Grill Your Pizza!

Most days, dinner time at my house has to stay simple and quick, and with summer still blazing ahead turning on the oven is a big turn-off. When I’m too tired to think about cooking I can always fall back on grilling a pizza. Since husband Tom and I are the owners of artisan food company GalloLea Pizza Kits, pizza remains a favorite and a staple in our kitchen all year long. But whether you have a Pizza Kit or not, here’s the skinny on grilling your own pizza. It’s so simple, and the results are not only delicious, but healthy. Try some of our recipes below for a pizza that’s off the beaten path.

Along with the grill, for best results, you’ll need a pizza stone. Grilling pizza takes about 7 minutes at the lowest grill temperature, or 450º. Keep the grill cover on, but do keep an eye on it, it may cook quicker and you don’t want it to burn.

TIP: DON’T build your pizza on the stone, but place the stone on the grill BEFORE you turn it on, so it heats up with the grill. That hot stone is the key to getting a great crust, and it will prevent the stone from cracking. Just transfer your pizza from the prep counter using a pizza peel or baking tray. Use corn meal on the counter, and on the stone, to make the transfer easier.

Begin with your favorite dough and sauce. You may already have that time-worn recipe but if not, don’t despair. Just pick up a pre-made fresh dough-ball available from many places like Whole Foods, Earth Fare, Trader Joe’s, or your local healthy market. Buying the fresh made dough will help you avoid a processed product that may have too much salt and preservatives. Keep it simple and healthy. Pick up pre-made fresh sauce too, and the toppings.

Alternately, if you’re looking for a great shortcut to a homemade pizza, our GalloLea Pizza Kits come with the crust mix and homemade sauce all in one package (plus it’s organic, no preservatives). The Kits come in Whole Wheat, Gluten Free or Low Sodium Whole Wheat. It also comes packed with a high-temperature cooking paper to build it on AND cook it on, so you won’t need a pizza stone: pizza + paper go right into the oven or on the grill.

Once you have your ingredients, simply put-out your pizza dough on the kitchen counter then top it with the sauce. Now you’re ready for any of our great recipes listed below. Then onto the grill for several minutes and WOW! Amazing pizza! So go ahead: don’t build a pizza oven, just turn on the grill!

Hors d’oeuvres Pizza - Instead of a red sauce, spread a fig preserve on the crust. Sprinkle with 1 cup vegan mozzarella-style cheese. Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts. This one will really impress your guests!

Harvest Pizza - Peel a sweet potato, cube it and place it in a glass covered dish in the microwave for 3 minutes till tender. Sprinkle pizza with the cooked sweet potato, 1/2 cup vegan mozzarella-style cheese and 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans. This combination is simple, and a real surprise when you taste it. At our demos, it’s a favorite.

No-Cheese Favorite - Slice into pieces and sauté in a cast iron skillet on the grill, or your stove: 1 red sweet bell pepper, 1 sweet onion (Vidalia or other sweet onion) in a small amount of olive oil, just to keep from sticking. When it’s browned and done add a couple of tablespoons of aged Balsamic vinegar. This will caramelize the peppers and onions in 2 minutes or so. This makes a generous amount to top a pizza and it’s super satisfying, sans the cheese!

Smokin’ Pizza – 1 cup shredded vegan mozzarella style cheese, 1/2 cup walnuts and your favorite brand of faux-bacon or smokey tempeh.

Farmers Market Pizza – It’s not just grilling season — fresh veggies abound. So go ahead and get creative. Pick up what’s in season at your local tailgate market: tomatoes, garlic, summer squash, broccoli, corn, you really can’t go wrong on a pizza. With all these fresh flavors, you can easily skip the cheese.

Hawaiian Twist Pizza - Shred and spread your favorite faux-barbecue meat sub (you can also do this with seiten + barbecue sauce), sliced or cubed fresh pineapple and 1/2 cup vegan mozzarella-style cheese. Barbecue your barbecue pizza!

Have fun and make healthy pizzas! You’ll find it’s a simple meal with a big reward in flavor and goodness.

Susan Devitt is owner, along with her husband Tom Gallo, of GalloLea Pizza Kits, an artisan food company in Asheville, NC. Their organic Pizza Kits come in whole wheat, gluten free, or low sodium. The Pizza Kits make a homemade pizza in 30 minutes, come with the cooking paper and go straight into the oven or on the grill. You’ll find them in stores and on-line at the GalloLea site or amazon.com.