How to Make an Authentic Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza
Regardless of whether or not you have ever actually been to Chicago or if you just love to make your own homemade pizza, if you are looking to make your own pizza from scratch with an authentic Chicago deep-dish taste, it is possible without using a bread maker or having extensive amounts of cooking skills.
Making your own deep-dish pizza requires some time to allow your dough to rise, so it is best to plan to prepare and make this recipe when you have the time to do so (or when you plan to make the dough ahead of time or the night before).
When you want to make your very own deep-dish pizza dough and crust with an authentic Chicago-style taste and texture, there are a few ingredients you will need in order to successfully allow the pizza to rise and form the shape of a deep-dish pizza stuffed and overflowing with cheese and the toppings of your choice.
Preparing and Baking Your Deep Dish Pizza Crust
Ingredients –
2 ¼ tsp. active dry yeast (¼ oz.)
1 ¼ warm water
3 ¼ unbleached bread flour (plus additional flour for dusting the dough)
½ cup medium-grind yellow cornmeal
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt or 1 ½ tsp. sea/kosher salt
½ cup olive oil
Additional olive oil for pan/bowl
Preparation:
Dissolve the active dry yeast in the warm water you have in one bowl. Add the flour and 1 tsp. of sugar to the mixture and combine.
Cover the bowl using a sealer such as plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Once the dough has risen, add the remaining water (1 cup) and 3 cups of flour along with the salt, ½ cup of olive oil and the cornmeal you have set aside.
Mix the dough ensuring you mix as much of the flour with the dough as possible (using a wooden spoon may help).
Work the dough on a floured (lightly) surface to flatten and roll it out. Work the dough for at least 10 to 12 minutes to ensure it has been worked enough before being placed in the oven. Use as little flour as possible on the surface you are working on to avoid allowing the dough to stick to it (ruining your dough shape).
Oil a large bowl lightly and add the dough to the bowl to coat it with the oil on all of its sides.
Cover the bowl (using plastic wrap again) and place a washcloth or a kitchen towel over the bowl. Allow the dough to rise for another 1 ½ to 2 hours until it has doubled in size (in a warm location). If you want the dough to rise slowly, place the dough in the bowl into your refrigerator for at least 10 to 12 hours. Then, allow the dough to return to room temperature before you place it into the oven.
Once the dough has risen and grown in size (doubled), knead it for 2 to 3 minutes, pushing and punching it down on a flat surface. Then, add the dough into an oiled 14-inch pizza pan that is made specifically for deep-dish pizza baking.
Allow the dough to rise, which generally takes between 15 and 20 minutes in total. Press the center of the dough down while the sides rise until the process is complete. Now your homemade deep-dish pizza crust dough is ready to be placed in the oven along with your toppings, cheese, and sauce!
Deep Dish Pizza Crust Recipe
Photo Description:
For a pizza dough crust that is rich with bread and texture, make your own authentic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. This pizza has no limits when it comes to adding cheese, meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables as toppings to stuff within the dough’s shell. Its crispy, yet fluffy texture is ideal for bread lovers and for those who enjoy a filling meal when enjoying pizza.