In the culinary landscape of iconic American dishes, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza stands as a titan, a masterpiece of culinary innovation that has captured the hearts of pizza enthusiasts worldwide. Originating in the Windy City in the 1940s, this deep-dish delight is a departure from traditional thin-crust pizzas, featuring a thick, buttery crust that cradles a generous helping of cheese, savory fillings, and a tangy tomato sauce. Its unique appearance and unforgettable taste have earned it a devoted following, making it a must-try for any food lover visiting Chicago or seeking a taste of this legendary dish in their own kitchen. This article presents a collection of meticulously crafted recipes that will guide you through the process of creating this iconic pizza, from preparing the signature crust to layering the fillings and mastering the perfect baking technique. Whether you're a seasoned pizzaiolo or a home cook seeking a new culinary adventure, these recipes will equip you with the knowledge and skills to recreate this beloved dish in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Let's cook with our recipes!
CHICAGO DEEP-DISH PIZZA
Home cooks will find deep-dish pizza, with its unique buttery cornmeal crust, more forgiving than its New York counterpart. No need to worry about having the hottest oven or too many toppings - just make sure your sauce is very thick and flavorful! I garnished mine with parsley and more Parmesan cheese.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pizza Recipes
Time 2h30m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Pour water into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Sprinkle in yeast and let dissolve, about 10 minutes. Add olive oil, melted butter, sugar, salt, cornmeal, and most of the flour. Knead, stopping to scrape down the sides occasionally and adding more flour as needed, until smooth and elastic.
- Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface. Knead in extra flour if needed. Roll into a ball and place in a bowl greased with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil. Cover with a plate and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in volume, 1 to 2 hours.
- Meanwhile, let pizza sauce simmer in a pot over low heat until very thick, 60 to 90 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Poke dough to deflate and turn out onto your work surface. Press and stretch out dough into a round shape 3 to 4 inches larger than a 12-inch cast iron skillet. Brush skillet with 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil. Place dough in the skillet; stretch and pull to evenly distribute it over the bottom and sides.
- Lay provolone cheese over the bottom of the crust. Scatter fresh mozzarella on top. Add Italian sausage and firm mozzarella. Ladle pizza sauce generously on top. Grate Parmesan cheese on top. Fold the edges of the crust in towards the center to seal in the sides. Drizzle crust and center with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Bake in the center of the preheated oven until crust sounds hollow and pizza is beautifully browned, about 35 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 612.5 calories, Carbohydrate 52.6 g, Cholesterol 74.5 mg, Fat 32.4 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 25.4 g, SaturatedFat 14.2 g, Sodium 1486.6 mg, Sugar 4.8 g
CHICAGO-STYLE DEEP-DISH PIZZA
My husband and I tried to duplicate the deep-dish pizza recipe from a popular restaurant, and I think our Chicago-style deep-dish pizza turned out even better. The secret is baking it in a cast-iron skillet! -Lynn Hamilton, Naperville, Illinois
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h
Yield 2 pizzas (8 slices each).
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour, cornmeal, yeast, sugar and salt. In a saucepan, heat water and oil to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. Add remaining flour to form a stiff dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes., Punch dough down; divide in half. Roll each portion into an 11-in. circle. Press dough onto the bottom and up the sides of two greased 10-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillets. Sprinkle each with 2 cups mozzarella cheese., In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and seasonings. Spoon 1-1/2 cups over each pizza. Layer each with half of the sausage, pepperoni and mushrooms; 1 cup mozzarella; and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. , Cover and bake at 450° for 35 minutes. Uncover; bake until lightly browned, about 5 minutes longer.,
Nutrition Facts : Calories 407 calories, Fat 23g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 49mg cholesterol, Sodium 872mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 20g protein.
TRUE CHICAGO-STYLE DEEP-DISH PIZZA
Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King
Time 7h25m
Yield 8 slices
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Mix sugar, yeast and 11 ounces room temperature water (about 80 degrees) in a bowl and let bloom for 15 minutes. Combine flour, salt and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Once yeast has bloomed, add to dry ingredients along with corn oil. Gently combine with a rubber spatula until a rough ball is formed.
- Knead on low speed with the dough hook for 90 seconds. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl and proof until doubled in size, about 6 hours. Punch down and let dough settle for 15 more minutes.
- Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
- Coat bottom and sides of a 12-inch cake pan or traditional Chicago style pizza pan with melted butter. Using your hands, spread out about three-quarters of the dough across the bottom and up the sides of the pan (save the remainder for another use). Cover entire bottom in mozzarella, all the way up to the edge. Cover half with a thin, even layer of raw sausage. Cover the other half with the pepperoni. Top with a couple handfuls of crushed tomatoes. Spread out with hands to the edge. Sprinkle top evenly with grated Parm.
- Bake, rotating halfway through, until golden around the edge, about 25 minutes. Let rest for about 5 minutes, then either gently lift pizza out of pan or just cut your slice out of the pan like a pie!
CHICAGO DEEP DISH PIZZA
I developed a love for Chicago's deep-dish pizzas while attending college in the Windy City. This simple recipe relies on frozen bread dough, so I can indulge in the mouthwatering sensation without leaving home.-Nikki MacDonald, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 45m
Yield 8 slices.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Press dough onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Sprinkle over dough. Top with mozzarella cheese., In a skillet, saute mushrooms and onion in oil until onion is tender. Stir in the tomatoes, oregano, salt, fennel seed and garlic powder. Spoon over mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350° for 25-35 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 786 calories, Fat 38g fat (15g saturated fat), Cholesterol 97mg cholesterol, Sodium 2110mg sodium, Carbohydrate 75g carbohydrate (14g sugars, Fiber 8g fiber), Protein 42g protein.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the pizza will be. This means using fresh, flavorful tomatoes, a good quality mozzarella cheese, and a flavorful sausage or pepperoni.
- Make the dough ahead of time: This will give the dough time to rise and develop flavor. You can make the dough up to 2 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator.
- Don't overwork the dough: Overworking the dough will make it tough and chewy. Mix the dough just until it comes together, then knead it for a few minutes until it is smooth and elastic.
- Use a well-seasoned cast iron skillet: A well-seasoned cast iron skillet will help the pizza cook evenly and prevent it from sticking. If you don't have a cast iron skillet, you can use a regular baking sheet, but the pizza may not cook as evenly.
- Don't overcrowd the pan: When you add the toppings to the pizza, don't overcrowd the pan. This will prevent the pizza from cooking evenly.
- Bake the pizza at a high temperature: The higher the temperature, the crispier the crust will be. Bake the pizza at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the pizza cool for a few minutes before slicing: This will help the pizza hold its shape and prevent the toppings from sliding off.
Conclusion:
Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a party or a special occasion. With its crispy crust, gooey cheese, and flavorful toppings, it's sure to be a hit with everyone. So next time you're looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, give Chicago-style deep-dish pizza a try. You won't be disappointed!
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