The thought of pizza being cooked on a charcoal BBQ grill may seem strange to most people. After all, meat, not pizza, is what most people fire up their grill for. But if you're a food lover who relishes trying something new, there are decidedly fun and delicious results to barbecuing pizza. Not only is it easy and quick, but you will also find the process adds a wonderful smoked flavour to the crust.
However, a few rules of thumb need to be taken into account if you want your grilled pizza to be talked and raved about at other barbecues and food gatherings. First, it's best to prepare the pizza in the Roman style – long, thin and in an oblong shape. You will be grilling the dough first (both sides) and then adding the toppings. Keep in mind you can't load the pizza with the same amount of toppings as you would with an oven-baked pizza. Second, be sure to grate your cheese for the pizza, otherwise it will burn. Third, if you're using vegetables on a grilled pizza, grill the vegetables first to add to the BBQ flavour.
Preparing the right pizza base for your barbecue is also key. Here is a recipe for a great pizza base that can be cooked on the barbecue for that mouthwatering chargrilled taste:
Ingredients
• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 2 cups white flour
• 1 tbsp active dried yeast
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• Pinch of pepper
• 2 tsp white sugar or clear honey
Method
1. Pour the tepid water into a bowl and add the yeast. Stir and then let it stand for about 10 minutes to dissolve.
2. Mix the 2 cups of flour, olive oil, sugar or honey, salt and pepper.
3. Add the yeast to this mixture and beat until the dough has a stiff yet sticky consistency. Add water as required to obtain the right texture (it's worth taking some time to get the dough just right, because the base makes the pizza).
4. Cover the dough and leave it to rise (until it has doubled in volume). In the meantime, get the BBQ ready (or pre-heat the oven to 175C) and add any toppings, such as vegetables, you want to cook on the BBQ.
5. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead it to make it soft. Then, use your fingers to flatten it into an oblong shape.
6. Transfer the pizza base to the grill (or if you are using an oven, add the toppings first and transfer the pizza to the pre-heated oven). Cook until the crust is a light golden brown.
7. Add the sizzling barbecued toppings and serve with a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
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