DEEP-DISH CHEESE PIZZA

Deep-Dish Cheese Pizza image

For this take on deep dish pizza, we use a 9-inch cake pan to create a thick a chewy crust with deliciously crispy browned edges.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories main-dish

Time 2h20m

Yield One 9-inch deep-dish pizza (plus extra dough)

Number Of Ingredients 16

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Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110˚ F)
2 cups bread flour
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the bowl and pan
1 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 small clove garlic, grated
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch of sugar, plus more if needed
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, torn
6 ounces sliced low-moisture mozzarella cheese

Steps:

Make the dough: Sprinkle the yeast over the hot water in a small bowl. Let stand until dissolved and slightly foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk the bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the yeast mixture into the well and add the olive oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, dust the dough with flour and knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until very smooth and elastic but still slightly tacky, 3 to 5 minutes.
Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. Divide the dough into two 1-pound balls; wrap one ball in plastic and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before using. Transfer the other ball of dough to a 9-inch round cake pan coated with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cover and let the dough rise again until almost spread to the edges of the pan, about 1 hour.
Make the pizza sauce: Combine the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, dried oregano, sugar and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a medium bowl; season with more salt and sugar if needed. (Makes about 1 1/2 cups.)
Make the pizza: Preheat the oven to 500˚ F (use the convection setting, if available) with a pizza stone, baking steel or inverted large baking sheet in the lower third of the oven. Press the dough to reach the edge of the pan, then press the dough up the sides to create a lip 1/2 to 3/4 inch higher than the center of the dough. Top the dough with 2 tablespoons Parmesan and sliced mozzarella, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Spread a heaping 1/2 cup pizza sauce over the cheese, almost to the edge. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Place the pan on the hot stone and bake the pizza until the crust is deep golden brown and any cheese poking through the sauce is lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then loosen the edges with a small offset spatula and remove the pizza to a cutting board.