What’s the dullest thing about pizza? The crust! So why not replace that bland doughy stuff with noodles and cheese? This recipe makes a deep-dish pizza that you eat with a fork. Just add your favorite toppings and enjoy!Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients
12 oz. egg noodles
5 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. Fontina cheese, shredded
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 c. red wine
14 oz. can tomato puree
1/2 tbsp. oregano
1/2 tbsp. sugar
Salt and pepper
1/2 lb. Italian sausage
2 oz. sliced pepperoni
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded & diced
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Make the “crust”» Preheat oven to 450 degrees.» Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook noodles until al dente, and then 1 minute longer.» Drain noodles.» Pour 2 tbsp. olive oil into the empty pot. Return noodles to the pot, and toss well with oil.» Stir 12 oz. of grated Fontina into noodles, and mix well.» Spray a 12-inch ovenproof skillet or baking pan with non-stick spray. Spread noodle mixture into pan, pressing evenly across the bottom and up the sides. » Bake 13-17 minutes, until crust seems fairly firm.» Remove from oven and keep warm.
While “crust” is baking, prepare sauce & toppings» Sauté onion in 1 tbsp. olive oil until soft and golden.» Add wine to onions, and boil until reduced by half.» Add to sauce: tomato puree, oregano, sugar, 2 tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Simmer sauce 15 minutes more, or until thickened.» In a separate skillet, brown sausage, stirring and breaking apart.» When sausage is well browned, add pepperoni slices and cook until lightly browned. Remove from heat.
Make pizza» Spoon sauce on top of noodle crust, spreading evenly.» Spread remaining 4 oz. Fontina over pizza.» Top with sausage, pepperoni, and bell pepper, then sprinkle with Parmesan.» Bake pizza 5-10 minutes, until bubbling.
Variations» Thin crust – For a thin crust you can pick up with your hands, use 8 oz. angel hair pasta. Cook according to package directions. Use just 8 oz. Fontina in the crust, add 2 beaten eggs to the crust ingredients, and bake it on a shallow pizza pan instead of in a deep skillet.» Different toppings – Use whatever toppings you like ... the possibilities are endless!» Faster & easier version – Use store-bought pasta sauce instead of making the sauce, and your pizza will be oven ready in no time.