Summer is here and if you are like me you don’t want to heat up your kitchen from cooking. (The idea SOUNDS good, anyway!)
Have you ever considered cooking a pizza on the BBQ grill? I had no idea that pizza could be cooked on the grill until I picked up a Pampered Chef catalogue and saw a recipe for Grilled Pizza with Tomatoes and Olives. I read through the recipe and decided it was within my skill level of cooking and I liked all the ingredients (my main requirement for picking a recipe) required so I decided to give it a try. My family and I really enjoyed the recipe. I hope you will give it a try I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Grilled Pizza with Tomatoes and Olives
2 oz. mozzarella cheese (about 1/2 cup grated)1/4 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, drained
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
1 small package (6.5 oz) pizza crust mix
Cornmeal for dusting
2 tbsp thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
Prepare grill for direct cooking over medium heat. Combine cheeses in mixing bowl. Slice tomatoes in half lengthwise and cut olives crosswise. Combine tomatoes, olives, oil, vinegar, garlic and black pepper.
Prepare crust according to package directions. Generously sprinkle cookie sheet with cornmeal; place dough onto center of cookie sheet. Roll dough out on cookie sheet. Slide crust off cookie sheet onto center of the grill. Grill crust, covered, 3-6 minutes or until golden brown. Turn crust and spoon tomato mixture evenly over top of crust; top evenly with cheese. Cover and grill 3-6 minutes or until cheese is melted and bottom of crust is deep golden brown. Carefully remove pizza from grill to cookie sheet. Sprinkle pizza with basil and serve.
We actually made two pizzas that night. The other one, I prepared the crust the same way but when I turned it over I spread it with pizza sauce and then topped it with pepperonis and cheese. Both of these
recipes were delicious, so the next time you get a hankerin’ for pizza I hope you give this recipe a try!
[jani]