AEI Corporation

Nothing Says 'I Love You' Liked Heart-Shaped Grilled Pizza

Posted: February 12, 2020 at 08:28 AM

7 minute read | Recipe

Taking your sweetheart out to a five-star restaurant on Valentine's Day seems like a fantastic way to show you care and adore your significant other. No one is going to argue the point that your thoughtfulness and willingness to spare no expense are admirable. But once you are a few years into a relationship, intimacy and a personal touch tends to far exceed a formal dinner. And, a casual homestyle meal at a local restaurant is not necessarily the best alternative.

Perhaps the best way to say “I Love You” in a personal fashion is by making a delicious, comfort-food meal from scratch. The following heart-shaped pizza on the grill recipe and tips may be a perfect Valentine's Day surprise meal.

Homemade Heart-Shared Pizza on the Grill

If you want Cupid to sling an arrow at your loved one’s heart — or stomach in this case — grilled pizza will require some attention to detail. Having a high-quality PGS Grill can help you create pizza with perfect crust and toppings. That’s largely due to the industry-leading PGS Grill line integrating advanced technology into the Moon Rok briquettes, heat stability, and other accessories. We’ll get to a few grilled pizza tips shortly. But for now, let’s focus on preparing an outstanding dough.

Gather Ingredients for Pizza Dough

• 2 ½ cups of warm water
• ¼ cup of granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons of salt
• 3 teaspoons of yeast
• ¼ cup of vegetable oil
• 6 cups of all-purpose flour
• Cooking pan grease

Combine the water, yeast, and sugar thoroughly in a mixing bowl. Let it stand for 5 minutes and then blend in the vegetable oil. In a separate bowl, mix the salt and flour. Add this to the liquid mixture about one-half cup at a time while blending. The dough should be sticky when ready.

Grease a large bowl and place the dough into it and cover at room temperature for 1 hour. Remove and place on a floured surface and begin stretching and rolling it out. Divide into three. This recipe should make three equal 1-pound portions. Refrigerate overnight and manipulate them into heart-shaped pizza flats on Valentine's Day.

Making a highly personalized grilled pizza on your PGS Grill means that everything must be perfect, and homemade. While the dough is rising on Valentines Day, it may be worthwhile to whip up a delicious pizza sauce that outpaces anything store-bought.

Gather These Pizza Sauce Ingredients

• 3 teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, diced thin
• 2 teaspoons of onion powder
• 2 teaspoons of freshly chopped basil
• 1 teaspoon of freshly chopped oregano or ½ teaspoon dried
• 16 ounces of tomato sauce
• 4 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 6 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
• 2/3 cups of warm water
• Sea salt and ground black pepper, as needed

Place the olive oil, garlic, onion powder, basil, and oregano in a large pot and heat on your gas grill’s side burner. Stir as the mix simmers and gradually add the Parmesan cheese and brown sugar. Once blended, add the tomato sauce, paste, and water. Bring to a modest boil. Reduce the side burner’s heat and season with sea salt and black pepper to your liking. Stir and simmer 60-90 minutes or until it reaches the consistency and flavor you desire.

Valentines Day Grilled Pizza Toppings to Consider

Although many homemade pizza enthusiasts tend to reach for straight mozzarella, blending in a variety of other cheeses can add to the flavor and texture. It’s not uncommon for Greek and Italian pizza restaurants to add up to 25 percent cheddar, among others. Don’t hesitate to experiment. Similarly, your Valentine's Day pizza can also benefit from grilled toppings that you can prepare while the sauce is simmering. Consider slicing up the following items on a side shelf and grilling them for toppings.

• Grilled Onions
• Grilled Mushrooms
• Grilled Peppers
• Grilled Pineapple
• Sautéed Onions on a Side Burner
• Grilled Chicken
• Grilled Sausage
• Grilled Bacon

There are also plenty of unique toppings, and grilling provides you with an opportunity to lock-in their succulent flavor for your loved one. That being said, the process of grilled pizza tends to be different from oven-baked. These pizza grilling tips could prove valuable.

Tips for Preparing Perfect Grilled Pizza

Even an experienced outdoor grill aficionado can make a misstep when preparing pizza on their PGS Grill for the first time. As we all know, getting the underside of the pizza crust crisp and golden brown, and the remainder of the dough perfect is a challenge using any heat source. Grilling pizza is no different. These tips can help make your Heart-Shaped Pizza a delight.

• Indirect Heat: The common misstep that upends pizza-makers is burning the bottom or having it outpace the rest of the pie. One tried-and-true measure to avoid this is to use indirect heat. By elevating the pizza to a top shelf and sliding a pan under it, you can deflect the direct heat on the bottom and cook the entire pie at once. This technique is commonly used in home ovens as well.
• Crisp the Bottom: An experienced pizza chef will often remove the pie from the pan and allow it to crisp from direct heat for just a moment or two. If you find you want a tad more crisp, do this, but only briefly to avoid burning.
• Keep the Lid Closed: The excitement of making that Valentine's Day grilled pizza may prompt you to check it too often. Be patient.

Okay, it’s time to begin the pizza grilling phase. Layout your pie on a greased pan, add sauce, toppings, and cheese. On medium heat, a pizza should take about 8 minutes. If your dough is on the thick side, consider a lower temperature and leave it on the PGS Grill for up to 12 minutes. A good rule is to check it every 4 minutes. And, Happy Valentines Day to you and yours.