Who doesn’t love a good pan pizza? That thick, chewy crust, with its crisp outside and enough substance to hold up to plenty of toppings. A good thick crust pizza is almost fried on the bottom and has a distinctive chewy texture. This recipe, from the Serious Eats blog, gives exactly that result at home.
The long rising time of the dough is one of the essential parts of this recipe. Don’t skimp on that. I let mine rest for the full 24 hours. That’s what develops the spongy texture and depth of flavor. This is what the dough should look like when its finished its proofing:
See how bubbly and soft that dough looks? It will be slack and loose when you are working with it to form the pizzas, but just be patient and use a light coating of flour on your hands (not too much- you don’t want to mix more flour into the dough. It will toughen it too much.), and you’ll be fine.
I don’t use quite as much oil as the recipe says in the bottom of the pans, but I do make sure there is a good amount in there- more than just a slight layer over the bottom. I think cast iron pans are essential to this recipe. They get nice and hot and help give the dough its crispy outside. I have not tried the cake pans, so I can’t say they don’t work. When you are pressing the dough into the pans, again, have patience. Pizza dough like this is very stretchy and will try to pull back when you are stretching it. Just work it slowly and let it rest a few minutes between stretches. It will work. I usually find the crusts have puffed enough to bake after about an hour in my kitchen.
This isn’t a quick and easy pizza recipe, but when what you want is that amazing deep crust pan pizza, this one can’t be beat!
Header photo from the Serious Eats blog.
======================================================
Coming in December 2018: Two’s Company, a sci-fi novel in the space opera tradition.
Medusa “Deuce” Grainger is smart, confident, and as good a pilot as she is a poker player. A freelance shuttle jockey working for an independent terraforming company, she’s left her former life, and her father, behind. Mostly.
Now, her AI has downloaded another Personality off a wrecked ship, and he’s acting oddly ever since. Someone wants to sabotage her friend’s company out of business, evidence of tampering is being corrupted, and people have died. With an investigation looming that could shut down the company and cut off her main source of income, Deuce needs to figure out what’s going on. And she needs to do it fast, because there’s more at stake than anyone realizes.
Two’s Company is listed on Goodreads. If you like what you see above, I’d appreciate you adding it to your Want To Read list. Thanks!
Available now :
After five years away, Kaili is coming home for the ceremony to install her sister as head of the family business. When an old rivalry threatens the family, Kaili and her partner need to use all their skills to save the sisters’ lives. Learn more here
A collection of six short fantasy stories set in varied worlds of magic and mayhem. Learn more here.
A short novelette set in a dystopian Earth after the final environmental collapse. Sam is a genetically engineered chameleon who may hold the key to mankind’s survival. Learn more here.
In a world reeling under the effects of severe climate change, food shortages are common, and arable farmland is scarce. Unscupulous distributors like Beni Oligowma take advantage of the shortages for their own gain. When a promising new technology for growing food even under the harsh conditions is unveiled, grocery store owner Frank is determined to see that everyone is able to benefit from the results, not just the Benis of the world.
Feed My People is a short story, set in a dystopian science fiction world, and is free. Learn more here
Demon hunters Johnny and Cerise travel to the small town of Carroll Fork where they find a demon-possessed thrift store, a sweet old lady who is more than she seems, and an army of underworld inhabitants. Can Johnny and his trusty yo-yo save the town from a devil of a problem?
Five and Daemon, the Yo-Yo Files #1, is a short novelette in an urban fantasy setting, with elements of the supernatural and humor. Learn more here
Things have been quiet. No demonic possessions, no otherworldly intrusions, nothing. And then Lucifer shows up in Johnny’s living room, claiming that two archangels are missing, and something is definitely not right in the heavenly- and other- realms. Saying he has nothing to do with it- this time- he asks Johnny and Cerise to help him find out what’s happening, and who is behind the disappearances. While they are trying to do just that, Lucifer is devilnapped by a larger-than-life serpent. He manages to get a clue to Johnny before he disappears. Johnny and Cerise are left to puzzle out the disappearances and try to find the missing angels. Oh, and stop what could mean the ultimate destruction of pretty much everything.
Snake’s Alive, the Yo-Yo Files #2 is an urban fantasy novelette with elements of the supernatural and humor. Learn more here.
And So On... 