Pizza with a crust stuffed with mozzarella

Ingredients:

Pizza

• 450 g chilled pizza dough
• 2 tbsp. l. olive oil
• 2 tbsp (30 g) butter at room temperature
• 60 slices pepperoni sausage (180 g)
• 8 mozzarella sticks
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving
• Special equipment: metal baking pan measuring 20 x 20 cm.

Meat sauce

• 1 tbsp. l. olive oil
• 1 sweet Italian sausage, casing removed (about 110 g)
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• Half a red bell pepper, finely chopped
• Half a small onion, finely chopped
• 60 g tomato paste
• A pinch of red pepper flakes

Preparation:

1. PizzaPlace the pizza dough in a large bowl and brush with olive oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place until it rises slightly and comes to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
2. Grease the entire inside of a 20 x 20 cm metal pan with butter and place the dough in the center. Using your fingertips, spread the dough from the center to the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
3. Arrange the pepperoni slices on the bottom of the pan, overlapping them slightly, along the sides of the pan, about 8 slices per side. Place 1 mozzarella stick on top of the pepperoni on each side, then fold the dough up the sides of the pan to enclose the sausage and cheese. Push the edge of the dough under the pepperoni and cheese, keeping them inside the dough, toward the sides of the pan. Press the dough around the filling and seal. You will now have a filled crust. Cover the dough between the edges (but not the edges themselves) with the remaining pepperoni slices.
4. Divide each of the remaining 4 cheese sticks into 4 long pieces. Arrange half of the cheese pieces evenly over the edges of the pan, making sure the cheese touches the sides. Place the remaining cheese pieces on top of the pepperoni in the center. Sprinkle the entire pizza with Parmesan cheese. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until the dough has risen, about 30 minutes.
5. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven, place a baking sheet on the rack, and preheat the oven to 260°C.
6. Place pizza on the preheated baking sheet and bake until edges are deep golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes.
7. Meanwhile, prepare the meat sauce.Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the Italian sausages and cook, breaking them up with a wooden spoon, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, bell pepper, and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has evaporated and the onion is soft, about 3 minutes.
   
   Add the tomato paste, 3/4 cup water, a pinch each of red pepper flakes and salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, uncovered, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
8. Remove the pizza from the oven and use a metal spatula to loosen the sides and bottom of the pizza. Place the pizza on a cutting board and top with the meat sauce. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese, cut into squares, and serve.