Deep-Dish Pepperoni Pie
At first glance, this looks like a pizza recipe, but a deep-dish pizza this saucy is really just an oven-simmered cheesy stew with a bread base.
INGREDIENTS | SERVES 6
1 pound ready-to-bake pizza dough
2 cups thick marinara sauce
1 (16-ounce) container ricotta cheese
2 cups cooked fresh spinach
4 cups sliced pepperoni
1 bell pepper, cored and sliced
2 cups shredded Asiago cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cups shredded provolone cheese
Press dough into bottom and partway up sides of lightly oiled deep 13 × 9 baking pan. Ladle ½ cup of sauce onto dough; spread to coat. Dot dough with ricotta cheese. Press as much liquid as possible from cooked spinach; spread half over ricotta, followed by half of pepperoni and all of bell pepper.
Ladle 2 cups of sauce over peppers; use a fork to move ingredients slightly so sauce can penetrate. Combine all shredded cheeses; distribute ½ over dish. Top with remaining pepperoni, remaining spinach, and remaining sauce. Spread remaining cheese mixture over dish.
Cover loosely with foil; bake in 325°F oven 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake an additional 10–15 minutes, or until cheese is browned and bubbly.
