George and Joanne's Grilled Pizza

I used to work for George and Joanne in 1981 as a dishwasher but I learned a lot watching and tasting. They are pioneers in the Gourmet World. Emily

Grilled Pizza

https://www.foodandwine.com/fwpro/johanne-killeen-al-forno-restaurant-survival-tips

Turn out pizza oven-quality pizzas with this technique from Johanne Killeen and George Germon, who pioneered grilled pizzas at their Providence restaurant, Al Forno.

By

George Germon

and

Johanne Killeen

Updated on March 21, 2023

Active Time:

45 mins

Total Time:

3 hrs 30 mins

Yield:

6 (8-inch) pizzas

Ingredients

Dough

• 1 (1/4-ounce) envelope active dry yeast

• 1 cup warm water

• 1 pinch sugar

• 2 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

• 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour

• Extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 1/2 to 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Toppings

• 1/2 pound Fontina cheese, shredded (about 2 cups loosely packed)

• 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese (about 1 1/2 ounces)

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed

• 2 teaspoons minced garlic

• Two 14-ounce cans chopped Italian tomatoes, drained

• 1/2 cup basil leaves, cut into thin ribbons

• 12 paper-thin slices prosciutto di Parma, torn into large pieces

Directions

Make the dough:

1. Combine yeast, water, and sugar in a large bowl and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in salt, whole wheat flour and olive oil. Gradually add 2 cups of the all-purpose flour, stirring with a wooden spoon until dough is fairly stiff. Turn dough out onto a well-floured work surface and knead, gradually adding as much of the remaining all-purpose flour as necessary, until it is smooth, elastic and no longer tacky, 5 to 6 minutes.

2. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl and brush surface with olive oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until it doubles in bulk, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
   

3. Punch down dough and knead lightly, then return it to bowl. Cover bowl and let dough rise again until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes. Punch down dough again and use immediately or refrigerate.
   

Make the pizza:

1. Light a grill, preferably using hardwood charcoal. Set grill grate 3 to 4 inches above coals. Toss Fontina with Pecorino Romano cheese in a medium bowl.

2. Divide pizza dough into 6 equal pieces; work with 1 piece at a time and keep remaining dough covered with a towel. On 3 lightly oiled baking sheets, flatten and stretch dough with your hands to form six 8-inch rounds each 1/16 inch thick; do not make a lip or stretch dough so thinly that it tears. Brush dough rounds with olive oil.

3. When grill is hot (working in batches if necessary), gently drape pizza dough over hot grill grate and cook until dough puffs slightly, the underside firms up and grill marks appear, about 1 minute. Rotate dough once and cook for 30 seconds.

4. Brush top of pizza rounds with oil and flip them over, using tongs. Scatter 1/6 of the garlic and cheese over each pizza, followed by 3 heaping tablespoons of chopped tomatoes. Drizzle each pizza with 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil.

5. Slide pizzas near hot coals but not directly over them. Using tongs, rotate pizzas frequently, checking often to make sure that undersides are not charring. Pizzas are done when cheese is melted and tomatoes are hot, 3 to 4 minutes. Scatter 1/6 of the basil and prosciutto over each pizza and serve pizzas hot off the grill.

Originally appeared: FOOD & WINE September 2003

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