Deep Dish Pizza

To celebrate basketball season, we try to find recipes that we don't typically make as a treat!  Deep dish pizza is one of those things we love but rarely treat ourselves to.  Leigh Anne had posted her version of a deep dish, personal pan pizza at her site over the summer -- and now was the perfect time to try it!



I adapted it to our tastes -- made the dough with 100% whole wheat (combo of white wheat and wheat) and used toppings we love {read: mushrooms}!  It was a hit around here :)

Deep Dish Pizza - Adapted from Your Home Based Mom

Dough
1 1/3 C warm water
1/4 C dry milk
1/2 tsp. salt
4 C flour (2 C white wheat, 2 C wheat)
1 T sugar
2 1/4 tsp. yeast
2 T olive oil
Olive oil spray
2 T butter, melted
Garlic salt

Toppings
1/3 C tomato paste (mixed with a little carrot puree, if desired)
1-2 tsp. Italian seasoning
20 turkey pepperoni slices
8 oz mushrooms, sliced (and sauted)
1/8 C diced green peppers
Mozzarella cheese, as desired

In a large bowl, combine yeast, salt, sugar and dry milk. Add in the warm water and stir. Allow the mixture to sit for about 2 minutes.



Then, add in the olive oil, stir again, and allow the mixture to sit for 2 more minutes.

Add in the flour until a dough forms. Then, knead the dough for 10 minutes on a lightly floured surface, adding more flour as needed.

I cheated... and used my mixer to make the dough!!



After 10 minutes -- I had beautiful dough :)



Then, stretch the dough out into three well-greased 8-9 inch cake pans, or a cake pan and a 9x13 pan.

 I ended up making half of the dough recipe and used one 9x13 baking dish -- it was a perfect fit.

Go ahead, use a little more olive oil spray than you usually do... it will make a crunchy crust :)



Cover, and allow the dough to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in a slightly warmed kitchen.

Note - setting dough next to a dehydrator makes the dough rise faster!



When dough is roughly doubled in size, cover the top with the tomato paste and Italian seasonings.



I ended up using tomato paste and carrot puree together -- it was delicious.

Then sprinkle some cheese on the top...



Add your toppings....



And finish off with cheese :)

Bake at 450 for 10 minutes.

Pull the pizza out after 10 minutes and brush garlic butter (made by melting the butter and seasoning it with garlic salt).

Return to the oven and bake for 5-10 more minutes until cheese is nicely browned.



Slice and serve!



We really enjoyed this pizza. The dough was great and even crispy on the bottom (thanks to a well-greased baking dish)! It was a healthier way to enjoy deep dish pizza.

Don't want to knead the bread? I think using my no-knead fococcia bread recipe with similar toppings would yield a similar product :)



At least that's what I think (and I believe some of you may have already tried this)!

This post is linked to:

• Grocery Cart Challenge
• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
• DIY Tuesday