When a home cook wanted to make one of America’s favorite pizzas on a smaller scale, using the wife’s tiny loaf pan proved to be a brilliant idea. Yes, we are discussing pizza in the Detroit manner, but not in the typical sense. These little pizzas in the Detroit style are going to become your new favorite.
Let’s design a graphic. For those who are new, Detroit-style pizza is a thick pie that resembles focaccia and is acclaimed for its pillowy, light foundation and crunchy, cheesy edges. Traditionally baked in a rectangle pan, the deep metal pan gives it a distinctive appearance and a deliciously crisp underside. Before the toppings are applied, the cheese—typically a mixture that includes the wonderfully gooey brick cheese—is liberally smeared to the edges, creating a deliciously crunchy, caramelized cheese rim that is just fantastic. Not to be ignored is the sauce, which is occasionally drizzled over the cheese and garnishes for a unique final touch.
Imagine all that goodness in a nice tiny bite-sized wrapper. When this inventive home cook found upon a little loaf pan and thought, ‘Hmm, this may be excellent for mini Detroit style pizzas!’ they achieved just that. And it was flawless. They started a culinary endeavor that would transform pizza night by altering a tried-and-true recipe from Serious Eats to fit the smaller size.
You may ask, why choose small pizzas? Well, making a miniature version of the pizza guarantees that you get more edge with each bite for those who love those crispy, cheesy edges (let’s face it, who doesn’t?). For lovers of Detroit-style pizza, the fact that each slice is practically an edge piece is a dream come true.
To generate those complex tastes we all love, the dough is the first step in the process and is cold fermented in the refrigerator for 24 hours. To get the perfect crust-to-cheese ratio, the dough is then carefully portioned and molded into tiny pizzas, with the amount of dough being adjusted according to the pan size. Regarding toppings, there are countless options. These little pizzas are the ideal medium on which to express your culinary creativity, regardless of whether you are a vegetarian or a fan of traditional pepperoni.
Here I will provide a recipe for Detroit-Style Pepperoni Pizza. The first step is to prepare enough ingredients.
Dough: (Instant pizza dough is also an option)
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
- 2 ½ cups bread flour
- 3 teaspoons olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Sauce:
- 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Toppings:
- 8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 4 ounces shredded mild Cheddar cheese
- 1 (8 ounce) package thick pepperoni slices
Pizza making process:
- Pour warm water into the bowl of stand mixer; mix in yeast and sugar and let dissolve.
- Add 2 teaspoons olive oil, salt, and bread flour. Knead mixture together with a dough hook attachment until dough is very smooth, soft, and elastic.
- Drizzle remaining 1 teaspoon oil onto a 10×14-inch Detroit-style pizza pan; use your fingers to spread oil over the bottom of the pan. Place dough in the center of the pan. Oil your fingers, then pull and stretch dough into a rectangular shape. Cover and let rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce: Bring marinara sauce, oregano, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 525 degrees F (274 degrees C). Combine Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese into bowl. Toss lightly to mix together.
- Finish the dough: Rub fingertips with some olive oil from the pan. Press out air from the dough while stretching and pushing it into a rectangle that goes all the way to the edges of the pan. Stretch dough up the sides about 1/2 inch or so.
- Lay almost all pepperoni slices onto dough. Scatter cheese evenly over top, making sure to fully cover all the edges where dough meets the pan.
- Ladle sauce on top in three long strips. Arrange remaining pepperoni slices over top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until pizza is a bit darker than golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.
- Very carefully slide pizza onto a cutting board. Slice into rectangular pieces.
The recipe is from: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/268466/detroit-style-pizza/
It’s not just about the taste, though. The little Detroit-style pizzas celebrate the rich tradition of Detroit-style pizza, which stretches back more than 75 years to an establishment known as Buddy’s Pizza. Buddy’s, which is famous for its traditional processes and use of original pans that have been seasoned over generations to get that particular flavor, is credited with establishing this iconic pizza style and is still a treasured Detroit institution today.
Despite lacking decades of history, this homemade miniature version is confident and gives a charming reference to the original. Making them at home is quite simple if you have the correct pan (small loaf pan or regular muffin tin) and a little culinary creativity.
Mini Detroit-style pizzas will leave a lasting impression, whether you’re a pizza connoisseur eager to try something new or you’re just searching for a tasty and entertaining project to work on in the kitchen. These little pizzas have all the tastes of their larger counterparts in a cute little compact, from the fluffy, soft foundation to the crispy, cheesy ends. Try them out; your taste buds will appreciate it.
As they say, “Good things come in small packages,” and these little pizzas in the Detroit style are no exception. They serve as a delectable reminder that sometimes the best things in life are not just the small ones but also the basic ones, and they are a monument to the impact of culinary inventiveness.
Related posts:
Mini Detroit Style Pizza
Detroit Style Pizza
Detroit Style Pizza
