Assorted Grilled Portobello Pizzas Recipes

PORTOBELLO PIZZAS

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Dress the mushroom caps with liberal drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Broil the portobello mushrooms 5 minutes on each side until tender.
• While caps are broiling heat 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat, add sausage and brown and crumble the meat, then add tomatoes to skillet and cook another few minutes until they burst. Add cream to skillet and reduce 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove the sausage from heat and fold in basil. Fill mushroom caps and top with cheese, place under broiler to brown 2 to 3 minutes then quarter caps and serve.

FLATBREAD PIZZAS

Steps:

• For the flatbread: In a small mixing bowl, add the self-rising flour, yogurt, olive oil, rosemary and salt and mix. It might seem like the consistency is sticky, but this is okay!
• Dust a bench top with more of the flour and knead the dough until it forms a ball. If it's still sticky, add more flour to the bench. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin until 1/2 centimeter (1/4 inch) in thickness.
• Heat a small splash of olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. Once hot, transfer the flatbread over and cook until light brown, about 2 minutes. Then flip and cook on the other side for another minute. Serve topped with one of the pizza topping combinations.

GRILLED PORTOBELLO PIZZAS

Steps:

• Prepare a stove-top griddle or outdoor grill.
• Combine the tomatoes, thyme, 2 teaspoons of olive oil, the roasted garlic, and salt and pepper in a small bowl and toss. Set aside.
• Brush the top and bottom of each mushroom with the remaining oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and grill until the mushrooms are tender, about 4 minutes per side.
• Place the mushrooms stem side up on a cutting board. Arrange an equal amount of the tomato mixture on 4 mushrooms. Top each with a shaving of Parmigiano-Reggiano.
• Arrange a slice of prosciutto on each of the remaining mushrooms and spread 1 tablespoon of the pesto on top of each prosciutto slice.
• Arrange 1 of each pizza on each of 4 dinner plates and serve.

SOPPRESSATA PIZZAS

Steps:

• Make the dough: Put 2 1/4 cups warm (100 degrees F) water in a large measuring cup; stir in the yeast to dissolve, then stir in the sugar and olive oil. Let stand until bubbly, 3 to 5 minutes. Combine 5 cups flour and 2 teaspoons salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the yeast mixture and mix on medium-low speed, adding a little more flour or water, if needed, until a rough, sticky ball of dough forms, about 1 minute. Let rest 5 minutes, then mix on medium low until no longer sticky, about 1 more minute. Transfer the dough to an oiled surface and knead with oiled hands until smooth, about 10 times. Let rest 5 minutes, then knead briefly again and transfer to an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight. Divide the dough into 4 balls, dust with flour and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let sit at room temperature 2 hours before making the pizzas.
• Make the sauce: Crush the tomatoes in a bowl using your hands. Stir in the olive oil, garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the oregano. Cover and let stand 2 hours. Position a pizza stone or inverted baking sheet on the lowest oven rack; preheat to 500 degrees F for at least 30 minutes. Stretch each ball of dough into a 12-to-14-inch round on individual sheets of parchment paper. Let rest 15 minutes. Remove and discard the garlic from the sauce. Spread a thin layer of sauce on each pizza, leaving a border. Top with one-quarter each of the mozzarella, parmesan, cherry peppers, soppressata and radicchio; drizzle with olive oil. Slide 1 pizza (on the parchment) onto a pizza peel or another inverted baking sheet, then slide onto the hot stone in the oven. Bake until the crust browns, 12 to 15 minutes. Top with oregano. Repeat to make 3 more pizzas. Photograph by Con Poulos

TUSCANY INDIVIDUAL PIZZAS

Steps:

• Place a pizza stone on the bottom rack of oven and preheat to 500 degrees F. for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water and let stand for 10 minutes. Traditional method: Put 1 1/2 cups of the flour, semolina sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine. While stirring with a wooden spoon slowly add the yeast mixture until combined. Add the olive oil and continue stirring until the mixture forms a loose ball, adding the remaining 1/4 cup of flour if necessary to form a ball that is not sticky. On a lightly floured board knead the dough for 3 to 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and consistent in texture.
• Food Processor method: With the metal blade inserted, put the flour, semolina, sugar and salt into the work bowl. With the motor running, pour the yeast mixture through the feed tube and process for 30 to 45 seconds or until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Add the olive oil through the feed tube and continue to process for 1 minute. The dough should have formed a ball. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly with flour until it is not sticky.
• Both methods continue: Form the dough into a ball and put in a bowl that has been lightly coated with olive oil. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and put it in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface into a cylinder and cut into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and place on a lightly floured platter. Cover with a damp towel. Using a rolling pin, roll one ball into a circle. Garnish the pizza as desired. Place directly on pizza stone and bake for approximately 4 minutes (Check after 3 minutes) until ready.
• Continue creating individual pizzas.
• La Margherita Pizza toppings: Top the pizza with a tomato puree made up of peeled tomatoes (use canned tomatoes when good quality fresh are unavailable), olive oil, oregano and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle with grated Mozzarella cheese and lightly drizzle olive oil over the pizza. Add salt and pepper for taste.
• La Napoletana Pizza toppings: Top the pizza with tomato puree and sprinkle with capers, mozzarella cheese and top with anchovies. Lightly drizzle olive oil over the pizza.
• Additional Toppings to add as you wish: Italian Ham, Peccorino Romano Cheese, Red and yellow bell peppers, olives, onions, fresh basil and mozzarella cheese.

PORTOBELLO "PIZZA" NICOISE

Steps:

• Chop the garlic cloves, then sprinkle with some salt and smear to a paste, using the side of your knife blade. Transfer the garlic paste to a bowl and stir in the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until emulsified. Fold in the anchovies, basil, olives, capers and pepper flakes. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature while you grill the vegetables.
• Heat a grill to high. Brush the red and yellow peppers with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, covered, until charred on all sides and soft, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove the peppers to a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and let steam for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, put the tomatoes in a grill basket and grill, covered, tossing occasionally, until charred in spots and softened, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Brush the portobellos with canola oil and season on both sides with salt and pepper. Grill on both sides, covered, until a paring knife inserted in the center meets no resistance, 3 to 5 minutes per side. While the portobellos are cooking, peel, seed and thinly slice the peppers.
• Turn the portobellos gill-side up and top each with some of the goat cheese. Grill, covered, until the cheese softens, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a platter and top each mushroom with some tomatoes and peppers. Spoon a generous amount of dressing over each "pizza" and serve warm.