UNTESTED Chicago Deep-Dish Casserole

Ingredients

Dough:

• 3¼ cups (16¼ ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (2¾ ounces) yellow cornmeal
• 1½ teaspoons table salt
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2¼ teaspoons instant or rapid-rise yeast
• 1¼ cups water (10 ounces), room temperature
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted, plus 4 tablespoons, softened
• 1 teaspoon plus 4 tablespoons olive oil

Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¼ cup grated onion , from 1 medium onion (see note)
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• table salt
• 2 medium garlic cloves , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes (see note)
• ¼ teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Toppings:

• 1 pound mozzarella cheese , shredded (about 4 cups)
• ½ ounce grated Parmesan cheese (about ¼ cup)
• Pepperoni, cooked sausage, caramelized onion, pitted olives, roughly chopped basil

Instructions:

For the Dough: 

1. Mix flour, cornmeal, salt, sugar, and yeast in bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook on low speed until incorporated, about 1 minute.
2. Add water and melted butter and mix on low speed until fully combined, 1 to 2 minutes, scraping sides and bottom of bowl occasionally.
3. Increase speed to medium and knead until dough is glossy and smooth and pulls away from sides of bowl, 4 to 5 minutes. (Dough will only pull away from sides while mixer is on. When mixer is off, dough will fall back to sides.)
4. Using fingers, coat large bowl with 1 teaspoon olive oil, rubbing excess oil from fingers onto blade of rubber spatula. Using oiled spatula, transfer dough to bowl, turning once to oil top; cover tightly with plastic wrap.
5. Let rise at room temperature until nearly doubled in volume, 45 to 60 minutes.

For the Sauce: 

1. While dough rises, heat butter in medium saucepan over medium heat until melted.
2. Add onion, oregano, and ½ teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated and onion is golden brown, about 5 minutes.
3. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
4. Stir in tomatoes and sugar, increase heat to high, and bring to simmer.
5. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer until reduced to 2½ cups, 25 to 30 minutes.
6. Off heat, stir in basil and oil, then season with salt and pepper.

To Laminate the Dough:

1. Adjust oven rack to lower position and heat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Using rubber spatula, turn dough out onto dry work surface and roll into 15- by 12-inch rec-tangle. Using offset spatula, spread softened butter over surface of dough, leaving ½-inch border along edges. Starting at short end, roll dough into tight cylinder.
3. With seam side down, flatten cylinder into 18- by 4-inch rectangle. Cut rectangle in half crosswise.
4. Working with 1 half, fold into thirds like business letter; pinch seams together to form ball.
5. Repeat with remaining half.
6. Return balls to oiled bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let rise in refrigerator until nearly doubled in volume, 40 to 50 minutes.

Combining them all:

• Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with 2 tablespoons olive oil each.
• Transfer 1 dough ball to dry work surface and roll out into 13-inch disk about ¼ inch thick.
• Transfer dough to pan by rolling dough loosely around rolling pin and unrolling into pan.
• Lightly press dough into pan, working into corners and 1 inch up sides.
• If dough resists stretching, let it relax 5 minutes before trying again.
• Repeat with remaining dough ball.
• For each pizza, sprinkle 2 cups grated mozzarella evenly over surface of dough.
• Spread 1¼ cups tomato sauce over cheese, add whatever toppings you want to use and sprinkle 2 tablespoons Parmesan over sauce.
• Bake until crust is golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Remove pizza from oven and let rest 10 minutes before slicing and serving.