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From: Sarah Phillips
Date: 4/14/01
Time: 8:53:02 AM
Remote Name: 64.81.210.89
Chicago Deep Dish Stuffed Pizza This recipe looks long and complicated, but it's not. Essentially, it's pizza dough, followed by a filling of sauce, cheese, sausage, topped with more pizza dough, sauce and cheese. (If you don't want the top, then freeze the rest of the dough for another time. Go to this page for helpful hints: http://baking911.com/howto_freeze.htm). Terrific hot or cold, as a picnic or brunch dish. You can make the filling and dough a day ahead and assemble for baking the next day.Dough: 2 cups warm water 5 teaspoons yeast 1 tablespoon sugar 1/3 cup olive oil 2 1/2 teaspoons salt 3 tablespoons semolina or corn meal 1 cup all purpose flour 4-6 cups bread flour Sauce: 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cloves garlic - minced 1 28 oz. can Italian plum tomatoes 1 small onion - minced 1 small green pepper 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano 1 teaspoon basil 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons red wine Filling: 3 packages spinach - cooked, drained, coarsely chopped 3 cups mozzarella cheese - shredded 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (fresh if you can) 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon basil 1/4 teaspoon oregano 2 cloves garlic - minced 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups mushrooms - thinly sliced 1 1/2 cups cooked Italian sausage or 1 cup thinly sliced pepperoni (as you please, optional) For pan: seasoned bread crumbs olive oil Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together water, yeast and sugar. Let stand a couple of minutes to allow yeast to dissolve. Stir in salt, oil, semolina or corn meal and most of flour. Knead to make a soft dough, adding more flour as required. Cover and let rise in a greased bowl until it has doubled in bulk or refrigerate until next day; do not let the dough overrise. Sauce: Saute garlic in oil to soften. Add tomatoes, onion, green pepper, oregano, basil, fennel, salt, pepper, lemon juice and red wine. Simmer on low, until sauce thickens (20-30 minutes). Cool thoroughly. Filling: In a large bowl, toss together spinach, cheese(s), salt, pepper, basil, oregano, garlic and oil. Reserve mushrooms, sausage and or pepperoni. Place oven rack one rung down from the middle. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Assembly: Smear a 12-inch deep dish pizza pan with some olive oil and sprinkle on seasoned breadcrumbs. (Chicago Metallic and Hillside make terrific deep dish pans). Gently deflate dough. Let it rest for a few minutes then press or roll out two-thirds of it to a 16 inch circle. Line pan, allowing for an overhang. Spoon in a touch of sauce, then all of filling. Top filling with mushrooms, sausage and/or pepperoni. Roll remaining dough out to a 12 inch circle. Place on top and crimp sides. Top with sauce, then mozzarella cheese and parmesan. Bake until sizzling and golden (30-40 minutes). Let cool for 10 minutes or so before cutting.