The Deep Dish – When Pizza Met Lasagna

If you took a regular pizza and crossed it with lasagna you’d end up with only one thing – a hybrid we like to call the deep dish pizza. Part pizza, part casserole, this super thick pizza “pie” is a must-try for the uninitiated. Built in a deep dish pizza pan and layered with sauce, cheese and various toppings, these pizzas can feed a small army. Although they take just a little extra time to prepare, they’re well worth it. To prove this point today we’ll share a recipe from our cookbook Pizza: From Every Day to Gourmet.

The Meat Lover’s Deep Dish Pizza

Ingredients:

For the Dough

• 2 ¼ tsp. active dry yeast
• 1 ½ tsp. white sugar
• 1 C. plus 2 Tbsp. warm water (105° to 115°)
• 3 C. all-purpose flour
• ½ C. grape seed oil
• 1 ½ tsp. Kosher salt

For the Pizza

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2/3 lb. ground beef
• 2 tsp. spicy calabrese pizza blend
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 C. pizza sauce
• 1/3 lb. sliced salami, chopped
• 5 slices mozzarella cheese
• 1 ½ C. shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3 Tbsp. Parmesan, grated

Instructions

1. Dissolve yeast and sugar in a small bowl of lukewarm water; whisk gently to incorporate the yeast. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes until yeast is foamy.
   
   
2. Meanwhile, add the remaining dough ingredients to a large stand mixer. Add the yeast mixture and knead with the dough hook until the dough just comes together but is slightly sticky, about 2 to 3 minutes.
   
   
3. Form dough into a ball and transfer to a buttered bowl, turning the dough to coat it with butter. Cover dough with plastic wrap and drape a towel over the bowl. Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 6 hours or until it has doubled in size.
   
   
4. Preheat the oven to 375° F.
   
   
5. After the dough has risen, punch it down in the bowl and let it rest covered for 15 minutes.
   
   
6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll it out to the desired circumference.
   
   
7. Press the dough into a buttered 10” deep dish pan.
   
   
8. Meanwhile, combine 2 tsp. spicy calabrese pizza blend with ground beef.
   
   
9. Heat olive oil in a medium sized pan and cook ground beef until fully rendered.
   
   
10. Season with salt, and set aside to cool.
    
    
11. Combine the chopped salami, ½ C. pizza sauce, ¾ C. shredded mozzarella and ground beef in a bowl and set aside.
    
    
12. To assemble the pizza, place a layer of mozzarella cheese slices onto the dough.
    
    
13. Spread the salami/ground beef mixture over the cheese slices, filling the pan almost to the top of the crust.
    
    
14. Bake the pizza for 20 minutes.
    
    
15. Remove from the oven and top with the remaining sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
    
    
16. Return the pizza to the oven and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese has melted.
    
    
17. Allow the pizza to cool 5-10 minutes before serving.