Choose traditional Chicago style or a Veggie version of this deep dish crust pizza!
Ingredients
- 2 cups Pamela's Pizza Crust Mix
- 1/4 cup cornmeal
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 1 TBSP vegetable oil
- 2 TBSP butter or butter alternative-melted
- 1 cup warm water (110° max)
- 1-1/2 tsp yeast
- 28 oz. can tomatoes
- 2 TBSP butter or butter alternative
- 1/4 cup onion-grated
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp sugar
- 2 garlic cloves-finely chopped
- 2 TBSP basil-cut in ribbons
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- pepper to taste
- 2 cups cheese-grated Mozzarella, Provolone, etc.-divided
- 1 lb. Italian sausage
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup tomato sauce from above recipe
- 1-1/2 cups cheese-grated Mozzarella, Provolone, etc.
- 2 cups spinach-raw
- 1 cup brown mushrooms-sliced and browned in butter
- 1/2 cup roasted red bell peppers-sliced
- 1/2 cup green onions-sliced
- 1/2 cup pesto sauce
- 1 cup red pizza sauce-or use 1 cup tomato sauce from above
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Yield:
Directions
- DOUGH: Combine warm water and yeast and set aside to proof. In a bowl with a stand mixer, combine pizza crust mix, cornmeal, and salt. Mix oils and butter together and add to the bowl of the mixer along with the water and yeast. Mix well until the pizza dough comes together.
- Gather into a ball, oil the surface of the ball, and place in a buttered bowl, covered with plastic wrap. Let rest in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled, about one to two hours. Turn into a heavy pan that has been sprayed well, and pat gently into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Let rest for about 30 minutes until the dough is starting to puff up again.
- SAUCE (or use your favorite prepared sauce): Melt butter in a medium saucepan, add onions and garlic and cook until soft. Process tomatoes in a food processor until almost smooth, leaving just a few small chunks of tomatoes. Add all the rest of the ingredients to the saucepan and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
- FILLING: Traditional Chicago StylePlace rack on the top shelf and preheat oven to 425°. In a medium fry pan, spread the sausage over the surface of the pan and brown on one side, flip and continue cooking until all pink is gone. Spread 1-3/4 cup grated cheese onto the dough, crumble sausage over the cheese and add tomato sauce. Add the final remaining 1/4 cup grated cheese and Parmesan.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until the pizza is bubbling and the crust is browned. Let rest for 5 minutes and remove to wire rack to cool for 5 more minutes before cutting.
- FILLING: VeggiePlace rack on the top shelf and preheat oven to 425°. Spread pesto sauce on the pizza dough, then grated cheese on top of the pesto, then spinach, mushrooms, red peppers, and green onions, finishing with 1 cup of red sauce and Parmesan cheese. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until the pizza is bubbling and the crust is browned. Let rest for 5 minutes and remove to wire rack to cool for 5 more minutes before cutting.
© Pamela's Products, Inc.
RECIPE NOTE
Chef's Note: I cut one piece out of the pizza while it was resting on the wire rack to let some of the extra juices drip out of the pizza before cutting the rest on a cutting board.