Friday, July 21, 2017

Wood Fired Pizza

I wrote a post about How to Make Wood Fired Pizza at Home for my partnership with Char-Broil™.  They came out with a kamado grill this year, the Kamander, and I wanted to show the new kamado owners how to make pizza on their new grill.  

How to make pizza on a kamado grill
We made this one with fire roasted onions and peppers, pepperoni, salami, and more.

The recipe is at the link above, here are a bunch of extra footage from that post.

We'll buy pizza sauce in a pinch, but I'd much rather make my own. We do a modification of this sauce recipe.

Picked up a Char-Broil pizza stone and pizza peel for just $20 at Lowes. It's pretty thin compared to a BGE branded one that I have but about the same as a Pampered Chef one that we own. People complain about the Pampered Chef one breaking on the grill but I've used mine for 8 years without a problem.  For $20 for this one, I figured I'd take the risk and so far, it's done fine.

Kick Ash Basket in a Kamander kamado grill #shakethatash
Like all my other kamados, I use a Kick Ash Basket in my Kamander.  I think it makes the air flow a bit more fool proof and certainly makes reusing the leftover coal easier.

Well, that's the last time that pizza stone will be THAT clean.



Char-Broil Kamander kamado grill review
Several of my kamado friends have asked what I think about the Kamander compared to the ceramic kamado grills that I use.  I need to write a full post about that.  But long story short, I have been surprised at how good it works. Truthfully, I expected to not be thrilled with it since it's only in the $300-350 range.  It is just as easy to use, holds temperature evenly, burns coal about the same rate (haven't done any quantative tests, just observation), and cooks well.  I have heard some "yeah buts" about a metal kamado but those are merely speculative at this point although I would like to see them extend the warranty.

Seasoned peppers and onions going on to roast a bit before putting them on the pizza. 


To fit parchment paper to the pizza stone, I fold it in quarters...

Then cut an arc from one side to the other at the distance of the radius.  What? You're right, this isn't math class.  Cut it like a circle, half the width of the pizza stone.

How to make pizza on a kamado grill
Can't remember where we got this docking tool but going "stabby stabby" with a fork works just fine.  This keeps the pizza from having one of those big bulging bubbles swelling up while cooking.

How to make pizza on a kamado grill
This is making me hungry for pizza tonight.

How to make pizza on a kamander kamado grill
Alexis sliding the pie onto the stone. The peel isn't necessary but it sure makes it easier.

How to make pizza on a kamado grill
Ready to roll!

I like our pizzas between 500 and 550°f. 

How to make pizza on a kamado grill
Just grab the edge of the parchment paper and slide the peel right under there.  I need to get a metal peel for taking them off, I think they are easier.

How to make pizza on a kamado grill
You're [bleepity bleep] right that this isn't "delivery"!

Writing this post has been excruciating because I'm hungry.  I'm definitely making pizza this weekend.