- Combine bread flour (100%), 70% water, 2.0% sugar, and 0.6% IDY.
- Mix 2 minutes on low.
- Add 2.2% kosher salt and 4% olive oil.
- Knead for 8 minutes until supple and extensible.
Philly Tomato Pie
Classic bakery-style room-temperature sheet pan pie with thick sweet tomato gravy & pecorino
The iconic Philadelphia bakery Tomato Pie (Corropolese / Sarcone's recreation). Features an airy, focaccia-like pan dough baked golden-brown, blanketed with a thick, simmered sweet tomato reduction gravy, dusted with sharp Pecorino Romano, and served at room temperature with strictly zero melted mozzarella.
Calculator
Pick Your Pan
How many pizzas are you making?
Dough Ingredients
| Ingredient | Ratio | Per Ball | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bread Flour | 100% | ||
| Water | 70.0% | ||
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | 4.0% | ||
| Kosher Salt | 2.2% | ||
| Granulated Sugar | 2.0% | ||
| IDY | 0.60% | ||
| Total |
Toppings
| Topping | g/sq in | Level | Per Pizza |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philly Simmered Sweet Tomato Gravy | 1.80 | ||
| Pecorino Romano | 0.250 | ||
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | 0.200 |
Topping amounts are per pizza, scaled to your selected pan size.
Home Oven Settings
Bake in olive-oiled sheet pan at 450°F for 18 to 22 minutes until crust is tall, airy, and golden. Cool completely to room temperature before dusting with Pecorino Romano and slicing into squares.
Phase 1: Dough & Gluten Development
Flour blending, yeast inoculation, hydration rest & kneading
Phase 2: Fermentation & Temperature
Ambient bulk rise, portioning, cold proof & room temper
Bulk ferment 2 hours at room temperature, then transfer to refrigerator for 24-hour cold fermentation to develop airy bubble structure.
- Coat a square or rectangular dark baking pan with 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.
- Transfer dough and dimple gently with fingertips to fill the pan.
- Cover and let rise at room temperature for 3 to 4 hours until thick and pillowy.
Phase 3: Shaping & Assembly
Bench dredge, hand stretch or pan press & topping layering
- Simmer crushed plum tomatoes with olive oil, minced garlic, granulated sugar, dried oregano, and salt until reduced to a thick, spreadable, sweet-savory gravy.
- Cool completely.
Phase 4: Oven Launch & Finishing
High-heat baking surface, broiler assist, de-pan & wire rack rest
- Spread half the tomato gravy across the proofed dough.
- Bake at 450°F for 18 to 22 minutes until bottom is golden and crust is baked through.
- Immediately upon oven removal, spread remaining thick tomato gravy over the hot pie.
- Allow to cool completely to room temperature.
- Dust heavily with sharp Pecorino Romano, slice into squares, and serve at room temp.
Want live step-by-step countdown alarms and timeline tracking?
Launch this recipe in the Pizza Lab to run real-time fermentation alarms, calculate dough temperature (DDT), and scale ingredients dynamically.
Fermentation Schedule
High-hydration pan dough. 2h bulk at room temp, 24h cold proof. Dimple into heavily oiled pan and proof for 3 to 4 hours until thick, light, and pillowy.