Cooks Country St. Louis-Style Pizza

Submitted by Kerena

"Haven't tried this yet but wanted to put it here for safe keeping. The recipe calls for white American cheese...they suggest getting it at the deli counter."

 

• Ready In: 22mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Yields: 2 pizzas
• Serves: 16

ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 cups American cheese, shredded
• 1⁄2 cup monterey jack cheese, shredded
• 3 drops liquid smoke
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup water, plus 2 Tablespoons
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

directions

1. Whisk together tomato sauce, tomato paste, basil and 1T sugar and oregano in a small bowl; set aside.
2. Toss cheeses with liquid smoke in a medium bowl; set aside.
3. Combine flour, cornstarch, 2 tsp sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Combine water and olive oil in measuring cup. Stir water mixture into flour mixture until dough starts to come together. Turn dough onto slightly floured surface and knead 3 or 4 times, until cohesive.
4. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position, place pizza stone (or inverted baking sheet) on rack and heat oven to 475 degrees.
5. Divide dough into 2 equal pieces. Working with 1 piece of dough at a time, press into small circle and transfer to parchment paper dusted lightly with flour. Using rolling pin, roll and stretch dough to form 12" circle, rotating parchment as needed. Lift parchement and pizza off work surface onto inverted baking sheet (not one in the oven).
6. Top each piece of dough with half of the sauce and half of cheese. Carefully pull parchment off of baking sheet onto hot oven stone. Bake until underside is golden brown and cheese is completely melted, 9-12 minutes. Remove pizza and parchment from oven. Transfer pizza to cooling rack and let cool a few minutes. Assemble and bake second pizza. Cut into 2" squares. Serve.
7. Note - dough can be made in advance. Once mixed tightly wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate up to 2 days.
8. Variation - If you would like to add pepperoni arrange them on a paper towel lined plate, cover with paper towl and microwave 2 minutes. Let cool. Add to pizza either before or after cheese.

Reviews

[barbacious]

St. Louis style pizza uses Provel cheese. I'm not sure if you can get it outside of the St. Louis area. It's delicious.

 

[Joanne F.]

Probably the best pizza I have ever tasted. My husband says top 3. My picky 10 year old craves it every day. The recipe is good for two pizzas and the dough refrigerates for 48 hours. Will keep making this again and again. For the person who said that the crust is cracker crisp, that is what St. Louis style pizza is. Next time I will add precooked bacon and maybe some crumbled sausage.

 

[Chef KristyBucket]

My family loves this recipe. It is so different from what we normally make. My husband will get a craving and we have to make it. The smoky flavor of the cheese is great. Sure it's a little work to make, but what pizza made with homemade dough and toppings isn't?

 

[blopec]

Just saw this last night on Cook's Country and was excited to make it. I am an avid cook and have to say, it took longer than anticipated. Definitely not worth it. Crust was night cracker crisp and sauce still tasted "can" like, even with fresh basil, etc. Won't make it again and disappointed.