Deep-Dish Pizza With Italian Sausage And Broccoli Rabe

Serves: 6

Luisa Champlin

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

43

Spice

51

Sweetness

63

Sourness

47

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.4

Difficulty

Ingredients:

2 tbsps

Olive Oil

1

Salt

4 tsps

Kosher Salt

Directions:

1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the broccoli rabe and blanch for 2 minutes

2

Drain in a colander and run cold water over

3

Drain well again and squeeze out excess liquid

4

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil, chili flakes and garlic in a large saute pan over medium heat and cook for 1 minute

5

Add the broccoli rabe, salt and pepper and cook until slightly tender, about 5 minutes

6

In a separate large saute pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil over high heat until the oil begins to shimmer

7

Add the sausage links and using a wooden spoon, gently break up the meat into coarse pieces

8

Cook until deep golden brown

9

(You do not need to cook all the way because it will continue to cook in the oven

10

) Combine the sausage and the broccoli rabe and let cool slightly

11

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over high heat

12

Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds

13

Add the tomatoes and oregano, bring to a boil and cook until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes

14

Stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper

15

Let cool slightly

16

Dissolve the yeast and water in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment

17

Add the oils and mix for 30 seconds

18

Add the cornmeal, 3 cups of the flour and salt and beat for 5 minutes

19

Switch to the dough hook and mix in the remaining 2 1/2 cups of flour and knead, using the dough hook for 2 minutes

20

Add the butter and knead until incorporated

21

The dough is a very moist dough so do not add more flour unless absolutely needed

22

Place the dough in a large bowl lightly oiled with vegetable oil, cover with plastic wrap or clean kitchen towels and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes

23

Punch down the dough and allow to double in size again

24

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F

25

Place 2 pizza stones into the oven to preheat as well

26

Generously oil 2 (9 or 10-inch) deep dish pie pans with olive oil (about 2 tablespoons for each pan)

27

Divide the dough in half and press the dough out slightly on the counter top

28

Place the dough in the prepared pans and push out to cover the bottom and up the side of the pans

29

(If using the 9-inch pans, pinch a 2-inch ball off each dough to make a better fit

30

) Combine the cheese in a bowl

31

Place half of the cheese of the bottom of each pie crust

32

Divide the sausage filling over the cheese and then top with the remaining cheese, patting the cheese firmly down over the filling

33

Spoon some of the sauce over the top of the cheese to cover completely

34

Place the pans into the oven on the pizza stones and bake in the oven until golden brown, about 40 minutes

35

Remove from the oven and sprinkle the top with Parmesan

36

Let the pizza rest on a baking sheet for 5 minutes before slicing