Pizza

Hey TarHeel BBQ I'll try to help you out...

You should have no trouble getting the grill to 1000 degrees let alone 500-600 for pizza.  Check out this post for more info:

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/comment/1145428#Comment_1145428

The trick to good pizza is high-gluten flour (aka Bread dough) and plenty of kneading to create the gluten strings that make the dough chewy and full of air holes.

Here is the recipe I use:

I started with this original recipe and modified the instructions for my use.

4 1/2 cups unbleached high-gluten, bread, flour
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1 package Active Dry Yeast 
1/4 cup olive oil
1 3/4 cups water (110-115°F, measure temp)

NOTE - Make pizza crust the day before you need it for best results
Makes three 12-15 inch pizzas
Dough Making Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2C6v9mGuR0

 

1. Dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar in 100-110 degree water (1 3/4 cups above) and let it grow.  Should be frothy in a few minutes
2. Mix all  dry ingredients together,

3. In a large bowl, add water/yeast mixture to dough and mix.  Drizzle oil into mixture and continue mixing.   Dough should be dry and have a bunch of small lumps in the bowl.

4. Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead dough until smooth.  At this point you want to knead at least 10 minutes to insure a good crust.  The dough will get tougher to knead but keep at it.
5. Shape into a round ball and pinch bottom of dough closed.
6. Place dough into lightly oiled bowl to keep dough round.  Coat top of dough ball with light coat of olive oil to keep from drying out and cover with plastic wrap. 
7. Place dough into the refrigerator overnight .  It should almost double in size.
8. The next day, about 2-3 hours before you are ready to cook take the dough out of refrigerator and divide into three equal size pieces. 
9. Roll/shape pieces into dough balls (see video above) .  Pinch bottom of dough ball closed and place into lightly oiled cereal bowl (pinched side down).  Coat top of dough ball with light coat of olive oil to keep from drying out and cover with plastic wrap.  Set aside to rise until it doubles in size.
10. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and shape into pizza shell.
11. Add sauce, cheese and toppings.
12. Cook on 600-650 degree grill with pizza stone for ~9 minutes. NOTE - I use 650 because that is the temp we used at the pizzeria I worked at.  I like the high heat because it makes the crust crisp and cooks any toppings quickly.

 

 I shape crust on a wooden pizza peel sprinkled with cornmeal.  Since I cook high heat without daisy wheel it makes it easy to peek into top of Egg with a flashlight to check progress.

I like Don Peppino sauce @ $1.50 a can and 100% mozzarella cheese.

Hope this helps,

I'll second the Don Peppino's!  You can get the big #10 tin for under $4 at Sam's.  For a simple and delicious sauce, I get canned San Marzano Tomatoes (if they are truly SM's they will have a DOP label on the can), drain and save the juice and then rough chop what's left.  Mix in some salt and pepper and Penzey's Pizza Seasoning (or Italian Seasoning if no Penzey's) and spread it on the dough.  Top with fresh mozzerella from your local deli/italian store (or whole milk mozz) and finish with some fresh basil after you pull it off the egg.  I wouldn't cook at less than 550* and if you cook at over 600* I would eliminate any oil or sugar from your dough as it will likely burn before the pizza is cooked.  The tomatoes cook with the pizza and along with the fresh basil on top, it gives you a bright and fresh taste, plus it's pretty simple.