Q&A for How to Cook Pizza on a Barbecue

You can use Mozzarella cheese, vegan cheeses suitable for melting, ricotta cheese for those on a diet, or a favorite cheese that melts well. You can find some more information here: cheese topping suggestions . And yes, you can use a tomato sachet for the base of the pizza but since it’ll be a little bland, try to choose one with herbs included, or sprinkle herbs on as well. The sachet may also make the pizza seem drier, so it’s a good idea to add some fresh tomato slices on top, or add other ingredients with moisture in them.

The usual sauce on a pizza is tomato-based (red sauce). However, you can also use pesto sauce bases and cheese sauce bases (white sauce). For help with making each type of sauce, see How to Make Pizza Sauce .

The best flour to use to make pizza dough is the same flour used for making bread, usually known as "bread flour." It may also state on the label that it’s good for making pizza dough. The Italian “00” bread flour is known for being the best but it’s a good idea to experiment with your local flour types to find one that works best for your pizza dough, especially if you cannot find the Italian flour.

Yes, it is possible to make pizza using a frying pan, which is often known as "frypan pizza" or "skillet pizza." Use a cast iron pan or skillet, to which you add 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil. Warm the oil first, then add the pizza with its toppings already in place. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 10 minutes over a medium heat; keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn’t burn. Then, remove from the heat and transfer to the oven broiler (or top-down grill), to finish off the toppings with a quick browning (about 5 to 10 minutes). Remove from the broiler and transfer to a cutting board, cut into slices and serve.

Mozzarella is a great pizza cheese but if it doesn’t have enough "zing" or tastiness for you, try sprinkling some Parmesan cheese over the top of the pizza. Doing this will add some sharpness to the cheese flavor profile and it’ll taste great.

If you're following a dairy-free or vegan diet, then you can use vegan or plant-based cheese on top of your pizza. Just be sure to choose one suitable for melting at a high temperature, like Mozzarella substitutes. Or, you could simply let the topping be and not add cheese at all. Other alternatives include crumbling brewer’s yeast over the top, drizzling a creamy dressing or tahini over the pizza, flavored oil, crumbled cauliflower, or refried beans. It pays to experiment when trying to replace cheese, as your own individual preferences will have a lot to do with how good the substitutes for cheese taste.

The cheese is added at the end stage of making the pizza, once all of the toppings are on the pizza base. Add grated cheese (or sometimes small round slices), to ensure even cooking and a good distribution across the whole of the pizza. An exception to this is where you’re using a white sauce, in which case there will cheese in the sauce layer as well as on the top of the pizza.

You can make tomato sauce suitable for a pizza base from a combination of tomato sauce and tomato paste, to which you add herbs and spices. For a recipe that does just this, see How to Make Pizza Sauce . Alternatively, if you have fresh tomatoes, you can make pizza sauce using those, as shown in this recipe: How to Make Pizza from Scratch .

You can grill or bake a pizza, depending on your preference. It is often easier to bake a pizza because you don’t need to set up the barbecue carefully to ensure it bakes evenly and doesn’t burn. However, the effort in setting up is worth it for the crusty base and barbecued flavor. So, really it’s up to you and what you have access to by way of cooking methods; if you can do both, why not try each and see which you like best?

The trick to cooking a frozen pizza on a grill is to avoid placing it over direct heat, or it will burn. Preheat the grill to about 400-450ºF. If it’s a gas grill, only use burners on one side, while for a charcoal grill, place the coals on either side of a drip pan and slide the pan into the center of the grill. Close the lid and keep heating for 10 minutes before checking the temperature is right. Open the pizza and take it out of its packaging. (If you add extra ingredients, make sure they’re the same size as those already on the pizza, for even cooking.) Put the pizza on the center of the grill rack if using the charcoal grill or on the unheated side for the gas grill. Shut the lid and cook for around 10 minutes; after this time, turn it around so the back now faces the front and cook for another 10 minutes but keep checking during this time. Remove as soon as it’s done.

