Pizza Cheese Board Recipes

SHEET-PAN CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Make the dough: Sprinkle the yeast over the hot water in a small bowl. Let stand until dissolved and slightly foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the yeast mixture into the well and add the olive oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, dust the dough with flour and knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until very smooth and elastic but still slightly tacky, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet coated with 3 tablespoons olive oil, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Make the pizza sauce: Combine the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, dried oregano, sugar and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a medium bowl; season with more salt and sugar if needed. (Makes about 1 1/2 cups.)
• Make the pizza: Preheat the oven to 450˚ F (use the convection setting, if available) with a pizza stone, baking steel or inverted large baking sheet in the lower third of the oven. Gently stretch and press the dough to cover the pan as much as possible. Let stand 30 minutes, then gently press and stretch the dough again, if needed, to cover the pan. Top the dough with the pizza sauce, Parmesan, grated mozzarella and torn mozzarella.
• Place the baking sheet on the hot stone and bake the pizza until the crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then remove to a cutting board.

NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Make the dough: Sprinkle the yeast over the hot water in a small bowl. Let stand until dissolved and slightly foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the yeast mixture into the well and add the olive oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, dust the dough with flour and knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until very smooth and elastic but still slightly tacky, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. Divide the dough into two 1-pound balls; wrap one ball in plastic and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Make the pizza sauce: Combine the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, dried oregano, sugar and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a medium bowl; season with more salt and sugar if needed. (Makes about 1 1/2 cups.)
• Make the pizza: Preheat the oven to 500˚ F (use the convection setting, if available) with a pizza stone, baking steel or inverted large baking sheet in the lower third of the oven. Working on a lightly floured or cornmeal-dusted piece of parchment, gently stretch and press the other ball of dough into a 12- to 13-inch round. Cover the dough with 1/2 cup pizza sauce, the Parmesan, torn mozzarella and grated mozzarella, leaving a 3/4-inch border.
• Transfer the pizza (on the parchment) to the hot stone and bake until the crust is set, about 5 minutes. Slide out the parchment from under the pizza; continue to bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted, 5 to 10 minutes. Slide the pizza onto a cutting board.

GRILLED EDIBLE CHEESEBOARD

Steps:

• Make five 2-inch-thick discs of aluminum foil by crumpling sheets of foil: Make one 2-inch-wide disc, two 3-inch-wide discs and two 5-inch-wide discs. Set aside.
• Spread 2 tablespoons olive oil on the bottom and sides of a sheet pan. Scatter the grapes, apricots, walnuts and rosemary in a single layer around the border of the sheet pan. Arrange the aluminum discs in the open space inside the grape border, making sure they don't touch.
• Stretch the pizza dough on a clean work surface so it is the same size as the sheet pan. Carefully lift it and lay it over the top of the foil discs, grapes and other ingredients. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until puffy, about 1 hour.
• Prepare a grill for medium heat. Remove the plastic wrap from the sheet pan and put the pan on the grill. Cover the grill with the lid and let cook until the dough is set around the edges and dry on top, about 10 minutes.
• Using protective gloves or towels, flip the sheet pan onto the grill so the foil, grapes and other ingredients are facing up; remove the sheet pan. Cover the grill and cook until the dough is lightly golden around the edges, about 5 minutes. Remove one of the 5-inch aluminum discs and insert the brie into the indented bread bowl where the disc was. Cover the grill and cook until the dough is completely cooked and golden all over and the cheese is hot through, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer the edible cheeseboard to a serving platter or cutting board using tongs and a heatproof spatula. Remove the remaining foil discs and drizzle the whole thing with olive oil, avoiding the brie. Put the honey in the smallest bread bowl and the olives and Parmesan in the medium bowls. Fold and tuck the cured meat into the remaining large bowl. Put a small spoon in the honey and a knife by the brie for serving. Serve the cheeseboard warm, encouraging people to tear off pieces of bread to layer with meat and cheese or drizzle with honey.