more minutes.

Remove the dough and form a ball, put some oil in the bowl and coat the dough ball with it. A little goes a long way, we just want to make sure it does not stick to anything when it rises. Cover with plastic wrap, then a towel and set in a warm spot for 2 hours.

On a floured cutting board divide your dough in half and form into a square if your using cake pans like mine. Put a little oil on the bottom of the pan, but try not to get it on the sides. Put your dough into the pan, cover with the plastic wrap you used earlier, cover with towel and let rise another hour.

Finally were ready for the toppings!

Top the pizza
Cheese goes first, make sure it gets to the edges
Sauce next, a thick layer
What ever you like next.

Get your oven up to temp. Be sure to use a temp gauge in the oven rather than relying on what the oven says. Mine says it’s 400 when it’s about 100 so make sure it’s really hot.

Here’s what it should look like!