Homemade Vegetarian Detroit-Style Pizza Recipe
This Homemade Vegetarian Detroit-style Pizza features a thick, fluffy crust with a crispy edge, topped with a blend of cheeses, fresh tomato slices, and pizza sauce. The dough is made from scratch and allowed to rise in a well-oiled pan, then baked to golden perfection in the oven, delivering a classic and delicious twist on a beloved regional favorite.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 slices 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 1 and 1/3 cup lukewarm water
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 packet dry active yeast (about 2 teaspoons)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
Toppings
- 1 and 1/2 cup pizza sauce of your choice
- 6 ounces cubed cheese (Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, or cheddar)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 medium Roma tomatoes, sliced
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: Dissolve the sugar in lukewarm water. Once fully dissolved, sprinkle the dry active yeast on top and let it bloom for about 10 minutes until frothy.
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine the salt and 2 cups of flour. Add the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Slowly add the remaining flour and knead the dough until it comes together into a smooth ball, about 10 minutes.
- Oil the pan: Generously coat a 9 x 13-inch non-stick metal pan with 3 to 4 tablespoons of olive oil, including sides and corners, using a brush.
- Shape and rise the dough: Place the dough into the oiled pan. Flatten it gently to cover the bottom. Flip the dough a couple of times to coat it evenly with oil. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place until the dough fills the pan, roughly 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven: Heat the oven to 450 to 475°F (232 to 246°C).
- Even out the dough: Gently press any uneven spots with your fingertips to create an even surface, taking care not to deflate the dough entirely.
- Add the sauce: Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough surface.
- Apply the cheeses: Sprinkle the cubed cheese evenly over the sauce, then add shredded mozzarella on top.
- Add tomato slices and seasoning: Arrange the sliced Roma tomatoes atop the cheese and season with a sprinkle of black pepper.
- Bake the pizza: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 17 to 20 minutes until the cheese has fully melted and the crust edges turn golden and crispy.
- Cool the pizza: Remove the pan from the oven and let the pizza cool for a few minutes.
- Slice and serve: Use a spatula to loosen the pizza edges from the pan. The pizza should slide out easily. Cut into 12 slices and serve warm.
Notes
- You can use your favorite blend of cheeses for the topping; a combination of Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, and mozzarella works beautifully.
- Allowing the dough to rise fully is crucial to get the signature thick and airy Detroit-style crust.
- Use a well-oiled metal pan for the classic crisp edges and bottom crust.
- Adjust oven temperature within the given range based on how your oven performs; a hotter oven will crisp faster.
- For a vegan version, substitute cheese with plant-based alternatives and ensure pizza sauce contains no animal products.
Keywords: Detroit style pizza, vegetarian pizza, homemade pizza, thick crust pizza, olive oil pizza crust, baked pizza, cheese pizza
