Kamil Perry
Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is famous for its unconventional layering method, with the cheese going directly on top of the crust and the sauce piled on top. This is said to prevent the cheese from scorching in the heat and keeps the crust from drying out. Detroit-style pizza also typically has the sauce on top, though some Detroit natives argue that this is not traditional.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of pizza | Chicago-style deep dish |
| Layering method | Dough pressed into a round, high-edged pie pan, then layered with cheese, toppings, and sauce |
| Reason for layering method | Cheese placed directly on crust to prevent scorching in the oven; sauce piled on top to protect the cheese and prevent the crust from drying out |
| Sauce | Thick, chunky tomato sauce with crushed tomatoes |
| Crust | Crunchy-edged, flaky, buttery |
| Cheese | Mozzarella |
| Toppings | Generous |
| Eating method | Eaten with a fork |
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What You'll Learn
Chicago-style deep dish
Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is a unique take on the traditional pizza. It is baked in a deep-dish cake pan, giving it a distinct look. The process of assembling the pizza is what sets it apart: the dough is pressed into a round, high-edged pie pan, followed by a layer of mozzarella cheese, toppings of choice, and finally, the sauce. This order of layering is not merely a preference but serves a utilitarian purpose.
The Chicago-style deep-dish pizza requires a longer cooking time due to its thick and hearty composition. Placing the cheese under the sauce prevents it from scorching in the oven's heat. The sauce acts as a protective layer, keeping the cheese from burning and drying out. This unique assembly method ensures that the pizza cooks evenly and maintains its delicious flavours.
The sauce used in Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is also noteworthy. It is typically a thick and chunky tomato sauce with crushed tomatoes, creating a textured consistency that sets it apart from pureed pizza sauces. This chunky sauce holds its shape during cooking and does not turn into a runny mess. The slightly sweet and acidic sauce balances the richness of the cheese and crust, providing a delightful contrast in flavours and textures.
Preparing the dough for a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is also a meticulous process. The crust is a crucial component, and it is designed to be crunchy-edged and flaky, differing from a regular pizza crust. The dough is often buttery, contributing to the rich flavour and texture of the final product. The high-edged crust is a signature feature of this pizza style, baked to perfection in a round pie pan with taller edges.
Creating an authentic-tasting Chicago deep-dish pizza is an art that involves carefully selected ingredients and a precise assembly process. The combination of flavours and textures in each bite makes it a beloved and iconic dish, showcasing the city's culinary creativity and offering a delightful experience for pizza enthusiasts worldwide.
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Detroit-style deep dish
Detroit-style deep-dish pizza is a rectangular pan pizza with a thick, crisp, chewy crust. It was developed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1946 at Buddy's Rendezvous, a former speakeasy owned by Gus and Anna Guerra. The pizza was baked in rectangular steel trays designed for use as automotive drip pans or to hold small industrial parts in factories.
Detroit-style deep-dish pizza is typically made with a combination of mozzarella and Wisconsin brick cheese, which is placed directly on top of the dough before adding the sauce and other toppings. This is different from a typical pizza, where the sauce is applied first, followed by cheese and then toppings. The cheese gets baked until it is gooey, buttery, and thick in the middle, with crispy, dark brown edges. The sauce is usually a sweet and thick tomato sauce, seasoned with garlic and spices, and applied in heavy parallel bands or dollops.
There are different opinions on whether the sauce should be added before or after baking. Some people prefer to add the sauce after the pizza comes out of the oven, while others believe that cooking the cheese and sauce together achieves a better flavour and texture.
Detroit-style deep-dish pizza has gained popularity in recent years, with several Detroit-area restaurants, including Buddy's, Supino Pizzeria, Loui's Pizza, and Cloverleaf Pizza, being recognized for their pizza in 2020.
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Preventing cheese from burning
When it comes to baking a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, the cheese goes directly on top of the crust, followed by the sauce. This is because the deep-dish pizza takes longer to cook than a regular pizza (about 30 minutes), and the top layer of sauce prevents the cheese from burning. The sauce also keeps the crust from drying out. The sauce used for Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is typically a thick, chunky tomato sauce with crushed tomatoes, which holds its shape during cooking rather than turning into a runny mess.
Detroit-style pizza also typically has the sauce placed on top of the cheese. However, this style of pizza is baked in a pan with a crispy base, and the sauce is spread in three rows, which is said to prevent the pizza from becoming soggy.
When making a New York-style pizza, some people prefer to spread the sauce over shredded mozzarella cheese. This method is said to prevent the cheese from burning and oozing out fat too quickly, allowing the dough to cook better.
For a home-cooked pizza, one person recommends painting olive oil on the crust, followed by a thin layer of shredded mozzarella, dollops of sauce, and fresh mozzarella. This method also helps prevent the cheese from burning.
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Preventing a dry crust
When it comes to baking a pizza, there are various methods and techniques to achieve the perfect result. One of the critical considerations is the order in which the ingredients are layered, especially when it comes to deep-dish pizza.
For a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, the cheese goes directly on top of the crust, followed by the sauce. This unique layering method is not just a matter of preference but serves a specific purpose. The deep-dish pizza requires a longer cooking time, approximately 30 minutes, to ensure it is cooked all the way through. By placing the cheese underneath the sauce, the top layer of sauce protects the cheese from scorching in the oven's heat. Thus, the sauce acts as a barrier, preventing the cheese from burning and drying out, resulting in a perfectly melted and gooey cheese layer.
Additionally, the sauce's chunky thickness in a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza helps maintain its structure during cooking. Instead of turning into a runny mess, the thick sauce bakes firmly in place, further contributing to its role as a protective layer for the cheese and crust. The acidity of the tomato sauce also balances out the richness of the cheese and crust, creating a harmonious flavour profile.
The high-edged crust of a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is another distinguishing factor. The crust is baked in a round pie pan with taller edges than a typical flat pie pan. This higher edge allows for more ingredients to be added without spilling over, ensuring a generous serving.
While the cheese-under-sauce method is characteristic of Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, it is important to note that other styles may vary. For example, in Detroit-style pizza, there is variation, with some preferring the sauce on top and others opting for the traditional method of sauce under the cheese. Ultimately, the decision to put cheese before sauce in a deep-dish pizza is a strategic one, ensuring the perfect balance of flavours and textures in every bite.
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The sauce's thickness
The sauce used in Chicago-style deep-dish pizzas is characteristically thick and chunky, made with crushed tomatoes. This thickness prevents the sauce from turning into a runny mess during the long cooking time, instead, it bakes firmly in place. The sauce also has enough acidity to cut through the richness of the abundant cheese and crust.
The sauce is spread on top of the cheese, which serves a utilitarian purpose. The thick Chicago deep-dish pizza requires a longer cooking time, and placing the sauce on top helps prevent the cheese from scorching in the heat. It also keeps the crust from drying out.
Detroit-style deep-dish pizzas also feature the sauce on top of the cheese. However, this style of pizza seems to have variations, with some recipes calling for the sauce to be placed under the cheese.
When making a New York-style pizza, shredded cheese is placed on top of the sauce to prevent burning and oozing out fat too quickly.
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Frequently asked questions
The cheese goes underneath the sauce in deep-dish pizzas to prevent the cheese from burning and oozing out fat too quickly.
Deep-dish pizza is made by layering the dough in a round, high-edged pie pan, then adding cheese, toppings, and finally sauce.
Mozzarella cheese is used in deep-dish pizzas.
Deep-dish pizzas use a thick, chunky tomato sauce with crushed tomatoes.
Deep-dish pizza is associated with Chicago and Detroit.
