Deep Dish Roasted Vegetable Pizza | Homtone Pizza Oven

Product: https://homtone.com/products/10-in-1-electric-pizza-oven

Ingredients:

Pizza dough (11"-12")
Tomato sauce (homemade or store-bought, about 1 cup)
Fresh mozzarella slices (thinly sliced, about 8 oz)
Roasted zucchini slices (about 1 cup, sliced 1/4 inch thick)
Roasted eggplant slices (about 1 cup, sliced 1/4 inch thick)
Roasted red bell pepper slices (about 1 cup, sliced 1/4 inch thick)
Roasted garlic cloves (about 1/4 cup, roasted and halved)
Fresh thyme leaves (about 1 tablespoon, finely chopped)
Olive oil (extra virgin preferred, about 2 tablespoons)
Salt (preferably sea salt, to taste)
Freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Instructions:

Step 1. Preheat the Oven:

Set your oven to 450℉. Allow it to preheat for at least 15-20 minutes to ensure the oven reaches the correct temperature. This high temperature is crucial for achieving the crispy crust and perfectly melted cheese characteristic of a deep-dish pizza.

Step 2. Prepare the Roasted Vegetables:

If you haven't already roasted the vegetables, preheat a separate oven or use a grill pan to roast them. Toss the zucchini, eggplant, and red bell pepper slices with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast them in the oven at 400℉ for about 20-25 minutes, or until they are tender and slightly charred. For the garlic cloves, wrap them in foil with a drizzle of olive oil and roast at 400℉ for about 30-40 minutes, until they are soft and fragrant.

Step 3. Prepare the Dough:

Take the pizza dough out of the refrigerator (if it was refrigerated) and let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes to make it more manageable.
Lightly flour your work surface to prevent the dough from sticking.
Stretch or roll out the pizza dough to fit an 11"-12" round pan. Aim for a thickness of about 1/4 inch, ensuring the dough is even throughout.

Step 4. Shape the Dough:

Press the dough into the pan, ensuring it covers the bottom and sides completely. You may need to stretch the dough a bit more to fit the pan perfectly. The dough should come up the sides of the pan to create a thick crust.

Step 5. Add the Tomato Sauce:

Spread a generous layer of tomato sauce over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust. Use a spoon or a small ladle to apply the sauce evenly. The sauce should be smooth and not too thick, allowing it to spread easily.

Step 6. Layer the Cheese:

Add layers of fresh mozzarella slices evenly over the tomato sauce. Ensure the cheese covers the sauce completely, as this will help create a uniform melt and prevent the sauce from bubbling up excessively. The mozzarella should be thinly sliced to ensure it melts smoothly at the high temperature.

Step 7. Arrange the Roasted Vegetables:

Arrange the roasted zucchini, eggplant, red bell pepper slices, and roasted garlic cloves evenly over the mozzarella cheese. Distribute them in a way that they are spread out but not overcrowded. This ensures even cooking and prevents the vegetables from becoming too soggy.

Step 8. Season with Fresh Thyme:

Sprinkle the chopped fresh thyme leaves evenly over the vegetables. Thyme adds a fragrant, herbaceous note that complements the roasted vegetables beautifully.

Step 9. Season and Drizzle:

Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the vegetables. This adds a rich flavor and helps the crust achieve a beautiful golden-brown color.
Sprinkle with salt to taste. If desired, add a few grinds of freshly ground black pepper for an extra layer of flavor.

Step 10. Bake the Pizza:

Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes. Keep an eye on it through the oven window to monitor the crust and cheese. The high temperature means the pizza will cook thoroughly, and you want to ensure the crust is golden-brown and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.

Step 11. Check for Doneness:

After 35 minutes, carefully remove the pizza from the oven using oven mitts. Check the crust for a golden-brown color and ensure the cheese is bubbly and slightly charred in spots. The crust should be firm and the vegetables should be tender but still retain some texture.

Step 12. Cool and Slice:

Let the pizza cool slightly for about 5-10 minutes. This allows the cheese to set slightly, making it easier to slice.
Once cooled, slice the pizza into wedges using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife.

Step 13. Serve:

Serve the pizza warm, ideally with a side of garlic bread or a simple salad. Enjoy your delicious Deep Dish Roasted Vegetable Pizza!

This recipe combines a variety of roasted vegetables with a rich tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese, all baked to perfection in a thick, crispy crust. The fresh thyme adds a fragrant, herbaceous note that ties everything together. Enjoy!