PHILADELPHIA - Whether you're a pizza purist, Chicago deep-dish pizza is a true Chicago icon. Its towering walls of cheese and crispy base make it an instant classic. Its popularity is based on its history and its fusion with Italian cuisine. Chicago deep-dish pizza is one of the most popular Chicago foods. It's the city's number one food export.
The base of a Chicago deep-dish pizza consists of dough, mozzarella, and cheese. The cheese, like any other topping, protects the meat from the sauce and the crust from burning. Unlike most regular pizzas, a Chicago deep-dish pizza has a crisp crust. Because tomato sauce is very moist, it tends to spread out, making the crust soggy and soft.
In Chicago, deep-dish pizza dates back to the 1950s. It was created by Rudy Malnati, Sr., and his son, Lou. Pizzeria Uno is widely regarded as the first Chicago deep-dish pizza. Although this dish is considered an American invention, it is Italian in origin. Despite its history, the deep-dish pizza has many followers and a loyal following.
While the classic Chicago deep dish is the most popular style of deep dish, you can also get variations of it with various toppings. Some Chicago deep-dish pizzas are filled with fennel sausage, onions, and green bell peppers. You can also get a deep dish with a chicken pesto sauce or a spinach pie.
