A delicious deep dish pizza with a crispy crust, just like you get in Detroit! This easy recipe uses a special blend of three cheeses, a secret ingredient in the sauce, and a unique cooking method to get that perfect balance of flavor and texture.
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Introduction
Detroit style pizza is a delicious and unique type of pizza that originates from, you guessed it, Detroit! This style of pizza is characterized by its square shape, thick crust, and toppings that go all the way to the edge. While it may seem daunting to try to make this type of pizza at home, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered with this step-by-step guide.
What You Need
All you need to make Detroit style pizza at home is a square pan, pizza dough, pizza sauce, toppings, and cheese. That’s it! If you don’t have a square pan, you can use a round pan, but the slices will be a little different.
You can find Detroit style pizza pans online or in some kitchen stores. If you can’t find one, any square or rectangular pan will work.
I like to use this Detroit style pizza dough recipe, but you can use any pizza dough recipe you like. If you’re short on time, you can even use store-bought dough.
For the sauce, I like to use this easy Detroit style pizza sauce recipe. Again, feel free to use your favorite sauce recipe or even store-bought sauce.
As for toppings, the sky is the limit! You can top your Detroit style pizza with anything you like. Some of my favorite toppings are pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and peppers.
And finally, for the cheese. You’ll need about 2 cups of shredded cheese for a 12-inch pizza. I like to use a mix of mozzarella and cheddar because it’s what I usually have on hand. But feel free to use any type of cheese you like or have on hand.
The Dough
To make the dough, you will need:
-1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
-1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-1/2 cup warm water
In a large bowl, combine the yeast, flour, and salt. Add the olive oil and stir until combined. Add the warm water and stir until a sticky dough forms. You may need to add a bit more water if the dough is too dry. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Once the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a floured surface and shape it into a 12-inch round. Place the dough on a greased baking sheet and let it rise for another 30 minutes. Preheat your oven to 500 degrees F during this time.
The Sauce
Detroit-style pizza is known for its deep dish crust, which is traditionally made with a combination of shortening and lard. The dough is also unique in that it uses a fermented starter, which gives it a subtle sourdough flavor. The sauce is also key to Detroit-style pizza, and it’s usually made with a combination of crushed tomatoes, garlic, and spices.
The Cheese
The key to a great Detroit Style Pizza is in the cheese. You want to use a blend of mozzarella and brick cheeses. The brick cheese adds a nice sharpness to the pizza, while the mozzarella provides that classic pizza flavor and perfect level of gooeyness.
You’ll also want to make sure that your cheese is well-shredded. This will ensure that it melts evenly and you don’t get any big clumps of cheese on your pizza.
The Toppings
One hallmark of Detroit-style pizza is its use of Wisconsin Brick cheese, which has a strong, sharp flavor. In addition to the Brick cheese, you can also use mozzarella or a blend of the two cheeses. As for the toppings, feel free to get creative! Common toppings for Detroit-style pizza include pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and peppers.
Baking the Pizza
Preheat your oven to 500 degrees F (250 degrees C). Place a pizza stone or unglazed quarry tiles on the lower third of the oven. If you do not have a pizza stone or tiles, you can use the back of a baking sheet.
Sprinkle a little cornmeal on your work surface. Roll the dough out to a 12 inch circle. Place the dough on a greased baking sheet, and spread with your favorite pasta sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Add any other toppings that you like.
Bake at 500 degrees F (250 degrees C) for 10 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, making Detroit style pizza at home is not difficult, but it does require some specific ingredients and techniques. With a little practice, you can make delicious Detroit style pizza that rivals any restaurant.
