Country Deep-Dish Pizza

This deep-dish pizza, topped with caramelized onions, crisp bacon and cheese, makes a hearty main dish your family will enjoy. Add a tossed green salad and your favorite beverage to complete the meal.

Recipe Ingredients:

Filling:
1 pound onions, sliced
2 teaspoons olive oil
3/4 cup (about 1/2 pound uncooked) crisp bacon, crumbled
1 large egg
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 cups Wisconsin Mozzarella and/or Provolone cheese, shredded
1 cup regular or extra chunky spaghetti sauce
1/4 cup Wisconsin Parmesan or Asiago cheese, grated

Dough:
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (0.25-ounce) package active dry yeast or 2 1/4 teaspoons
1 teaspoon rosemary leaves
1 cup very warm water (125°F to 130°F | 50°C to 55°C)
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 large egg, at room temperature

Cooking Directions:

1. For filling, cook onions in oil in large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, 10 to 15 minutes; cool. Stir in bacon, egg and pepper, reserve.
2. Prepare dough while onions cool: Combine 1 cup flour, salt, yeast and rosemary in large bowl. Add very warm water and oil. Beat 2 minutes at low speed with electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add egg and 1/2 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. With spoon, stir in enough remaining flour to make stiff batter. Cover, let rest 10 minutes (20 minutes for Active Dry Yeast); stir batter down.
3. With back of large spoon or greased hands, spread batter in bottom and up sides of greased 9 inch springform pan.
4. Sprinkle Mozzarella cheese over dough. Top with onion mixture. Spread spaghetti sauce over top. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm, draft-free place 20 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
6. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until crust is golden and filling is hot.

Makes 4 servings.

Recipe provided courtesy of Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc.