Thursday, April 30, 2009

Grilled Flatbread



Last year it was grilled pizza that we loved.

This year we're loving grilled flatbread.

Not to split hairs (especially around food) but there is a difference.

When we grilled pizza, we would grill one side of the dough, flip it and madly add our toppings as we stood over the hot grill.

When we grill flatbread, we grill both sides of the dough, remove the flatbread from the grill and THEN add the toppings. Much more conducive to family harmony around the barbecue. And to getting the dough cooked through....

So I was still working on the leftover ricotta I had purchased to make my Easter Cannoli. I added some garlic to the ricotta, caramelized some onions and mushrooms, grated some parmesan and then layered the toppings on the grilled flatbread: A nice thick shmear (is that a word?) of garlic ricotta, the onions and mushrooms, some parmesan and a layer of chopped arugula.

And let me tell you it was fantastic. Much credit goes to my Honey, the Grill Master, who got the flatbread nice and crispy.

Sorry I don't have the ingredients measured out for you...I'm not a measuring sort of cook, more like some of this and some of that, but this is not really an exact type of recipe. In fact, you can even think of it as a "clean out the fridge" sort of recipe!

All you need is some bread dough from your local pizza place (they will have it at your market too - I like to buy mine from a nearby Italian bakery). Let it sit out on your counter to rise; punch down and divide into two pieces. Roll or throw (for you professionals) until the dough is nice and thin. The shape is not important; I actually prefer it to be rather misshapen and rustic. In fact, this is soooo easy that my stroke-impaired-one-handed Honey does this step....so step back and let your kids get involved!

Choose any toppings that you like. It can be as simple as ricotta topped with sliced tomatoes and basil or as complex as a horseradish cream topped with slices of rare roast beef and argula or cream cheese topped with smoked salmon, capers, dill and a squeeze of lemon juice. Or how about hummus topped with chopped kalamata olives, tomato and parsley?

I think we'll be eating grilled flatbread a lot this summer......

8 comments:

grammy said...

I do want to try that. Bread seems to be one of my danger foods. If I have some I want MORE. I will have to do it with company so they will consume it all and there wont be leftovers for me. I never thought of grilling something like that.

Courtney said...

okay, you have the best, mouth watering recipes/food posts. I just read in living about making your own pizzas and my brother-in-law loves to grill his crust. We must try it this summer.

Chris said...

Oh my gosh, you're making me hungry. Sounds so good!

Irene said...

Easy and light cooking is perfect for summer. You may also want to try a variation of the Italian bruschetta that my mum used to do. Slice some bread, drizzle with olive oil, rub some garlic and tomato on one side, then add oregano and salt to taste. Grill and enjoy!

carrhop said...

You're inspiring me! Can't wait to try this out!

Blessings!

Scribbit said...

Oh you've got me convinced--I've never grilled pizza though so this sounds much easier.

heidi @ ggip said...

MmmM. WHen we get a new grill (the old one died) I might have to convince my husband to try this. It sounds completely wonderful!

SnoWhite said...

that looks really tasty!