Craving pizza in the style of the windy city? This version with Otamot Essential Sauce replicates perfectly the popular crowd pleaser.

Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 store bought pizza dough, or your favorite dough recipe

1 lb mozzarella cheese, grated

1 tbsp olive oil, plus more for brushing

1 medium shallot, minced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 jar Otamot Essential Sauce

1 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped

Kosher salt

Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Optional Toppings

Pepperoni

Italian sausage

Sweet onion

Button mushrooms

Black olives

Roasted garlic

Bacon

Artichokes

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 425°.

2. For the sauce: Heat a saucepot over medium heat. Add theolive oil and heat for 30 seconds. Add the minced shallot and garlic and sweat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the jar of Otamot Essential Sauce, chopped basil and kosher salt to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes for the flavors to combine.

3. Lightly flour a clean and dry work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the pizza dough to a ¼ inch thickness and roughly 14 inches across.

4. Brush a light coating of olive oil all over the inside of a 9 inch by 2 inch tall round cake pan.

5. Gently slide the rolled out pizza dough over the prepared cake pan. Press the dough down into the edges of the pan and ensure there is no air between the dough and the pan. Trim away anyexcess dough that overhangs the top of the pan but leave enough so it’s wrapping just around the rim at the top. The dough will shrink during baking. Brush the top edges of the dough with olive oil.

6. Add all the shredded mozzarella cheese inside the dough. It should be a thick layer. If you are going to add any additional toppings, put on top of the cheese layer.

7. Spoon the sauce over the top of the cheese/toppings. Finely grate some Parmigiano Reggiano cheese over the sauce.

8. Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. The crust should look golden brown all around the top and sides.

9. Remove from the oven and grate additional Parmigiano Reggiano cheese all over the top. cool for 10 minutes outside of the oven before enjoying.