Indoor Grilled Tomato and Cheese Pizzas
By America's Test KitchenPublished on August 22, 2007
Time
1¾ hours, plus 1½ to 2 hours rising
Yield
Serves 8-12 (Makes four 9-inch pizzas)
Ingredients
Dough
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for brushing grill pan1 cup water (8 ounces/227 grams), room temperature2 cups bread flour (11 ounces/312 grams), plus more for work surface1 tablespoon whole-wheat flour (optional)2 teaspoons sugar 1 ¼ teaspoons table salt 1 teaspoon instant yeastTopping
1 ½ pounds medium plum tomatoes (5 to 6), cored, seeded, and cut into ½-inch dice¾ teaspoon table salt 6 ounces (170 grams) fontina cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)1 ½ ounces (43 grams) Parmesan cheese, finely grated (about ¾ cup)1 recipe Spicy Garlic Oil (see associated recipe)½ cup chopped fresh basilBefore You Begin
If you don't have two wire cooling racks, the pizzas can be baked directly on the baking sheet for a slightly less crisp crust. You will need a grill pan to make this recipe.
Instructions
- Combine oil and water in liquid measuring cup. In food processor fitted with plastic dough blade or metal blade, process bread flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, salt, and yeast until combined, about 5 seconds. With machine running, slowly add liquid through feed tube; continue to process until dough forms tacky, elastic ball that clears sides of workbowl, about 1 1/2 minutes. If dough ball does not form, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time and process until dough ball forms. Spray medium bowl lightly with nonstick cooking spray or rub lightly with oil. Transfer dough to bowl and press down to flatten surface; cover tightly with plastic wrap and set in draft-free spot until doubled in volume, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- When dough has doubled, press down gently to deflate; turn dough out onto work surface and divide into 4 equal-sized pieces. With cupped palm, form each piece into smooth, tight ball. Set dough balls on well-floured work surface. Press dough rounds with hand to flatten; cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toss tomatoes and table salt in medium bowl; transfer to colander and drain 30 minutes (wipe out and reserve bowl). Shake colander to drain off excess liquid; transfer tomatoes to now-empty bowl and set aside. Combine cheeses in second medium bowl and set aside.
- Gently stretch dough rounds into disks about 1/2 inch thick and 5 to 6 inches in diameter. Working one piece at a time and keeping the rest covered, roll out each disk to 1/8-inch thickness, 9 to 10 inches in diameter, on well-floured sheet of parchment paper, dusting with additional flour as needed to prevent sticking. (If dough shrinks when rolled out, cover with plastic wrap and let rest until relaxed, 10 to 15 minutes.) Dust surface of rolled dough with flour and set aside. Repeat with remaining dough, stacking sheets of rolled dough on top of each other (with parchment in between) and covering stack with plastic wrap; set aside until grill pan is ready.
- Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 400 degrees. Set two wire racks into rimmed baking sheets and set aside. Lightly flour pizza peel (or rimless baking sheet); invert one dough round onto peel, gently stretching it as needed to retain shape (do not stretch dough too thin; thin spots will burn quickly). Brush grill pan with oil and heat over medium-high until barely smoking, 2 to 3 minutes. Peel off and discard parchment; carefully slide round onto grill pan. Cook 1 to 1 1/2 minutes until clear grill marks form on underside of dough (use tongs to check), then rotate dough 90 degrees, piercing large air bubbles with paring knife, and cook for an additional minute. Lower heat to medium, flip dough, and cook on opposite side for 2 minutes or until spottily charred. Remove to prepared baking sheets (two pizzas per baking sheet) and repeat with remaining dough rounds.
