Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza

• cook time: 40 mins

• servings: 8

Frozen whole wheat dough and a meaty sausage filling are keys to this savory dish perfect for pizza night. It features a double crust that makes it a more authentic Italian pizza but is a deep dish, which originated in Chicago. Any combination of your favorite pizza ingredients can be used to make it your own recipe.

ingredients

• 1 16-ounce loaf frozen whole wheat or white bread dough, thawed
• 1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 ounces)
• 1 recipe Meaty Pizza Filling
• 1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

directions

1. Preheat oven to 375F. On a lightly floured surface roll two-thirds of the dough into a 12-inch circle. (If necessary, let dough rest once or twice during rolling.) Place circle in a greased 9-inch springform pan, pressing dough 1-1/2 inches up the sides. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella. Top with the Meaty Pizza Filling. Mix spinach, egg, and remaining mozzarella. Spread spinach mixture over Meaty Pizza Filling.
2. Roll remaining dough into a 10-inch circle. Cut into 8 wedges. Arrange wedges on spinach mixture, slightly overlapping edges and sealing edges to bottom crust along edge of pan. Brush top with melted butter and sprinkle with Parmesan
3. Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until filling is hot and crust is done. If necessary, cover with foil the last 10 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove sides of springform pan. Cut into wedges. Serves 8.
4. Meaty Pizza Filling: In a large skillet cook 12 ounces bulk Italian sausage and 1 cup chopped onion until sausage is brown, drain. Pat meat with paper towels. Stir in one 8-ounce can pizza sauce; one 4-ounce can mushrooms, drained; one 3.5-ounce package sliced pepperoni; 2 teaspoons dried basil, crushed; and 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed.

recipe source

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