Servings: 6 people
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 3 cups 360 g bread flour
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp instant yeast
- 1 ¼ cups 300 ml warm water (110°F / 43°C)
- 2 tbsp olive oil plus extra for greasing
For the Sauce:
- 1 ½ cups 400 g canned San Marzano tomatoes, crushed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp sugar
- ½ tsp sea salt
For the Toppings:
- 2 ½ cups 250 g brick cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes (or a mix of mozzarella and Monterey Jack)
- ½ cup 50 g grated Parmesan
- 20 –25 slices of pepperoni or toppings of choice
Instructions
Make the Dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt, sugar, and yeast.
- Gradually add warm water and olive oil, mixing until a sticky dough forms.
- Knead by hand for 8–10 minutes or in a stand mixer for 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 2–3 hours, until doubled.
Prepare the Sauce:
- In a small saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, garlic powder, sugar, and salt. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Set aside to cool slightly.
Assemble the Pizza:
- Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C).
- Oil the rectangular pan generously. Stretch and press the dough into the pan, ensuring it reaches the corners.
- Evenly distribute the brick cheese cubes all the way to the edges (this creates the iconic caramelized cheese crust).
- Arrange pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.
- Spoon 2–3 lines of sauce over the top, leaving some cheese exposed (traditional Detroit layering).
Bake:
- Place the pan on the lowest rack of the oven and bake for 12–15 minutes, until the edges are deeply golden and crisp.
- Let rest for 2–3 minutes before using a spatula to loosen the edges and remove the pizza from the pan.
- Slice into 8 squares and serve hot.
Notes
Pro Tip: If you can’t find brick cheese, mix equal parts mozzarella and Monterey Jack for a similar flavor and melt.
Shortcut: Use store-bought pizza dough and skip to step 3 for faster prep.
Variation: Try topping with caramelized onions, sausage, or roasted vegetables for a gourmet twist.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
