Have you ever tried to make pizza at home and thought "ehhh, it's not as good as the pizzeria, but it's not bad for homemade pizza"? I've done that so many times! And then I tried this recipe, this isn't just good for homemade pizza, it is some of the best pizza I've ever eaten! It is fantastic and so cheap to make at home. My family gets really excited on pizza night when I tell them that I'm making deep dish pizza. I'll be honest, this isn't a fast recipe but it is worth the time and really it doesn't require too much hands on work, you just need to allow for "rising" time.
I came across this recipe over at The Frugal Girl and it has become a regular on my dinner rotation.
Deep Dish Pizza Recipe
1 medium potato
1 1/2 tsp dry yeast
3 1/2 cups white flour
1 cup warm water
6 Tbs vegetable oil
1 3/4 tsp salt
1/2 jar Spaghetti Sauce
1 lb mozzarella cheese grated
meat and veggie pizza toppings as desired
-Peel and quarter potato and boil in small saucepan for 10 minutes until fork tender. Once cooled grate potato using large holes on box grater. Measure out 1 cup of grated potato.
-Mix 3 cups flour, yeast, and salt in large mixing bowl. Slowly add warm water and 2 tbs of vegetable oil. Begin kneading until water seems incorporated, then add 1 cup grated potato and knead an additional 3 minutes; adding more flour as needed to achieve good dough consistency.
-Cover and allow to rise in a warm location for 1 hour
-Pour 2 Tbs of vegetable oil each into two 9 inch round cake pans. Divide dough in half, press into roughly 9 inch round shapes and place in each pan. Press them out in pan to fill evenly.
- Cover dough and allow to rise for 30 minutes while preheating oven. Preheat oven to 425 degrees with pizza stone on bottom rack of oven.
-After the 30 minute rise, poke the crusts all over with a fork. Place the pans on the pizza stone in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
-Top crust with Spahgetti sauce, cheese and toppings. Move the pizza stone to upper shelf, return the pans to the oven and continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes.
-Remove from oven, allow to cool and slice. Close your eyes and imagine you are at Round Table pizza, it's that good!
I have learned to allow 2 1/2 hours for the preparation of this pizza. I realize it requires some advance planning, but believe me, it is worth the effort! (Thanks Frugal Girl for a favorite recipe.)
