Once you get used to using a pizza stone on a grill you'll be using it all season long for easy, quick summer meals! I've combined a healthy, whole wheat pizza crust with smoked cheese, and my favorite recipe for fried green tomatoes to create a truly unique pizza recipe that's Southern all the way. This recipe was created in partnership with one of our favorite Restless Chipotle sponsors, CK Mondavi and Family. All opinions are my own.
For this recipe you'll need: whole wheat flour, vital wheat gluten, yeast, water, honey, olive oil, salt, cornmeal, oregano, fried green tomatoes, smoked Gouda (grated), smoked Provolone (grated)
My summer memories are full of the warm, fresh flavors of classic Southern cooking. Fresh vegetables, smoky grilled meats, and ripe fruit made up the majority of our summer meals when I was growing up. We might have nothing but strawberry shortcake for dinner, or a plateful of fresh corn on the cob with a side of watermelon - my parents believed in eating seasonally before it was a thing. We didn't eat meat a lot when I was a kid - but the vegetables from my parents garden were plentiful.
My dad was magic in a garden. I swear the man could put a dead stick in the ground and the next day you'd have a fig tree. I think he was planting and harvesting until he died - I don't think he ever took a year off. It was the one thing my parents seemed to do together - gardening.
I decided I wanted to bring those memories into this recipe and pair it with just the right wine. CK Mondavi and Family had sent me two bottles of the Pinot Grigio along with the more familiar (to me) Merlot and Cab.
I shared the first bottle with a close friend. We were both a little hesitant because neither of us had enjoyed Pinot Grigios in the past. At the first sip of this Pinot Grigio we changed our minds. It was delicious! Crisp and as refreshing as a summer breeze just before a storm - I knew I was going to use it I just didn't know how.
I wasn't going to pair it with just any pizza. The crispness of the wine and the slightly tropical flavor reminded me of the scents of a Southern summer - honeysuckle, tomato leaves, sweet tea, and fresh peaches... I needed a Southern Pizza!
And that's how Fried Green Tomato Pizza came into being. The whole wheat crust adds a wholesome, nutty flavor while the smoky cheeses are enhanced by grilling. The tomatoes add a sharp tang along with a quick crunch. Chewy, crispy, gooey - it's everything a pizza should be. Using a pizza stone took it over the top and made this pizza recipe even better!
Tips for Using a Pizza Stone on a Grill
This is an easy recipe - although because of the high heat involved children should not make this recipe without lots of supervision.
If you are hesitant about using a pizza stone on a grill I get it. I was worried the stone would crack, or the pizza crust would scorch, or any number of other things. Once you do it, though, I am pretty sure you'll find that you LOVE the crispy texture and quick cooking time. This is now my favorite way to cook pizza!
- For a thicker crust be sure to stretch the dough at least 20 minutes before cooking the pizza.
- Dust the pizza stone with coarsely ground cornmeal to keep the pizza from sticking.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with toppings.
- Keep an eye on the pizza while it's cooking - especially the first time. Grills vary so you may need more cooking time.
- Let the pizza stone cool overnight before trying to move it. It will retain heat a long time.
Grilled Pizza/ Pizza Stone FAQs
Still have questions about how using a pizza stone on a grill can make your summer taste better?
Can you use a pizza stone on a grill, really?
Yes, yes, a thousand times - yes! Grilling pizza gives it an added smoky flavor plus the stone absorbs moisture while the crust bakes making it even crispier.
Do you put oil on a pizza stone?
No, never (unless the manufacturer tells you to). The pizza stone is never oiled but the food is placed directly on the preheated surface. Cornmeal sprinkled lightly over the stone can be used to guard against sticking.
What temperature to cook a pizza using a pizza stone?
500F to 550F is usually about right. Let the stone heat while the grill is heating. If your pizza is thick crusted you may want to cook at a lower temperature for a little more time - 450F or so.
Can you cut the pizza on a pizza stone?
Always refer to manufacturer's instructions but as a general rule you can safely cut pizza on a pizza stone.
Can you wash a pizza stone?
Usually you can wash a cooled pizza stone with warm water and mild soap when needed. Refer to your manufacturer's instructions.
Caution!
Do not place cold dough on a pizza stone or place a hot pizza stone on a cool surface or it could crack.
About CK Mondavi and Family Wines
CK Mondavi and Family wines are still produced in the Napa Valley, as they have been since 1943. CK Mondavi and Family remains family-owned and family-run by the third and fourth generations of the Mondavi family.
The thing I love most about these wines is, not only are they delicious, they are affordable. The grapes are 100% sourced from California vineyards and the company utilizes sustainable farming techniques and winemaking practices. The quality is well beyond the price point, y'all!
A large portion of the grapes in CK Mondavi and Family wines are estate grown on the family’s 1,850 acres of vineyards and the family is committed to working with Californian growers that they’ve had partnerships for generations and who provide the Mondavi winemaking team with total viticultural control. CK Mondavi and Family produces wines that are consistent, vintage-to-vintage, providing consumers with a value and quality they can rely on. Plus, I've met them and these people are down to earth and super nice!
AND be sure to follow them on social media to keep up with all the news! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
More Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled Fried Green Tomato Pizza Recipe
Once you make your grilled pizza using a pizza stone be sure to pair it with your favorite CK Mondavi & Family wine! You'll love this collection of summer cookout side dishes, too.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!
Grilled Fried Green Tomato Pizza
Print SaveIngredients
Crust
- 1 tablespoon yeast
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ¼ cups water, ,110F, use a little more if needed
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 ¼ cups whole wheat flour
- 3 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- cornmeal for dusting
Topping
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 8 fried green tomatoes, , or enough to cover pizza
- 2 cups smoked Gouda
- 2 cups smoked Provolone
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Instructions
- Put the paddle attachment on your mixer.
- Mix together the water, honey, and yeast.
- Let stand for 5 minutes.
- Add ½ cup of the flour and the vital wheat gluten.
- Mix until well blended.
- Add the oil and salt and mix well.
- With mixer on low add the remaining flour until the dough forms a sticky ball.
- Switch to the dough hook.
- Knead for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Let rise until doubled - about an hour.
- Punch down and then let rest for 5 minutes.
- Separate into 2 or 3 balls of dough and rub with olive oil.
- Flour the counter and press the dough into a disk.
- Place the baking stone on your grill and preheat to about 550F.
- Sprinkle some cornmeal on the counter.
- Flatten the dough an the counter and gently stretch it to form a thin pizza crust, rolling with a rolling pin if necessary.
- Sprinkle cornmeal on a flat baking sheet and add the pizza dough.
- Gently rub a little olive oil over the dough, sprinkle with oregano, and cover with smoked Gouda.
- Add the fried green tomato slices.
- Cover with Mozzarella.
- Sprinkle the preheated pizza stone with cornmeal.
- Slide the crust onto the pizza stone.
- Quickly cover and let pizza cook for 4 minutes.
- Check pizza and if it's done use a spatula to remove from the pizza stone to a serving platter.
- Repeat for second pizza.
- Cut into slices and enjoy.
- Turn off grill and let the stone cool completely before trying to remove it.
Betsy Cohen
HOLY MOLY! I just learned more about grilling with a pizza stone reading your post than I have learned my entire life. I love your recipe and think you chose the perfect CK Mondavi and Family wine to pair with it.
Marye Audet
Thank you Betsy!!