Pizza has been making mouths water ever since its invention in Naples in the 1700s. It’s delicious, occasionally nutritious, and it’s even a great hangover food. What’s more, it’s remained virtually unchanged in those few hundred years. But that’s no reason you can’t put a twist on the old classic.
If you’re looking to reimagine pizza, look no further than the grill. Grilling pizza puts a fresh take on the beloved dish, but if you’ve never done it before, you’re going to need some pointers.
That’s why we’ve put together the best pizza grilling guide out there.
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Tools
Before you get started, you’re going to need the right tools for the job.
First things first, you need a grill that can easily maintain a temperature of 500 degrees. You also need one big enough to put your pizza on an indirect cooking zone that isn’t directly above the burners.
You’ll also want some tin foil to keep the mess to a minimum. If you’re using a pizza stone for grill, you can disregard the tin foil.
Basic grilling implements are a must. A brush for brushing oil on the dough and a spatula for flipping the bread and getting it off the grill are crucial. Tongs aren’t a bad idea either.
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Ingredients
When it comes to grilled pizza, great ingredients are a must. Get yourself fresh veggies and herbs to adorn your creation with.
The veggies you get should be crisp and not prone to getting soggy. You want your dough to stay crisp and dry, so getting choosing the right veggies is crucial. Also, opt for tomato sauce as opposed to tomatoes since tomatoes tend to get soggy.
As far as the dough is concerned, drier is better. A sticky dough will make grilling more difficult than it has to be. You’ll also need some good olive oil to brush on the dough.
For herbs, follow your heart, but keep them fresh. You can try traditional options like oregano or branch out. It’s totally up to you.
With the cheese, you don’t want the super melty variety. Try cheeses that keep their shape such as parmesan or ricotta. This will save you a mess.
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Finally, add any protein you like. Just be sure to cook the meat ahead of time.
Process
Cooking the pizza is quite simple. As stated earlier, make sure you’re keeping it away from direct heat and keeping your grill around 500 degrees.
Brush some oil on your dough and place it on the grill. This is the only time you’ll be exposing it to direct heat. Let it cook for about a minute and then remove it from heat.
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Move it to a work area and add your toppings to the already charred side. Then put it back on the grill away from direct heat, close the grill, and let it cook for about 4 minutes.
You can add your herbs right as the pizza is coming off the grill. There’s really not much more to it than that. Just make sure you’re keeping an eye on it so the bottom doesn’t burn.
The Pizza Grilling Guide
You may read another guide that tries to complicate the process, but when it comes to grilling pizza, simplicity is the ideal route. This is an easy and elegant meal that won’t benefit from overcomplication, so follow this pizza grilling guide to stay on track.
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Now that you know how to grill pizza, why not expand your knowledge even further? Check out these awesome grill tips to become a master of your domain this summer.