Pizza is one of those foods that holds a special place in pretty much everyone’s hungry hearts. It combines a crispy crust that’s drenched in savoury sauce and underneath a pile of yummy toppings and gooey melted cheese. It really doesn’t get much better than that.
Whether you like your slices plain, piled high with pepperoni or topped with a load of tasty veggies, the possibilities are endless when it comes to dressing up your pie in something that suits your personal taste. If pineapple belongs on there is debatable, of course.
If you like wood fired pizzas from the oven, give cedar plank grilling a try. The cedar plank adds a nice smoky flavour to the crust while also protecting the dough from the grill. It makes for a fun and rustic presentation with a difference.
- A store-bought pizza base from the deli or you can make your own
- Your favourite toppings
Step 1:
Soak your cedar wood planks for an hour before using. They need to be soaked so they don’t catch fire while grilling.
Step 2:
Drizzle the plank with a bit of olive oil and spread around, then add cornmeal. This makes it less likely for your pizza to stick.
Step 3:
Place the dough onto the plank and have all the toppings ready by the grill before you get started.
Step 4:
Heat your grill up to approximately 200 degrees, creating direct and indirect zones.
Step 5:
Place the cedar planked pizzas on the indirect side and let the dough cook for about 5 to 7 minutes so the top has a chance to bake before adding toppings. Next, add the toppings and let the pizza continue to cook for another 10 minutes until the cheese has melted and the crust is golden brown.
Step 6:
Remove the pizza from the grill, slice into pieces, and serve.
You can use the cedar planks as a serving tray for presentation if you like, but make sure they are slightly cooled if you do.
