Carolyn's Recipes: Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

Please don't be scared off by homemade pizza it really isn't hard to make and this Chicago style was so easy. You will love the taste of the crust, it is good enough to eat without the filling. Any oil will work but after reading a number of different, often heated arguments on discussion boards I bought a small bottle of corn oil. I have only used olive oil or canola oil for as long as I can remember. Reading all the input it seemed to get the flavor of true Chicago pizza the corn oil would do the trick. I will try it again with olive oil especially if I am using it other than a pizza.
I also think a cast iron pan is important to get that crusty bottom. This crust recipe came from "stevel6" on Chowhound.com I doubled his measurements for one pizza, and measured out the Tablespoons of oil to be about 3/4 cup for the doubled recipe. Having never made it or eaten it before I just went with the measurement, I think the Tablespoon measurement is so you add it as needed. I didn't know what the dough should look like so just went with the measurement and it worked great. Below is the doubled recipe I used and I love how it came out. From here you could use a bought sauce or your favorite sauce, but wanting to try the traditional style I found this recipe for sauce from Emeril Lagasse off of Food Network.......Love Emeril !!

That looks like a huge piece but that is an 8" plate...this is
so hearty you will be full on one piece, not saying
you won't have a second piece but you'll be full on one.

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

Crust

Ingredients:

12 T warm water

2c flour

6 T oil olive, canola, corn your choice

1 1/2 tsp yeast (I had packets so used 2)

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

Directions:

I put all ingredients into food processor pulse just a couple times (don't over do it) till mixed somewhat of a ball forms quickly. Dump it out onto lightly floured surface and knead no more than 2 minutes this is important. The kneading of the dough longer lets the gluten get elastic like a traditional pizza, with less kneading you are getting more of a biscuit/bread type dough. Put dough in bowl cover and let rise for 4-6 hours. If you don't have a warm place for it turn the oven to about 200° when warm turn off oven place bowl in oven to rise. Punch dough down let rest about 15 minutes sprinkle some corn meal into bottom of pan then press into 12 inch cast iron skillet.

Assembling pizza: Top dough with sliced or shredded mozzarella, then whatever "toppings" you would like we did peppers, onions, mushrooms, sausage. I put toppings in quotes because they will actually be on the bottom of the pizza. Then top with sauce then a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top. Bake 475° for 30 minutes. Crust edge should be golden.

****This made enough for 1 12inch pizza when I realized I needed more I made this same recipe using rapid rise yeast since I was out of time and it came out just as good, you couldn't tell a difference between them.

Homemade

Sauce:

For one pizza:

2 T olive oil

1 T chopped garlic

2 tsp fresh basil

1 tsp fresh oregano

1/4 tsp fennel seed

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp red pepper

1 28oz can San Marzano or Plum tomato (I found Cento Brand bottom of shelf)

1 T red wine

1 tsp sugar

Directions:

Saute garlic and spices about 30 seconds then add rest of ingredients and allow to simmer at least 30 minutes. It will thicken I simmered it at least an hour. Using a potato masher mash tomato if they were whole. For very little effort this produces an amazing sauce. Allow to cool before assembling pizza.