A rich and deep pizza that you can make at home yourself.

Cast-Iron Skillet Deep Dish Pizza

Ingredients

For the dough:
3/4 cup warm water
1 Tbsp. instant or active dry yeast
1/4 cup cornmeal
1 - 2 cups all-purpose or bread flour
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. honey or sugar

For the pizza sauce:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can of tomatoes with juice (whole or diced, San Marzano if you have some)
1 tsp. salt *or less, depending on saltiness of tomatoes
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 teaspoon red chili flakes

For the pizza:
Sliced Mozzarella cheese
Cooked italian sausage, crumbled
Cooked bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces
Optional: olives, pre-cooked mushrooms or any other of your favourite pizza ingredients
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for topping

Method

If you are using active dry yeast, go ahead and proof the yeast in the water and let sit for 15 minutes. For instant yeast, just combine the yeast with the dry ingredients.

In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of the flour, cornmeal and instant yeast, if using instant. Add the water (or yeast/water if using active dry yeast), olive oil and honey or sugar. Stir until moistened then dump out onto a well-floured surface. Add more flour in 1/4 cup increments while kneading dough until you achieve a soft dough that is neither sticky or stiff. Remove dough to a well-oiled large bowl and let rise at room temperature for 1 hour (*can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours at this point. Bring to room temperature before using if refrigerating).

While dough is rising, prepare pizza sauce by heating oil in a large skillet or saucepan. Add garlic and saute until fragrant and softened. Add tomatoes and spices. Crush with a spoon if using whole tomatoes. Bring to a boil and then reduce temperature and simmer until sauce thickens. Taste and add additional seasoning if necessary.

When dough is ready, roll into a circle on a floured surface, big enough to fit your cast-iron frying pan, allowing a couple of inches extra for the dough to come up the side of the pan.

Preheat oven to 425° F. Grease bottom and sides of cast-iron frying pan with olive oil and lightly dust with additional cornmeal. Transfer dough to cast-iron frying pan and press into bottom and sides until even thickness. Cover bottom of pizza with a generous layer of mozzarella cheese. Top with sausage and bacon (and any other pizza items such as mushrooms and olives). Top with all of the pizza sauce and sprinkle with freshly-grated Parmesan cheese.

Bake in pre-heated 425° F. oven for about 45 minutes, or until crust is set and golden.

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 2 hours 30 min
Yield: 6 servings