Mad About Food: Pizza pairings

Chicago-Style Deep Dish Italian Beef Pizza. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Have you ever thought about a crazy food combination that might be interesting to bring to fruition? What stopped you from trying it out? If you tried it, did it turn out like you had anticipated it would?

Well, I have had many thoughts of trying various food combinations. Some have worked out better than others, and well, let’s just say some didn’t fair as well. But I still try new things, because trial and error is how life works.

One of my favorite combinations is my version of the Chicago-style pizza combined with an Italian beef sandwich. Don’t knock it before you try it. I can’t guarantee that you will love it, but I bet it is a combination that will be on your menu again.

Being from Chicago I get home sick for the food all the time. Thankfully there are a few local establishments that have migrated here and brought some great renditions of some great classics to the area. And area grocers have begun to stock their shelves with a greater variety of ingredients, so we can create our own Chicagoland favorites right here in Cedar Rapids.

This Italian Beef Deep Dish Pizza wasn’t discovered by me, but my version is definitely my own. Chicago is known for its eclectic lifestyles, which also includes its cuisine. The way Chicagoans combine and collaborate almost everything speaks volumes of why it’s considered a great tourist attraction.

Food in itself is nothing but flavor collaborations. From seasoning combinations, to meats, grains, fruits and vegetables. It all harmonizes somehow into a yummy expression of coming together. There is a good reason that food brings people together. Afterall, a meal brings different foods together to feed and fuel us.

This Chicago-style Deep Dish Italian Beef Pizza is a mouthful to say so imagine how fulfilling it will be to eat! It’s also completely versatile. You can add or take away any items and still have a delicious pizza. My version is another homage to my dear mother who loves Chicago-style deep dish pizza and Italian beef sandwich, which traditionally is an Italian sausage on Italian bread and topped with sliced Italian beef that is slathered in giardiniera peppers. (These also pair well with beef tacos).

I simply combined my mother's two favorite meals to come up with this recipe. I don’t like to use a lot of pork so my Italian sausage is turkey. I also used a store-bought refrigerated pizza crust for convenience. I’m not one to make a lot of extra steps if I don’t have to. Work smarter not harder in the kitchen, especially if you are a beginner.

I also used a store-bought pizza sauce. I could make the crust and sauce from scratch but why when you can simply doctor up the store-bought version and have dinner ready in minutes. The key is to get enough ingredients into the pie crust, but not too much, or the crust will be soggy.

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I could go on for days on how to create my version of Chicago-Style Deep Dish Italian Beef Pizza but how about we role roll up our sleeves, wash our hands and get to making our own version of a combination of two Chicago staples.

Recipe

Chicago-Style Deep Dish Italian Beef Pizza

Ingredients

1 pound deli roast beef

1pound ground Italian turkey sausage (or pork)

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon lemon pepper

1/2 onion, sliced thin

1 bell pepper, sliced thin

1 tablespoon beef base or bullion

1 cup water

1 jar giardiniera peppers (I used mild)

1 refrigerated deep dish pizza crust

1 stick of butter

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound Italian cheese blend (I used deli sliced but shredded is good, too)

1 small jar of pizza sauce

2 tablespoons of white cornmeal (optional)

Directions

In a medium skillet add 2 tablespoons olive oil and cook Italian sausage until done. Add roast beef and seasonings and cook for 10 minutes. Next, add in the onion and bell pepper along with the beef base and water and cook for 10 minutes and let cool.

Prepare the pizza dough by spreading it out on a clean dry surface or use a sheet of parchment paper (my preference).

Melt butter and mix remaining olive oil in and brush onto pizza dough. (You can season the butter or sprinkle the dough with seasonings if you would like.)

Sprinkle cornmeal lightly over the pizza dough.

Using a deep casserole or deep dish pizza pan. flip the dough upside down into the pan so that the cornmeal side is on the bottom of the pizza pan. Spread dough evenly and be sure that the edges are over lapping the lip of the dish like a regular pie crust would.

Brush the dough with the butter and olive oil mixture and begin layering the toppings starting with the cheese, followed by the meat mixture and ending with the sauce.

Bake pizza for 20 to 30 minutes at 375 degrees or 425 degrees, depending on your oven. (You can cover the edges with aluminum foil after the first 15 minutes of baking if the edges are browning too quickly.) Remove from oven.

Sprinkle the top of the pizza with giardiniera peppers and more cheese if desired and let cool for 10 minutes and then serve.

*Makes a 9-inch Chicago-style deep dish pizza

Source: Michelle Madden