From Old Ruby's kitchen

pizza

Cast Iron Deep Dish Pizza

Dough

  • 3 ¼ cups (16.25 ounces) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1 ¼ cups warm water (10 ounces)
  • 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided (3 tablespoons melted, 4 tablespoons softened)
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil for the bowl

Sauce

  • 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Pizza Fixings

  • ¾ pound low-moisture mozzarella, sliced
  • ½ pound sweet Italian sausage
  • ½ red pepper, thinly sliced
  • ½ green pepper, thinly sliced
  • ¼ sweet onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup asiago cheese, grated
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

Dough

  1. Add all dry ingredients to a bowl and mix well. Slowly add the warm water and melted butter until the dough ball comes together.
  2. Knead for 8–10 minutes until glossy and smooth. Alternatively, use a mixer with a dough hook on medium for 5–6 minutes.
  3. Let the dough rise in a lightly oiled bowl for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
  4. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll it into roughly a 16 × 12-inch rectangle.
  5. Spread the softened butter over the dough, leaving about ½ inch around the edges.
  6. Roll the dough up like a cigar, then fold it over itself into thirds. Pinch the seams around the dough to form a ball.
  7. Let the dough rise a second time in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Sauce

Stir all sauce ingredients together in a medium bowl and set aside. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Pizza

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Roll the dough into about a 15-inch circle.
  3. Fit the dough into a 12-inch skillet, working it up the sides to form a crust and pressing it into the corners. Crimp around the edges.
  4. Add the sliced mozzarella to the bottom, followed by the sauce. Use all of the sauce for a very saucy pizza, or ½–⅔ for less sauce.
  5. Add small chunks of uncooked sweet Italian sausage, sliced peppers, sliced onion, and grated asiago cheese.
  6. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. Bake at 375°F for 55–60 minutes.
  8. Let the pizza rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Source: Lodge Cast Iron, Cast Iron Deep Dish Pizza Pan Recipe.