GRILLED PIZZA“AL FORNO”

My frst restaurant job was in Providence, Rhode Island. The restaurant, Al Forno, is known as the “birthplace of grilled pizza.” It’s the best pizza I’ve ever had. This is a spinoff I created with my friend Andris, who eats, sleeps, and breathes pizza.

YIELD 3x 10-inch (25cm) pizzas

PREP TIME 15 minutes

COOK TIME 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1lb (454g) Pre-Made Pizza Dough

• All-Purpose Flour, For Dusting

• High-Heat Cooking Oil, For Greasing

• 1 Cup (113g) Freshly Grated Fontina Cheese

• 2/3 Cup (67g) Freshly Grated Romano Cheese

• 1/2 Cup (50g) Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese

• 1 (14.5oz [425g]) Can Of Whole San Marzano

Tomatoes

• Kosher Salt, To Taste

• 3/4 Cup (20g) Fresh Basil, Chopped

• 3/4 Cup (20g) Fresh Flat-Leaf Parsley, Chopped

• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, To Finish

• 6 Scallions, Thinly Sliced

Directions

Divide the dough into 3 equal portions, each about 5 1/3 ounces (150g), and place on a lightly foured baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and rest at room temperature until needed.

Oil the grill grates and preheat the grill to 400°F (200°C).

In a medium bowl, lightly mix the Fontina, Romano, and Parmesan cheeses until evenly combined. Set aside.

Add the tomatoes (with juices) to a large bowl. Using your hands, crush the tomatoes into a slightly chunky purée. Adda pinch of salt. Set aside.

On a lightly foured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll out 1 ball of dough as thinly as possible, using four as necessary to keep the dough from sticking to your hands or the work surface. You want an extremely thin crust, as it will puff up a lot when it cooks.

When the grill is hot and oiled, use your fngertips to gently lift the dough and drape it onto the grill. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until grill marks appear. Using tongs, fip the dough.

Working quickly, brush the dough with olive oil and sprinkle evenly with 1/3 of the grated cheese mixture. Use a spoon to add several large dollops of tomatoes across the dough. Sprinkle some of the basil and parsley over the top of the dough. Close the grill lid and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the cheeses have melted.

Remove the pizza from the grill. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top and sprinkle a healthy dose of raw scallions over the pizza before serving. Repeat steps 6 to 8 with the remaining dough and toppings.