Grilled Pizza
As I have written about pizza in the past (here and here), the beautiful thing about the pizza is how diverse it can be. It can truly be anything you want it to be. In my pursuit of comfort and greatness, a not too long conversation with my colleague and food buddy, Kate asked if I had ever grilled a pizza. I had never cooked a pizza on the grill, as I always considered the grill to cook meats, vegetables, and fruits. I was proved wrong, and the grilled pizza not only had an excellent crisp to it, it also had a great flavor from the grill itself. This one is a true make and is something that will be considered a summer time favorite with the family.
You have choices for your dough:
- Make mine
- buy store bought
- buy from italian grocery/bakery/restaraunt
Get your ingredients together for your pizza. You know how you like it. Your sauce can be a red sauce, olive oil based, or a cream sauce, hence the diversity. Your toppings will include cheeses, vegetables, and possibly meats. My kids love the simple cheese and pepperoni pizza, and as they typically run the house, I let them win on this one.
The grilling part is surprisingly simple, however you probably do not want to turn your back on it. Begin by heating your grill, on high. In the meantime, as the grill comes to temperature, roll out your dough. I prefer mine as a thin crust, however you can do a thicker crust on the grill. When the dough is rolled out, brush with a bit of olive oil, the flip onto a pizza board, lightly covered with finely ground corn meal. Adjust and form your dough to the shape you desire (rectangle, circle, etc).
Now, head outside to your grill and slide the dough onto the grill. Grill your crust uncovered on the grill, lifting gently with tongs. They dough typically does not stick, but I recommend that you initially lift the dough, carefully, with tongs after a few minutes on the grill. Once the dough has began to crisp on the underside, brush more olive oil on the top, then flip over and cook for a couple of minutes, monitoring it so it does not burn. Now, you have to move quick here as you want your ingredients (sauce, cheeses, and other toppings) to melt and come to temperature without burning your crust. Add you sauce, cheese, and toppings, lower the heat, cover the grill, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove the pizza from the grill, slice, and enjoy.