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What makes Chicago-style deep-dish pizza different from other types of pizza is its thick, buttery crust that forms a deep, pie-like shell. Instead of spreading tomato sauce on top of the cheese, as in traditional pizzas, the sauce is placed on top of the cheese and other fillings. This layered approach helps keep the cheese from burning during the long cooking time. The result is a rich, savory, and filling pizza that has become a symbol of Chicago’s food scene.
### Ingredients for Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza
To make an authentic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza at home, you’ll need a few key ingredients that set it apart from other types of pizza. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need for the crust, the sauce, and the filling:
#### For the Crust:
– **2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour**: This is the base of your dough. Use high-quality all-purpose flour for the best texture.
– **1/2 cup cornmeal**: Cornmeal gives the crust a unique texture and flavor, which is a signature of deep-dish pizza.
– **1 teaspoon salt**: Salt enhances the flavor of the crust and balances out the other ingredients.
– **1 teaspoon sugar**: Sugar helps activate the yeast and gives the dough a slight sweetness.
– **1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast**: Yeast is crucial for the dough’s rise and texture.
– **3/4 cup warm water**: Water activates the yeast and helps form the dough.
– **1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted**: Butter adds richness and flavor to the crust, creating a delicious, flaky texture.
– **1 tablespoon olive oil**: Olive oil helps the dough become soft and adds a bit of flavor.
#### For the Filling:
– **1 pound mozzarella cheese (preferably whole milk)**: Fresh mozzarella is ideal for deep-dish pizza. It melts beautifully and gives the pizza its signature gooey texture.
– **1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese**: Parmesan adds a nutty, salty flavor that complements the mozzarella.
– **1/2 pound Italian sausage (optional)**: Italian sausage is a popular topping for deep-dish pizza. You can use bulk sausage or remove the casing from sausage links.
– **1/2 cup bell peppers, diced**: Adding bell peppers gives a slight sweetness and crunch to the pizza.
– **1/2 cup onions, diced**: Onions provide a savory, slightly sweet flavor when cooked.
– **1/2 cup sliced mushrooms**: Mushrooms add umami and texture to the filling.
– **1/2 cup green olives (optional)**: Green olives add a briny flavor, but they are optional depending on your preference.
For the Sauce:
– **2 tablespoons olive oil**: This is used to sauté the garlic and tomatoes.
– **1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes**: The crushed tomatoes form the base of the sauce. You can use fresh tomatoes if you prefer, but canned tomatoes save time.
– **1/4 cup tomato paste**: Tomato paste thickens the sauce and adds a concentrated tomato flavor.
– **2 cloves garlic, minced**: Garlic adds aromatic depth to the sauce.
– **1 teaspoon dried oregano**: Oregano adds a herbal note to the sauce.
– **1 teaspoon dried basil**: Basil is a classic pizza herb and adds freshness to the sauce.
– **1/2 teaspoon sugar**: Sugar helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
– **Salt and pepper to taste**: These are used to season the sauce and enhance the flavors.
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