How To Make Pizza At Home Using A Deep Dish

If you’re craving a fat, thick pizza but are not ready to leave the comfort of your home, or just want to prove to yourself that you can make a mouth-watering pizza, using a  deep dish is one way to go around it. Here is how to make a pizza (or two) at home.

*Recipe makes two 12-inch deep dish pizzas.

Deep dish pizza. Photo credit: Lodge Cast Iron

Ingredients

For pizza dough

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 cup semolina flour
• 1/2 tbsp active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil, plus 2 teaspoons to oil bowl
• 1 teaspoon salt

For filling

• 1/2 kg Italian sausage, crumbled
• 1 cup mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into thin rings
• 1 yellow onion, cut into thin rings
• 1 cup black olives, thinly sliced
• 4 cups plum tomatoes, chopped or crushed
• 1 cup pepperoni, sliced thinly
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 cups mozarella cheese, sliced
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• 2 tsps chopped fresh basil
• 1 tsp chopped oregano
• 1 tbsp chopped garlic
• 3 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp dry red wine
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp salt

Method

For pizza dough

1. In a large bowl, combine the water, sugar and yeast; stir to combine. Leave the mixture for about 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Add half of the flour, the semolina, vegetable oil and salt. Mix properly using your hand until the mixture is smooth. Add flour 1/4 cup at a time, still mixing, until all the flour has been added but dough is still sticky.
3. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes until smooth.
4. Grease a large mixing bowl with the remaining oil.
5. Place the dough in the bowl and turn to oil all sides. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set in a warm place for up to two hours until nearly doubled in size.
6. Divide into 2 equal portions and set aside while you make the tomato sauce.

For deep dish pizza

1. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, heat the oil.
2. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds while stirring lightly.
3. Add the seeds, herbs, salt, black pepper and red pepper and cook for 30 seconds while stirring.
4. Add the tomatoes, sugar and wine and leave until the ingredients start to boil.
5. Lower the heat and simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
6. Remove from the heat and leave to cool completely
7. Preheat oven to 465 degrees F.
8. Grease two 12-inch round pizza pans with one teaspoon of olive oil.
9. Divide the dough in two between the pans and press into the pans at the bottom and up the sides. Leave to rest for 5 minutes.
10. Layer the slices of mozzarella cheese over the dough.
11. Divide the mushrooms, bell pepper rings, onions, black olives, pepperoni and sausage, layering them evenly across the pans.
12. Top the spread up with the grated Parmesan.
13. Bake for about 30 minutes until the top is golden and the crust is golden brown.
14. Remove from oven, slice and serve hot.