Skillet Pizza

I have been trying out new recipes in my cast iron skillet, and that little baby is perfect for making a crispy personal pan pizza!

I found this recipe in Cook's Country Cook It in Cast Iron, which is a great cookbook for, well, cooking in a cast iron skillet.  I have adapted it for an 8-inch skillet, so bear that in mind that if your skillet is larger.

Skillet Pizza

Yield: one 8-inch pie
Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/6 of pizza dough
2 tablespoons pesto or pizza sauce
2 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4" thick
+ any other toppings

Directions:

1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat the oven to 500ºF.  Grease an 8-inch skillet with 1 tablespoon oil.

2. Working on a lightly floured surface, flatten the dough into a circular disk.  Pick up the disk and begin to move your hands along the edge, as if you are steering a wheel.  The dough will stretch out into a circle.  You can go around several times, but avoid tearing the dough.  Placing the now stretched dough back onto your work surface, continue to press the dough into an 8-inch round.  If using a rolling pin, be sure it is well-floured..  Aim for even thickness throughout the pie.  

3.  Press the dough into the greased skillet.  Add the sauce, cheese, and any other toppings, leaving a 1/2-inch border around edge.

4. Set skillet over medium-high heat and cook until the outside of the dough is set and the pizza starts to puff, about 2-4 minutes.  Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until edge of pizza is golden brown and cheese is melted, 7 to 10 minutes.

5.  Remove skillet from the oven and slide pizza onto cutting board or plate.  Sprinkle on a little extra cheese or freshly ground pepper, slice into 4 pieces, and enjoy!