Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cornmeal
• 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
• 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
• 1 ¼ cups warm water
• ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion (finely chopped)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Toppings:

• 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ pound Italian sausage (cooked)
• ½ cup sliced pepperoni (optional)
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Make the Dough:
In a bowl, combine warm water and yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
Add flour, cornmeal, salt, and melted butter. Knead for about 5 minutes until smooth.
Coat the dough in olive oil, cover, and let rise for 1-2 hours.

Make the Sauce:Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté onions until soft.
Add garlic, crushed tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Assemble the Pizza:
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
Roll out dough and press it into a deep-dish pan.
Layer mozzarella cheese, sausage, and toppings. Pour the tomato sauce on top and sprinkle Parmesan.

Bake:
Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
Let it cool for 10 minutes before slicing.