Grandma Pie Pizza

When most people think of new york style pizza, they think of the thin neapolitan-style, but there is the other side with the grandma pan style pizza. The classic grandma pie pizza is know for the thick, deliciously chewy crust that is crust into squares. The olive oil in the half sheet pan helps to create a gloriously crispy, golden crust and wonderful olive oil flavor. The crust is topped with garlic-spiked tomato sauce and topped with plenty of mozzarella,and your favorite topping makes the pizzeria  come home to your kitchen.

Stir together yeast, sugar and water in a mixing bowl. Let stand until yeast starts to foam, about 10 minutes. Mix in 2 tablespoons of oil, salt and 2 cups flour. Start to  mix with a rubber spatula while slowly adding the remaining flour, a cup at a time, mixing until mostly incorporated and a shaggy dough forms. ​

Pour the dough with any additional flour onto a clean counter surface and knead with your hands until the dough is soft and elastic. Coat an 18x13-inch rimmed baking sheet with a 1/3 cup oil, making sure to get the bottom and sides fully covered. Place the dough on the sheet pan, let the dough rest for 10 minutes.

Once the dough has rested, start to gently stretch dough to cover the bottom of the pan. If the dough is bouncing back, let it rest for 5-10 minutes and keep working it until it fits the bottom of the sheet pan. Using your fingertips or handle of wooden spoon, make small indentations about 1-2”  apart across dough. Cover dough loosely with plastic wrap, until ready to make the pizza. Should be puffed up by 50% while the sauce is cooking.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium saucepan over medium. Add garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden browned, about 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, granulated sugar, italian seasoning, kosher salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper. Once the sauce begins to boil, using a whisk start  breaking up tomatoes until smooth with a few ½-1” chucks are left.. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until sauce thickens, 20 to 25 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 500°F Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over top of dough, leaving about a 1/4-inch border around edges. Top with your desired toppings and dollop tomato sauce over cheese. Bake in a preheated oven until the dough is golden brown and crisp on bottom and sides, 12 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with additional parmesan and red pepper if desired.

Grandma Pie Pizza

90 mins Serves 6-8 Ingredients: All-Purpose Flour, Active Dry Yeast, Olive Oil, Whole Canned Tomatoes, Tomato Paste Garlic Cloves mozzarella