Deep Dish Pizza No. 2

By chelyc13

This is another version of the deep dish pizza that Chicago is famous for. The addition of milk to the dough makes it softer and richer. the use of ricotta as the dominant cheese is a nice variation.

Ingredients

• FOR DOUGH:
• 3/4 cup warm water (105-115F)
• 2 pkgs active dry yeast
• 3 cups unbleached flour
• 6 tblsp milk
• FOR TOPPING:
• 1 28oz can italian style plum tomtoes
• 4 oz mozzarella cheese, grated
• 10 oz ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 1 teas salt

Preparation

Step 1

FOR DOUGH:
Dissolve yeast in warm water, stir well, and set aside. Put the flour ina 3 to 4 quart mixing bowl. Make a well in the flour. Add the yeast mixture and the milk. Stir and mix until the dough cleans teh sides of the bowl. Turn the dough out of the bowl onto a floured work surface.

Knead the dough for 5-6 minutes (dust lightly with flour if the dough sticks to your hands) until it is soft and smooth. Lightly flour a 3-4 quart mixing bowl and the dough. Place the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel. set the bowl in a warm place for the dough to rise (1- 1 1/2 hours).

Take the dough out of the mixing bowl; knead for about 2 minutes. Oil the bottom and sides of the pizza pan. Stretch the dough gently with your hands to about 1/2 the size of the pizza pan. Put the dough in the pan and stretch it with your fingers and palm until it completely covers the bottom of the pan. Pull the dough up the sides of the pan to form a pronounced border. Cover the pan wiht a kitchen towel. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.

FOR TOPPING:
Drain off 1/2 the liquid from the can of tomatoes, put them into a bowl, and crush them by hand. Set aside.

In a 2-3 quart mixing bowl, combine the mozzarella, ricotta, egg, and salt. Refrigerate the mixture if not using at once.

TO ASSEMBLE AND BAKE:
Preheat the oven to 450. After the dough has risen the second time, lay in the ricotta cheese mixture to cover the crust (not the border). Spoon on teh half drained tomatoes. Bake the pizza in the preheated oven, on the lowest oven rack, for 5 minutes. Move the pan 2 slots about the lower rack and bake an additional 20-25 mintues, until the crust is brown.