Perfect Pan Pizza – For Starters

For my inaugural post I’ll share some secrets that we recently learned that led to a GREAT homemade pan pizza.  This pizza was the best I’ve ever eaten, much less made, with it’s crunchy, bready crust and it’s bubbly, crispy cheese.  It was a labor of love but well worth the efforts!

Here are the results:

From the top (who needs Pizza Hut?!)

From the side…2″ thick.

Signature Pan Crust
We discovered, not because we’re great detectives but because we know the right TV show to watch, that a huge help to a great pan crust milk.  Milk?!  That’s right, adding milk and a little olive oil to the dough mixture instead of just water gives the crust that nice bready texture.  It also gives it a little extra fat that makes the flavor out of this world.  If you’re concerned about the fat, then you shouldn’t be eating anything that has peperoni or pizza in it’s name!  Also adding what seems like a lot (3 tbsp) of olive oil into the cake pan in which we baked the pizzas helped give the bottom side of the crust a crunchiness that adds a certain something to the package.

Less Grease
When you order pizza from Papa John’s or Pizza Hut (or insert the name of your favorite pizza delivery place) the pizza is so greasy, especially peperoni.  The secret to a less greasy peperoni pizza is to microwave the peperonis for about 30 seconds between two paper towels before you dress the pizza.

Quality Ingredients
We also discovered that this is not the time to skimp on either the quality or the quantity of ingredients.  You may have gotten a great price on that store brand mozzarella but the extra water and filler in it will not yield optimal results.  We’ve found a great shredded mozzarella cheese at Sam’s Club.  It’s grated very coarsely which helps give great coverage once it melts but you have to be patient.  Coming from Sam’s club you have to buy a 3 lb. bag but if you make any sort of pasta (especially lasagna) or omelettes in addition to pizza you’ll find yourself not having a hard time using it up.  Check out the “Game The System” blog for some great ways to make sure you have quality ingredients at better than store brand prices!

The Recipe
Makes two 9-inch pizzas serving 4 to 6
 
Dough Ingredients:
1/2 cup olive oil 
3/4 cup skim milk plus 2 additional tablespoons, warmed to 110 degrees
2 teaspoons sugar 
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour , plus extra for counter
1 package  instant yeast 
1/2 teaspoon table salt 
 
Topping Ingredients:
1 (3.5-ounce) package sliced pepperoni 
1 1/3 cups tomato sauce  (heat on stove and add salt/pepper to taste)
3 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese 
Add any other ingredients you might like on your pizza as well.

Instructions: 
To make the dough:

1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 200 degrees. When oven reaches 200 degrees, turn it off.
2. Lightly grease large bowl with cooking spray.
3. Coat each of two 9-inch cake pans with 3 tablespoons oil.
4. Mix milk, sugar, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in measuring cup.
5. Mix flour, yeast, and salt in standing mixer fitted with dough hook.
6. Turn machine to low and slowly add milk mixture.
7. After dough comes together, increase speed to medium-low and mix until dough is shiny and smooth, about 5 minutes.
8. Turn dough onto lightly floured counter, gently shape into ball, and place in greased bowl.
9. Cover with plastic wrap and place in warm oven until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

To shape and top the dough:

1. Transfer dough to lightly floured counter, divide in half, and lightly roll each half into ball.
2. Working with 1 dough ball at a time, roll and shape dough into 9 1/2-inch round and press into oiled pan.
3. Cover with plastic wrap and set in warm spot (not in oven) until puffy and slightly risen, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, heat oven to 400 degrees.

While dough rises:

1. Put half of pepperoni in single layer on microwave-safe plate lined with 2 paper towels.
2. Cover with 2 more paper towels and microwave on high for 30 seconds.
3. Discard towels and set pepperoni aside; repeat with new paper towels and remaining pepperoni.

Once the dough has risen in the pan:

1. Remove plastic wrap from dough.
2. Ladle 2/3 cup sauce on each round, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges.
3. Sprinkle each with 1 1/2 cups cheese and top with pepperoni.
4. Bake until cheese is melted and pepperoni is browning around edges, about 20 minutes.
5. Remove from oven

It is very important that you let the pizzas rest in pans for 1 minute. Then, using spatula, transfer pizzas to cutting board and cut each into 8 wedges.  Serve.

Everyone in the family will rave and you will not want to spend the $15, or so, for Pizza Hut or Papa John’s the next time the family wants some good pizza.  Try it out and let me know how things turned out!

Enoy!
- The Fortunate Foodie