Kelly the Culinarian: Cooking with Kelly: Grilled pizza

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Cooking with Kelly: Grilled pizza

Sigh, the summer is ending. Today was a crisp morning and called for long sleeves, but I won't give up on grilling quite yet. I was determined to make grilled pizza, regardless of if the weather was going to cooperate.

My family doesn't always agree on what goes on a pizza, so I prepared some toppings. Clockwise from the top: organic baby spinach, chopped homemade summer sausage (more on that in another post), homemade canned tomatoes with Italian seasoning, freshly chopped tomatoes from my neighbor's garden and the special Mousehouse cheddar I wrote about yesterday.
So the process is pretty simple. Preheat the grill of your choice (or the oven, if you're not a fan of charred food). I used some packaged pizza dough, but I've used this pizza dough recipe in the past, if you have some time to kill. I split the package into four and made some round-ish looking pizza dough crusts. Next, I brushed the rounds with olive oil and placed the oiled side down on the grill. While the first side grilled, I brushed the other side with oil to prevent it all from sticking.

After the rounds had some good color, I put them on the top rack to take advantage of the smokey flavor. Then, the family added whatever toppings they wanted and I put them back on the grill to melt everything together.

You have to try grilled pizza at least once because of the rich flavor grilling ads to the bread, especially when there are so many summer veggies available right now. My family and I really enjoyed the change of pace and the variety the fact that we can each have our own pizza in less time than it takes for the delivery guy to get a standard pizza out to our house.

15 comments:

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

I love having grilled pizza nights, making lots of toppings and letting my guests (or family) design their own pizzas. We make them all year round, because the grill sits on a covered porch. I go out there in December with a winter coat, and crank up the grill for pizza!

daphne said...

oh yum looking pizza. I love the way you used organic spinach AND the cheddar!

East Meets West Kitchen said...

I often bake my pizzas, and now I can't wait to grill them. Your pizza looks so yummy!

Truffle said...

What a great way to see summer out. So fresh and delicious. I can't wait to try this.

Sylvia said...

I enjoy grilled pizza,is a sort of fashion here.Many grilled pizza party in Saturday nights.And I love your toppings,using local products like the cheese

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

The great thing about having a gas BBQ is that you can continue to BBQ all year round. Pizza sounds like somethiong I want tonight after work. Thaks for the reminder. I will have to try your recipe!!!

FH said...

Pizza almost looks like Naan! Yummy stuffing,I would love that. Yesterday, we had Spincah, white cheddar and refried beans Burritos for dinner!:)

ZoeyBella said...

That's great looking pizza... I'm going to have to try that as soon as my life gets back to normal.

Unknown said...

Grilling pizza is by far my favorite way to prepare it! Yours looks delicious!

Nora B. said...

Grilled pizzas sound wonderful. You have convinced me. That will be my first project for summer. If my partner lets me use his grill - it's out-of-bounds since it's HIS territory. ;-)

Indonesia Eats said...

wowww grilled pizza, haven't made it before

A Mature Student said...

Looks lovely. To me it looks like pita bread with lovely toppings.

The flavour must be awesome from the grilling....I can imagine the smokey flavour.

tigerfish said...

I like all the pizza toppings you use. Basic yet flavorful. Just how I would like my pizza. :)

People St.Clair said...

That sounds delicious... off to the grill I go this weekend :)

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Oh, I love the smoky flavor that grilling imparts. I haven't made one in ages, but I will now. Thanks for the inspiration!