Deep Dish Pizza With a Twist

This is my way of making a deep-dish pizza. I have also had this called a layered pizza or pizza lasagna hybrid by others. I hope you find this recipe enjoyable and the pizza delicious!

Ingredients:

Crust (both top and bottom combined)

· 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

· 1 teaspoon white sugar

· 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

· 2 ½ cups flour

· 2 tablespoons olive oil

· 1 teaspoon salt

Filling:

· ½ pound ground beef (or any meat of your choice)

· ½ pack of pepperonis (I use the small pepperonis usually a 6-ounce pack)

· 8 ounces shredded cheese

· 3 ounces sliced mushrooms

· ½ chopped green pepper

· 1 2.25 ounce can sliced black olives

· 1 8-ounce jar of pasta sauce

· When it comes to the fillings it really is whatever you want to put inside the pizza. I make my filling like a supreme pizza filling. You can make it a meat lover, veggie lover etc.

Topping:

· 4 ounces shredded cheese

· 1/2 pound ground beef

· ½ pack of pepperonis (the other half from the filling)

· 1 2.25 ounce can sliced black olives

· ½ chopped green pepper

· 2.5 ounces pasta sauce

· Again, with the toppings to finish off the pizza, it can be whatever you want it to be

Additional Items:

· 1 9-inch round cake pan

· 2 large and 1 small mixing bowl

· Rolling pin and a little extra flour

· Frying pan

· Spatula

· Knife and cutting board

· Spoon for mixing

In a small mixing bowl, mix the .25-ounce package of active dry yeast, 1 cup warm water and 1 teaspoon white sugar and stir. Let sit for 5 minutes. While waiting, in a large mixing bowl combine 2 ½ cups flour, 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. After the 5 minutes are up, add in the water, yeast, and sugar mix. It is going to be sticky at first so use a spoon to mix it together before using your hands to knead it together. Once it is mixed and feels like a firm, pliable ball of dough, let it sit for 10 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit/218 degrees Celsius.

In a frying pan, brown the 1-pound ground beef. Using the knife and cutting board, chop up ½ green pepper and place in large mixing bowl. Add the 4 ounce can of mushrooms, 2.25 ounce can sliced olives, ½ pound cheese, ½ pack pepperonis, 8-ounces of pasta sauce and ½ pound ground beef when it is done to the mixing bowl. Mix ingredients together with a spoon.

After sitting for 10 minutes, take the dough out of the bowl and place it on a lightly floured part of the counter. Using the rolling pin, roll out the dough, working from the center to the edge in all directions until the dough is roughly 1/8 inch thick. Place the dough in the 9-inch round cake pan, making sure the dough in firmly against the bottom and edge of the pan. Leave about ¼ inch of dough over the edge of the cake pan and cut off the rest to be used for the top layer. Take the large mixing bowl with the filling and pour it into the cake pan. Spread it out evenly and create a level top using a spoon.

With the remaining dough, form it back into a ball and roll it out until roughly 1/8 inch thick. Before placing it on top, lightly wet around the whole edge of the dough in the pan. This will help the top stick better. Place it over the top of the filling, making sure it covers everything and there is no air underneath. You might need to put a hole in the center with a knife. Pinch and fold up the extra ¼ inch from the edge to create a raised edge around the pan. Pour the 2.5 ounces of pasta sauce over the top and spread around evenly with a spoon. Place on the pepperonis and sprinkle on the remaining ½ pound ground beef, ½ chopped green pepper, 2.25 ounce can sliced black olives, and 4 ounces of cheese.

Place the pizza on the center rack in the oven. Set the timer for 22-25 minutes depending on how crispy you want the crust and topping. After baking, let cool for 2-3 minutes it will be hot. Slice pizza into 4 wedges and serve.

Total Servings: 4

Total Prep Time: 35-40 minutes

Total Cook Time: 22-25 minutes