Deep Dish Pizza

Ingredients

• 2½ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup cornmeal
• 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup warm water
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ¾ lb ground Italian sausage
• 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp dried basil
• 1½ lb shredded mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 4 oz pepperoni slices (optional)

Steps

1. In a large bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast; let sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Add melted butter, olive oil, flour, cornmeal, and salt. Mix until a dough forms, then knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Press the risen dough into a greased 9-inch deep-dish pizza pan, pushing it up the sides to form a crust.
3. Cook the Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it apart, until browned. Drain excess fat and set aside. In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic for 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, and basil; simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Layer half of the mozzarella cheese directly onto the pizza crust. Top with the cooked sausage and any optional pepperoni. Cover with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
5. Carefully spread the tomato sauce over the cheese layer. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if using.
6. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned. Let the pizza rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.