Delicious Grilled Pizza

Tired of the same old delivery or frozen pizzas? This easy-to-make grilled pizza from Honda of El Cerrito is the perfect alternative. Made with ingredients you probably have lying around your house and cooked to perfection on your basic outdoor grill, this pizza makes an exceptional summer menu item.

If you are not ready to try your hand at making the dough or sauce, simply follow the latter stages of this recipe using store-bought dough and marinara sauce.

Grilled Pizza

Prep time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Cooking time: up to 10 minutes

Servings: 1

Pizza Dough Ingredients:

• 6 ounces all-purpose flour


• 1 teaspoon dried active yeast


• 4 ounces warm water


• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil


• Salt

Sauce Ingredients:

• 8-ounce can of chopped tomatoes


• 1 garlic clove


• Pinch of dried basil


• Salt and pepper

Directions:

Pour the tomatoes for the sauce into a small saucepan. Peel the garlic clove and grate it into the tomatoes. Add the basil and season with salt and pepper.

Place on medium heat to achieve a simmer. Reduce the heat and continue to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until a thick sauce is formed. Remove from the heat, cover, and allow to cool.

While the tomato sauce is simmering, add the flour, yeast, and salt to a large bowl. Stir to combine and make a small well in the center. Pour in the warm water and olive oil and stir well.

Lightly flour your hands and use them to combine the ingredients before lifting the dough to a floured work area. Knead the dough for five to seven minutes. (When two fingers are pressed into the dough, it should immediately spring back to its former shape.)

Shape the dough in to a ball and place it in a clean bowl, lightly greased with olive oil. Cover and leave in a warm place for around an hour, until the dough has approximately doubled in size. Transfer the risen dough to a floured surface and knead it briefly to knock the air out of it.

NOTE: If you are using a ready-made pizza dough, begin following the directions listed below. If not, proceed with the same steps.

Roll out the dough with a lightly floured rolling pin to a thickness of about a quarter of an inch. Don’t worry about getting the perfect shape—a slightly irregular crust will only add charm to this delicious, homemade pizza!

Pizza grilling requires careful monitoring--use your best judgment when it comes to cooking time, which can be anywhere up to 10 minutes.

It’s a good idea to start the grilling process by very lightly brushing the raw dough with olive oil and grilling it over medium heat on both sides for 30 seconds to a minute. Use a large spoon to spread a thin layer of the cooled tomato sauce on one side of the pizza, leaving a border of around half an inch for a crust to form.

Toppings for the pizza should require minimum cooking time to prevent the crust from overcooking while the toppings remain underdone. Sliced tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, and strips of roasted bell peppers are all delicious options.

Finish the pizza with some finely chopped mozzarella, combined with some grated cheddar cheese. Putting the lid down on your grill will help the heat to build up and melt the cheese over the topping before the base overcooks.

A pizza of this size makes the perfect meal for one, but you may want to serve portions of it to your guests, as part of a typically varied grilled meal.