Square Deal Recipe

Preheat and prepare pan

Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C) with a rack in the upper-middle position. Lightly oil a 15" square pizza pan or sheet pan and dust with semolina or cornmeal to prevent sticking.

Stretch dough

On a lightly floured surface, gently stretch or roll the dough into a 15" square (approx. 1/4"–1/2" thickness), leaving a slight rim around edges. Transfer to the prepared pan and brush the exposed rim and surface with 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Spread sauce evenly over the stretched dough, leaving a 1/2" border at the edges. Use about 1 cup pizza sauce, spreading in an even layer to the edges of the border.

Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauced dough, aiming for full coverage. Finish with the grated parmesan sprinkled lightly over the cheese.

Select up to three toppings from the Toppings section. Distribute them evenly over the cheese in a single layer. Example combinations: pepperoni + mushrooms + red onion; sausage + bell pepper + black olives; pineapple + ham (substitute for one topping) + basil (basil added after baking).

If using raw vegetables with high moisture (mushrooms, onions, bell pepper), pat them dry and use thin slices so they cook through. For cooked toppings (sausage), ensure they are heated and crumbled before adding.

Brush the exposed crust with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sprinkle the dried oregano and red pepper flakes evenly over the pizza before baking (or reserve red pepper flakes for finishing if preferred).

Bake in the preheated oven for 10–14 minutes, rotating halfway through, until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and starting to brown. Oven times vary; check at 10 minutes.

Remove pizza from oven and let rest 3–5 minutes. If using fresh basil, scatter torn basil leaves over the hot pizza. Slice into squares (about 12–16 pieces) and serve hot.