Crispy Grilled Pizza Margherita Recipes

GRILLED PIZZA MARGHERITA

Steps:

• Whisk the yeast and sugar into warm water and allow to stand for 5 minutes until frothy.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour and salt. With the mixer running, pour in the yeast mixture. Add the olive oil then allow to knead for a few minutes until the dough is soft, smooth and only slightly tacky. If the dough is very sticky, add a little bit of flour and knead in.
• Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, cover with plastic and allow to rise for at least 1 hour. I usually make the dough a few hours before cooking.
• Once risen, divide the dough into 4 and form into balls. Place on a floured board and cover with a dish cloth and allow to rise for another 30 minutes while you prepare the toppings.
• To make the sauce, drain off any excess liquid from the tomatoes then crush the tomatoes into a bowl. Season with salt (and your chosen additions if using). Grate/tear the mozzarella and finely slice the basil.
• Preheat the grill (braai/barbecue) to its hottest setting. I like to have a cooler zone to move the pizza to should it be needed. Brush the grill grid with a little oil.
• Form the dough into pizza bases with your hands, pressing from the middle, forming the pizza as you go. Take care not to thin it out too much.
• Transfer the dough to the grid then allow to cook for a few minutes until the dough has started to bubble up. Remove from the grill and place grill side-up on a wooden board or pizza peel.
• Top the grilled side with sauce, cheese and basil then carefully transfer the pizza back to the grill. Close the grill if possible and allow to cook for a few minutes until the cheese has melted and there is some color on top.
• Remove from the grill, slice, top with more basil and serve.

GRILLED PIZZA MARGHERITA

Steps:

• Mix the water, yeast and molasses in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Let this stand for 12 minutes to activate the yeast (the water will foam slightly).
• Add the salt and oil to the bowl and mix well.
• With the mixer on low speed add the all-purpose flour and the whole wheat flour to the bowl and mix until all the flour is absorbed and the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and cut the dough into 6 (5 1/2-ounce) portions. Roll the portioned dough into balls and place on an oiled baking pan. Brush the ball lightly with olive oil and cover with plastic wrap.
• If you are going to use the dough right away let the dough sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using. You can store the dough after portioning for 1 day in the refrigerator, but you must let it sit at room temperature for 1 hour before using.
• Mix the tomatoes, basil, garlic and olive oil and set aside.;
• Prepare your fire - preferably a charcoal fire but a gas grill does very nicely also. Make sure the grill is set at least four inches from the fire.
• On an oiled surface, roll the dough out, using the palms of your hands. If the dough is sticking to the surface, lift the dough and drizzle a little more oil on. Make about a 12-inch circle with an even thickness.
• Carefully lift the dough being careful not to tear it. Drape the dough onto the hot spot of the grill. The dough will start to rise immediately. Carefully lift the edge of the dough and see the color of the bottom - it should be evenly golden brown - this should take about 2 minutes.
• Flip the dough over and place it on the side of the grill. Brush the cooked side of the dough with olive oil, spread some cheese and a tablespoon dollop of pizza sauce on the pizza, then drizzle the pizza with some extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with parsley.
• Continue to cook, until the bottom of the pizza is evenly golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes.

GRILLED PIZZA MARGHERITA

Steps:

• Make sauce and prepare cheese:
• If using fresh tomatoes, cut an X (just through skin) in each, at end opposite stem, and immerse in boiling water for 10 seconds. Transfer to cold water with a slotted spoon, then peel.
• Seed and chop tomatoes (fresh or canned).
• Simmer tomatoes, salt, and 2 tablespoons oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until very thick and reduced to about 1 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
• Toss together mozzarella and remaining tablespoon oil.
• Form pizza rounds:
• Do not punch down dough. Gently dredge 1 ball of dough in a bowl of flour to coat, then transfer to a lightly floured work surface. Holding 1 edge of floured dough in the air with both hands and letting bottom touch work surface, carefully move hands around edge of dough (like turning a steering wheel), allowing weight of dough to stretch round to roughly 7 inches in diameter. Lay dough round flat on floured surface and continue to stretch by pressing dough with your fingertips, working from center outward to edge, stretching it into a 9-inch round. Transfer to a large floured tray and make another round in same manner, then place it next to other round. Lightly rub a long sheet of plastic wrap with flour, then invert loosely over pizza rounds and let them stand to puff slightly while preparing grill, 10 to 20 minutes.
• To prepare charcoal grill:
• Open vents on bottom of grill and on lid. Light a heaping chimneyful of charcoal and pour it evenly over 2 opposite sides of bottom rack (you will have a double or triple layer of charcoal), leaving clear a 9-inch-wide strip in middle (for grilling over indirect heat).
• Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds.
• To prepare gas grill:
• Preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderate.
• To grill pizzas by either method:
• Remove plastic wrap from both rounds of dough and lightly brush dough with some oil. Carefully flip dough rounds, oiled sides down, with your hands onto middle of lightly oiled grill rack and brush top of each with oil. Grill crusts, uncovered, until undersides are golden brown (rotate them if 1 side of grill is hotter than the other), 2 to 3 minutes on gas grill or 4 to 6 minutes on charcoal grill.
• Flip crusts over with tongs and a spatula and top each crust with half of tomato sauce, spreading evenly over dough and leaving a 1/2-inch border around edge. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over sauce and grill pizzas, covered with grill lid, until undersides are golden brown and cheese is melted, about 3 minutes on gas grill or 5 minutes on charcoal grill.
• Scatter basil over pizzas.