The answer depends on which pizza stone you have. Some pizza stones are made to withstand the heat in a barbecue while other stones may crack and break. Even with pizza stones meant for barbecue use, you’ll need to follow some basic rules, which are: Do not place a wet pizza stone into a hot barbecue; do not cause the stone to heat or cool down too quickly; and do not place the pizza stone straight onto the coals or inside a really hot barbecue. Read the manufacturer’s instructions or contact them to check before using the pizza stone on the barbecue, then you’ll know for sure.

Yes, you can cook pizza on a barbecue, provided you set things up properly. For example, you’ll need a lid and a thermostat (you can add both if your barbecue is missing these) and it’s helpful to add some bricks to ensure even heating across the pizza. The instructions for organizing your barbecue like this are outlined in Part 1 above. As for the pizza itself, use the usual pizza dough you’d normally bake with and be sure to keep all toppings a similar size to ensure they cook evenly. Full instructions for cooking the pizza on the barbecue are provided in Part 3 above.

Absolutely! This is a great way to sharpen the cheese flavor on your pizza and is a common addition to cheesier pizza styles. Just sprinkle a little Parmesan over the top of the standard cheese you’ve already added, making sure to cover the pizza evenly, then bake as usual.

Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp yeast, 1 1/3 tsp sugar, almost 1 cup hot water Instructions: 1. Mix the flour and salt in a bowl very well. 2. Dissolve the sugar and yeast in the cup of hot water, then set aside for 5 mins. 3. When the yeast solution becomes cloudy, make a well in the flour mixture, pour the yeast solution in and mix. 4.Your dough should be firm and elastic. If it's too thick, gradually add water. If it's too thin, add more flour. Knead for 10 minutes. 5. Put in oven at 180 C until top starts "breathing".

Pepperoni, veggies like mushrooms, olives and peppers, extra cheeses and pineapple are good toppings.

Yes it is possible, but you have to make sure that the pizza can fit in the microwave oven comfortably and the results won't be as good as making it on a barbecue.

Yes, pizza can be baked in a conventional oven. You may also use a toaster oven if the pizza is small enough.

It will depend on your oven. I would start at about 550 degrees for 15 minutes, then check every 3 to 5 minutes until it looks the way you would like.

To make a basic pizza dough, dissolve a packet of yeast and 1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar in 1 cup of warm water, add 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and knead in 2 1/4 cups of flour. Let the dough rise for 30 minutes.

The dough would be needed first. If you are preparing the dough from scratch, then flour would be your first ingredient.

Pizza is generally complied of tomato sauce (spaghetti sauce), cheese, meat, and vegetables, but anything can go on a pizza. It depends on what you like. Ketchup, however, doesn't generally go on pizza. You might be confusing it with tomato PASTE, which is used in making tomato sauces and pasta sauces.

Yes. It's called a skillet pizza. There just may be a few different steps to follow.

Once you've finished making the dough and have it rolled out into a circle/square, you want to add a thin layer of sauce. It can be red sauce, white sauce... whatever you like. Use a spoon to drop a few dollops into the middle and swirl outward until the entire surface is covered with sauce. Too little, and it will be a dry pizza. Too much, it will be soggy. Find a good medium. Next, add your favourite pizza toppings and cheese. Bake in your oven until the cheese is melted and the dough's edges are golden brown. Enjoy!

Yes - just keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn; make sure it's all the way done.

You can omit it completely and add other toppings, such as meats and/or vegetables.

That depends on you. Mozzarella cheese works well with people who don't want the pizza to have a lot of cheese-y flavor, but some chewiness/stretchiness. Cheddar or gouda are great for some flavor.

You put the yeast in when you prepare the pizza dough, unless you're using ready-made ones.

With barbecue pizza, pineapple, apple, coconut flakes, are a few that would taste marvelous with this type of pizza.

Follow the instructions on the package, and mix the dough in a mixing bowl using a large fork.

No, a pizza is something that has to be baked. It should not be cooked on a gas stove.