A famous deep-dish recipe for Chicago-style entertaining



In 1943, Ike Sewell created the Chicago deep dish as a way to make sure hungry families could get a “real meal” when it came to pizza. Up to that point, pizza was hardly more than a snack. As a result, Sewell opened Pizzeria Uno, which has since grown to over 200 locations worldwide and is celebrating its 65th anniversary.

With February vacation just around the corner, Uno Chicago Grill suggests making your own Chicago deep-dish pizza for entertaining. It’s fun, it’s filling and it’s delicious.



Master Dough Recipe

Yield: one 20-ounce ball of dough to make one 12-inch Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza

1 package active dry yeast 3/4 cup warm water (105-110 degrees F)

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4 cup corn oil

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 12-inch deep-dish pizza pan or cake pan

In a mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast with water and sugar. Add the corn oil and blend. Add the flour and salt and mix thoroughly. If using a stand mixer, mix for 4 minutes at medium speed, until the dough is smooth and pliable. If kneading by hand, knead for 7 to 8 minutes. Turn the dough out of the bowl and knead by hand for two additional minutes. Add olive oil to a deep bowl. Place the dough ball into the bowl and turn it twice to coat it with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel. Let the dough rise for two hours. Do not punch it down. Spread and push the dough ball across the bottom of the pan and up the sides.

Pepperoni Deep-Dish Pizza

1-1/2 cups tomatoes, ground

1 teaspoon oregano, dried

1 teaspoon basil, dried

2 tablespoons romano cheese, grated

5 ounces part-skim, low-moisture mozzarella, sliced

5 ounces provolone, sliced 24 pepperoni slices (about 2 ounces)

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes, oregano, basil and romano. Set aside.

2. Lay the slices of mozzarella and provolone on top of the dough, overlapping the slices to cover all of the dough.

3. Spread the tomato mixture evenly over the cheese.

4. Dot the top of the tomatoes with the pepperoni.

5. Bake on the middle rack of a preheated 475-degree F oven for 20-25 minutes until crust is golden brown and pulls away from the sides of the pan.

6. Allow the pizza to rest for 3-4 minutes before cutting and serving. (NewsUSA)