Deep-Dish Spinach Pizza

sugarpea's Note:

My husband won a pizza contest with this pizza from Jane Brody who got it from Pizzapiazza in Lower Manhattan. He won for best tasting AND best looking pizza. Hard to believe when in competition with other cheese and meat-loaded pies. This one is full of vegetables with low-fat cheeses and homemade sauce in a whole wheat crust. Baked in a springform pan, the sides allow for an attractive design of plum tomatoes and fresh basil leaves. It's definitely worth the effort.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 25 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 1.0 9inch pie

Crust

• 1 cup warm water (110° 1 T active dry yeast (1 pkg)
• 1 pinch sugar
• 2 -2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon salt, if desired
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• cornmeal, for sprinkling pan

Sauce

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2/3 cup onion, sliced (1 medium)
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 (16 ounce) can plum tomatoes, with their juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, if desired
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1 pinch hot red pepper flakes

Topping

• 1 lb fresh spinach, washed but not dried,stems trimmed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (6 ounces)
• 3/4 cup shredded swiss cheese (about 3 ounces)
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 -3 ripe plum tomatoes or 2 -3 round tomatoes, sliced thinly lengthwise
• 16 fresh basil leaves
• 1 small green bell pepper, sliced into 1/4 inch strips
• 1 small red bell pepper, sliced into 1/4 inch strips

Directions:

1. Crust: Proof yeast in water with sugar; in a food processor or in a bowl, mix 2 cups of the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour and salt; add oil to bubbly yeast mixture and stir or process into flour mixture until dough pulls away from sides of bowl.
2. Scrape dough onto floured work surface and knead until smooth and elastic (or process until smooth and elastic), using up to 1/4 cup more all-purpose flour, if needed, to keep dough from sticking.
3. Place dough in oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise, in warm place, until doubled; punch dough down, wrap it well and refrigerate until needed.
4. Sauce: In a skillet, saute onion and garlic in oil until soft; reduce heat to low and add tomatoes and their liquid; break up the tomatoes slightly and add the salt, sugar, pepper, and pepper flakes; simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until very thick, about 30 minutes.
5. Topping: Cook spinach in covered saucepan until wilted, about 3 minutes; drain, rinse with cold water and squeeze dry; chop coarsely; saute garlic in hot oil for 15 seconds; add spinach and cook, stirring, for 1 minute; set aside.
6. In a small bowl, mix the cheeses and set aside.
7. Assembling: Move oven rack to lowest position and preheat to 475°; grease a 9" springform pan and sprinkle with corn meal.
8. Roll half the dough out to a 12" circle; reserve other half of dough for another use; line the bottom and sides of the pan with the dough, but don't let any dough hang over the edge; spread 1 1/2 cups of the cheese mixture over the bottom of the crust.
9. Spread tomato sauce evenly over the cheese; spread spinach over the tomato sauce; sprinkle with remaining cheese; arrange the tomato slices vertically, along the side of the pie, alternating the slices with the basil leaves.
10. Place the remaining tomato slices in a circle in the center, alternating with the pepper slices, interspersing red and green strips; bake for 25 minutes or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly; let set 5 minutes before removing side of pan and cutting.

Reviews

[Dienia B.]

this is good i also like the rest of your vegtable recipes since i have a large v garden an need more recipes

[spatchcock]

Wish I could give this thirty stars!!! I loved this, turned out BEAUTIFULLY and really was not that much work. The dough comes together quickly and the sauce and toppings are likewise easily assembled. The dough is WONDERFUL and stands up well to the considerable load placed on it. My changes consisted of 1) omitting the swiss cheese, since the store I went to today only had a big package for $12!!, and 2) using fresh mozzarella, out of which I squeezed all the excess moisture. I have mini springform pans, and I think this would make POSITIVELY adorable mini-pizzas!!! Thanks for a terrific recipe!!