- Brush all crusts generously with Spicy Garlic Oil; top each evenly with one-quarter of cheese mixture and one-quarter of tomatoes. Place baking sheets in oven and bake until cheese, melts about 6 to 8 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through cooking. Transfer pizzas to cutting board and sprinkle with basil and coarse salt to taste; cut into wedges and serve immediately.
for the crust
for the topping
to pan-grill and bake
Time
1¾ hours, plus 1½ to 2 hours risingYield
Serves 8-12 (Makes four 9-inch pizzas)Ingredients
Dough
Topping
Ingredients
Dough
Topping
Ingredients
Dough
Topping
Why This Recipe Works
The dough for our grilled pizza recipe was a challenge: It had to be slack enough to be stretched, yet strong enough not to rip. We strengthened the dough by using high-protein bread flour and increased elasticity by adding plenty of water and olive oil to prevent the crust from sticking to the grill. We also discovered that we needed drier and more potent toppings than usual for our grilled pizza recipe. Salted and drained tomatoes kept the crust crisp, and full-bodied, soft fontina cheese mixed with a little Parmesan was potently flavored and didn't ooze.
Before You Begin
If you don't have two wire cooling racks, the pizzas can be baked directly on the baking sheet for a slightly less crisp crust. You will need a grill pan to make this recipe.
Instructions
- Combine oil and water in liquid measuring cup. In food processor fitted with plastic dough blade or metal blade, process bread flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, salt, and yeast until combined, about 5 seconds. With machine running, slowly add liquid through feed tube; continue to process until dough forms tacky, elastic ball that clears sides of workbowl, about 1 1/2 minutes. If dough ball does not form, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time and process until dough ball forms. Spray medium bowl lightly with nonstick cooking spray or rub lightly with oil. Transfer dough to bowl and press down to flatten surface; cover tightly with plastic wrap and set in draft-free spot until doubled in volume, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- When dough has doubled, press down gently to deflate; turn dough out onto work surface and divide into 4 equal-sized pieces. With cupped palm, form each piece into smooth, tight ball. Set dough balls on well-floured work surface. Press dough rounds with hand to flatten; cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toss tomatoes and table salt in medium bowl; transfer to colander and drain 30 minutes (wipe out and reserve bowl). Shake colander to drain off excess liquid; transfer tomatoes to now-empty bowl and set aside. Combine cheeses in second medium bowl and set aside.
- Gently stretch dough rounds into disks about 1/2 inch thick and 5 to 6 inches in diameter. Working one piece at a time and keeping the rest covered, roll out each disk to 1/8-inch thickness, 9 to 10 inches in diameter, on well-floured sheet of parchment paper, dusting with additional flour as needed to prevent sticking. (If dough shrinks when rolled out, cover with plastic wrap and let rest until relaxed, 10 to 15 minutes.) Dust surface of rolled dough with flour and set aside. Repeat with remaining dough, stacking sheets of rolled dough on top of each other (with parchment in between) and covering stack with plastic wrap; set aside until grill pan is ready.
- Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 400 degrees. Set two wire racks into rimmed baking sheets and set aside. Lightly flour pizza peel (or rimless baking sheet); invert one dough round onto peel, gently stretching it as needed to retain shape (do not stretch dough too thin; thin spots will burn quickly). Brush grill pan with oil and heat over medium-high until barely smoking, 2 to 3 minutes. Peel off and discard parchment; carefully slide round onto grill pan. Cook 1 to 1 1/2 minutes until clear grill marks form on underside of dough (use tongs to check), then rotate dough 90 degrees, piercing large air bubbles with paring knife, and cook for an additional minute. Lower heat to medium, flip dough, and cook on opposite side for 2 minutes or until spottily charred. Remove to prepared baking sheets (two pizzas per baking sheet) and repeat with remaining dough rounds.
- Brush all crusts generously with Spicy Garlic Oil; top each evenly with one-quarter of cheese mixture and one-quarter of tomatoes. Place baking sheets in oven and bake until cheese, melts about 6 to 8 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through cooking. Transfer pizzas to cutting board and sprinkle with basil and coarse salt to taste; cut into wedges and serve immediately.
for the crust
for the topping
to pan-grill and bake
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