Grilled Pizzas With Asparagus And Sun Dried Tomatoes Recipes

GRILLED PIZZAS WITH ASPARAGUS AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium. In a large bowl, combine asparagus, scallions, and 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 6 to 9 minutes. When cool enough to handle, cut asparagus and scallions into thirds.
• Brush a large baking sheet with 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil. On a lightly floured work surface, divide dough in half. Roll or stretch to form two 9-inch ovals. Transfer to prepared sheet, and brush with remaining tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil.
• Transfer dough pieces to grill. Cook until undersides are firm and beginning to char, 2 to 3 minutes. Using tongs or a large spatula, transfer crusts, grilled side up, back to baking sheet.
• Dividing evenly, top crusts with ricotta, then asparagus, scallions, and sun-dried tomatoes; season with salt and pepper. Slide back onto grill and cook, rotating occasionally, until crusts are cooked through and cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer pizzas to a cutting board, cut in half, and serve.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450. Trim woody ends from asparagus. Spread the spears in a single layer in a shallow baking pan that has been sprayed with Pam.
• Drizzle with olive oil; shake pan back and forth to coat asparagus.
• Roast asparagus until lighly browned and tender, about 10 minutes, giving the pan a good shake about halfway through.
• Vinaigrette: Combine ingredients in a measuring cup and let sit for 30 minutes (this will soften the tomatoe).
• Spoon evenly over asparagus. Can serve either hot or cover and chill 2 hours.

PIZZA ON THE GRILL WITH CHERRY TOMATOES, MOZZARELLA AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Prepare a hot grill. Meanwhile, cut the cherry tomatoes in half along the equator and place near the grill, along with the olive oil, salt and pepper, mozzarella and arugula.
• Oil the hot grill rack with olive oil, either by brushing with a grill brush or by dipping a folded wad of paper towels in olive oil and using tongs to rub the rack with it. Place a round of dough on a lightly dusted baker's peel or rimless baking sheet. Slide the pizza dough from the peel or baking sheet onto the grill rack. If the dough has just come from the freezer and is easy to handle, you can just place it on the rack without bothering with the peel. Close the lid of the grill - the vents should be closed --- and set the timer for 2 minutes.
• Lift up the grill lid. The surface of the dough should display some big air bubbles. Using tongs, lift the dough to see if it is evenly browning on the bottom. Rotate the dough to assure even browning. Keep it on the grill, moving it around as necessary, until it is nicely browned, with grill marks. Watch closely so that it doesn't burn. When it is nicely browned on the bottom (it may be blackened in spots), use tongs or a spatula to slide the dough onto the baking sheet or peel, and remove from the grill. Cover the grill again.
• Make sure that there is still some flour on the peel or baking sheet and flip the dough over so that the uncooked side is now on the bottom. Brush the surface lightly with oil, then top with cherry tomatoes and shreds or slices of mozzarella. You can place the cherry tomatoes cut side up or cut side down, or alternate them cut side up, cut side down. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Slide the pizza back onto the grill. If using a gas grill, reduce the heat to medium-high. Close the lid and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes, until the bottom begins to brown. Open the grill and check the pizza; if the cheese hasn't melted, leave for a few more minutes. If the bottom is getting too dark, move the pizza to a cooler part of the grill and close the top. Use a spatula or tongs to remove the pizza to a cutting board. Scatter the arugula on top, cut into wedges and serve. Repeat with the other two pizza crusts.

GRILLED-ASPARAGUS, TOMATO, AND FONTINA PIZZETTE

Steps:

• Preheat grill for direct- and indirect-heat cooking to 500 degrees (if grill does not have a temperature gauge, set an oven thermometer on upper rack). If distance between grill grates is 1 inch or greater, preheat a metal cooling rack directly on grill to prevent dough from sinking through.
• Toss asparagus and scallions with oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning a few times, until charred in places but still firm, 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool slightly; when cool enough to handle, cut scallions into 1 1/2-inch pieces.
• Turn dough out onto a pizza peel or thin wooden cutting board dusted with semolina (do not punch down). Divide into thirds. Starting in center of each and using both hands, press down and outward with your fingertips while allowing dough to slowly turn. Gradually work toward edges, leaving a 1-inch border of undisturbed dough, until each is stretched to an approximately 7-inch round.
• Lightly drizzle each round with oil; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to grill over direct heat and cook just until set and lightly charred on bottoms, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from grill.
• Divide half of cheese evenly among crusts, then top with asparagus, scallions, tomatoes, and thyme. Sprinkle evenly with remaining cheese. Return pizzette to grill over indirect heat. Cover and cook until crusts are golden brown in places, asparagus is crisp-tender, and cheese is bubbly, 6 to 8 minutes. Serve immediately.

WHITE PIZZA WITH ASPARAGUS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Trim about an inch from the bottom of the asparagus spears. Scrape the bottom halves if you like, though if they are very slender, this won't be necessary. Cut the spears into 1-inch pieces.
• Steam the asparagus with a little water in a covered skillet or Dutch oven until bright green and just barely tender-crisp, about 3 minutes.
• Add the spinach and cover; steam until just wilted, about a minute. Drain the asparagus and spinach well.
• Puree the tofu with the salt in a food processor or with an immersion blender in its container.
• Place the crust on a baking sheet or a pizza stone. Spread the tofu puree evenly over the crust with a baking spatula.
• Scatter the asparagus and spinach evenly over the surface of the pizza, followed by the sun-dried tomatoes. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the crust is golden. Cut into 6 slices and serve.
• Menu Suggestions
• As with many pizzas, a basic bountiful salad of greens, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and carrots goes well with this.
• If you'd like a heartier salad with this, choose one based on beans. Here are a few possibilities: Black Beans with Tomatoes, Olives, Yellow Peppers, and Croutons (page 185), Black Bean, Mango, and Avocado Salad (page 186), or Chickpea and Carrot Salad with Parsley and Olives (page 190).
• See the menu with Tomato Chickpea Soup with Tiny Pasta and Fresh Herbs (page 32).
• nutrition information
• (per slice)
• Calories: 262
• Total Fat: 5g
• Protein: 12.5g
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sodium: 685mg