Grilled Margherita Pizza offers an exciting take on the traditional Italian pizza, featuring a delightful mix of fresh, vibrant flavors paired with a crispy, charred crust. It begins with either homemade or store-bought dough, generously brushed with the delectable garlic-infused olive oil. This oil is prepared by gently sautéing minced garlic in extra virgin olive oil, allowing the garlic’s aroma and sweetness to infuse without becoming bitter. The result is an oil rich in flavor that serves as the pizza’s base, enhancing each bite with additional depth of flavor.
Once the garlic-infused oil is ready, the pizza is assembled by rolling the dough and brushing one side with half of the oil. The dough is then placed directly on a pizza grill rack, which allows the pizza to cook evenly and achieve a wonderful charred crust that mimics the intense heat of a wood-fired pizza oven. Instead of traditional tomato sauce, halved cherry tomatoes are scattered across the dough, providing bursts of sweetness that pair nicely with the following creamy mozzarella slices. These fresh mozzarella slices melt perfectly as the pizza grills, creating a gooey, luscious topping.
Grilling the pizza at or near 500°F (260°C) ensures the crust develops a beautiful crispness while remaining soft and tender. The high heat also enhances the flavor of the toppings, slightly caramelizing the tomatoes and giving them a rich, roasted flavor. The mozzarella melts evenly, bubbling up and browning slightly around the edges, creating a delightful textural contrast.
One of the highlights of this pizza is the final touch, added just after it’s removed from the grill. Fresh basil leaves are placed on the hot pizza, allowing their natural oils and aromas to release as they wilt. A drizzle of the remaining garlic-infused olive oil adds flavor and richness, while a sprinkle of salt and freshly ground black pepper ties everything together. This pizza is as visually appealing as it is delicious, with the vibrant green of the basil contrasting beautifully against the bright red tomatoes and creamy white mozzarella.
The use of the pizza grill rack is crucial to this recipe. It allows the pizza to cook evenly while imparting a slightly smoky, grilled flavor to the crust. The high heat of the grill, combined with the direct flame, creates a crisp, golden crust that can be difficult to achieve in a regular oven.
The simplicity of the toppings – garlic, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil – lets each ingredient shine, highlighting the freshness and quality of the produce. This Grilled Margherita Pizza is perfect for outdoor gatherings, summer barbecues, or a cozy dinner at home.
Grilled Margherita Pizza
4
servings10
minutes30
minutes40
minutesGrilled Margherita Pizza features a garlic-infused olive oil base, fresh cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella, cooked over a grill for a crispy, slightly charred crust. Topped with fresh basil after grilling, this pizza offers a perfect balance of smoky, creamy, and vibrant flavors.
Ingredients
1 pizza dough, store bought or homemade
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
8-10 leaves of fresh basil
to taste, salt and ground black pepper
Directions
- Sauté Garlic:
Slowly sauté garlic in extra virgin olive oil over low heat until it’s fragrant and has infused the its flavor into the oil, 7-8 minutes. - Preheat the Grill:
Preheat your grill to approximately 500°F (260°C). - Assemble the Pizza:
Roll out the pizza dough and brush one side with half of the garlic-infused oil. Place the pizza dough directly on pizza grill rack. Scatter the cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella on top. - Grill the Pizza:
Close the grill and cook the pizza for 8-10 minutes until the cheese melts and the crust is slightly charred around the edges. Remove from the grill, immediately top with fresh basil, and drizzle with the left over garlic-infused oil. Season with salt and ground black pepper to taste. Serve hot!