SERVES 4
TOTAL TIME: 45 minutes
We like the convenience of using ready-made pizza dough from the local pizzeria or supermarket here. Be sure to let the dough sit out at room temperature while preparing the remaining ingredients and heating the oven, otherwise it will be difficult to stretch. For the pizza sauce, consider using our No-Cook Pizza Sauce. See the photos that follow the recipe.
|
¼ |
cup olive oil |
|
1 |
pound pizza dough, room temperature |
|
½ |
cup pizza sauce |
|
6 |
ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (1½ cups) |
1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Grease 9-inch round cake pan with 3 tablespoons oil.
2. Roll dough into 9-inch round on lightly floured counter. Stretch and press dough into prepared pan, making edge slightly thicker than middle. Brush dough with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Spread pizza sauce evenly over dough, leaving ½-inch border around edge, then sprinkle with mozzarella.
3. Bake until pizza is puffed and golden brown around edges and cheese is melted and spotty brown, about 25 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Let pizza cool in pan for 1 minute, then transfer to cutting board. Let cool slightly and serve.
VARIATIONS
DEEP-DISH PEPPERONI PIZZA
Arrange 2 ounces sliced pepperoni between double layers of coffee filters on plate and microwave until fat begins to render, about 30 seconds. Sprinkle pepperoni over pizza before baking.
DEEP-DISH SAUSAGE AND PEPPER PIZZA
Microwave 4 ounces Italian sausage, casings removed and broken into ½-inch pieces, with ½ green or red bell pepper, cut into ½-inch pieces, and 1 tablespoon water in covered bowl until sausage is no longer pink and bell pepper is crisp-tender, about 4 minutes; drain mixture and transfer to paper towel–lined plate. Sprinkle sausage and pepper mixture over pizza before baking.