Grilled Pizza for a Crowd
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 8 servings (16 pizzas)
- Total: 4 hr 40 min
- Prep: 1 hr 50 min
- Inactive: 1 hr 50 min
- Cook: 1 hr
Ingredients
Pizza Dough:
6 cups bread flour, plus more for the work surface
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
2 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F)
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for greasing the bowl, brushing the dough and oiling the grill grates
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for greasing the bowl, brushing the dough and oiling the grill grates
2 teaspoons sugar
One 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast
Cornmeal, for dusting
Sauces:
Red Sauce, recipe follows
Arugula-Pistachio Pesto, recipe follows
Ricotta Spread, recipe follows
Cheeses:
6 cups cheese mix, made of 2 cups each shredded mozzarella, fontina and asiago
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced
Toppings (choose 5 or 6):
3/4 pound thinly sliced meats, such as prosciutto, salami and ham
3/4 pound thinly sliced meats, such as prosciutto, salami and ham
1 small bunch Tuscan kale, cut into bite-sized pieces and tossed with olive oil
1 small bunch Tuscan kale, cut into bite-sized pieces and tossed with olive oil
2 thinly sliced bell peppers
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 small red onions, thinly sliced
1 pint fresh figs, sliced
3 grilled ears corn, kernels removed
1 cup pitted olives
1/2 cup pistachios
1 bulb fennel, thinly sliced
1 medium summer squash or zucchini, thinly sliced
1 head radicchio, cut into bite-sized pieces and tossed with olive oil
Finishings (choose 5 or 6):
Olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, Calabrese chili sauce, honey, grated Parmesan, flaky sea salt, toasted fennel seeds, baby greens, fresh basil, lemon wedges
Red Sauce:
1 handful fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
Kosher salt
Arugula-Pistachio Pesto:
3 cups baby arugula
3/4 cup fresh basil leaves
3/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
1/3 cup shelled pistachios
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon capers, drained
Kosher salt
Ricotta Spread:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups ricotta
1 garlic clove, minced
Kosher salt
Directions
Special equipment:
8 pieces of parchment cut to fit a baking sheet- Make the pizza dough: Whisk together the bread flour and salt in a large bowl. Combine the water, oil and sugar in a second large bowl; add the yeast, and let sit until it begins to foam, about 5 minutes. Add the flour mixture to the yeast mixture, and use your hands to combine until it comes together into a rough, shaggy ball. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and set aside for 15 minutes.
- Sprinkle a work surface with flour and knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Clean the bowl and lightly coat it with oil. Return the kneaded dough to the bowl, brush with oil, cover and set aside in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Transfer the dough to the work surface, and punch it down. Quarter the dough, and cut each quarter into 4 for a total of 16 pieces. Shape each into a ball. Evenly space the dough balls on the work surface, cover and let sit until they poof slightly, about 30 minutes. (To make ahead, after cutting the dough, wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, then let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling.)
- Prepare a grill for medium-high heat and brush the grill grates with oil.
- Roll out the dough: Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment, and sprinkle with cornmeal to keep the dough from sticking. Roll out each ball of dough into an 8-inch circle on the work surface (keep the other balls covered as you work). Arrange 2 to 3 rounds without overlapping on the parchment. Repeat with layers of parchment, cornmeal and dough rounds.
- Par-grill the dough: Working in batches, brush the top of each dough round with oil and sprinkle with salt. Grill, oiled-side down, until grill marks just form and the dough starts to bubble up, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Turn the dough over and repeat. Transfer to a cooling rack or another baking sheet to cool. The dough shells will be underbaked and flimsy (they finish cooking when guests top and grill them). Stack the shells, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and set aside until ready to use. (The shells can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Or tightly wrap each one in plastic and foil, then freeze for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature for a few minutes before topping and grilling.)
- Set up the pizza bar: Prepare a grill for medium-high heat and brush the grill grates with oil. Set out a large cutting board with a knife or pizza cutter nearby. Set out a stack of the pizza shells and any combination of the suggested sauces, cheeses and toppings.
- Grill the pizzas: Let your guests add their desired toppings to the dough shells. Transfer the pizzas to the grill, cover and cook until the bottom of each is slightly charred, the cheese has melted and the toppings are cooked through. Remove the pizzas from the grill, slice them and encourage your guests to top them with some of the finishings.
- One 15-ounce can tomato sauce
Red Sauce:
- For the red sauce: Combine the tomato sauce, basil, oil, garlic and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using. The sauce can be made up to 1 day ahead.
Arugula-Pistachio Pesto:
- For the arugula-pistachio pesto: Pulse the arugula, basil, parsley, pistachios, capers, 3 tablespoons water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor until a paste. The sauce can be made up to 1 day ahead; refrigerate.
Ricotta Spread:
- For the ricotta spread: Stir together the ricotta, Parmesan, oil, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. The sauce can be made up to 1 day ahead; refrigerate.