Name: Skillet Black Grape Pizza with Gorgonzola, Balsamic Caramelized Onions and Walnuts
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 envelope of active dry yeast; 1 tsp sugar; 1 tsp kosher salt; 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 cup hot tap water; 1 tbsp butter; 3 tbsp olive oil, divided; 1 large red onion, cut in half and then sliced; 1/2 tsp kosher salt; 1/4 tsp coarse pepper; 1/4 tsp red chili flakes; 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tsp fresh thyme, crumbled; 1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped; 1 cup Gorgonzola, crumbled (I used a 5 oz package); 2 cups Black grapes, halved; 1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped

I don’t know where my inspiration came from making my new recipe for skillet black grape pizza with gorgonzola, balsamic onions and walnuts came from. I had a bunch of black grapes in the fridge and I’ve been making bread lately and I was craving pizza. Don’t we all crave a slice from time to time?

My method of cooking this pizza in a cast iron skillet tastes just like it came from an Italian pizzeria. In the first place not having a baking stone and I wanted a crispy crust. Therefore a cast iron skillet cooks everything evenly like you get when you eat pizza out or delivery. I have to admit that I don’t remember when I ever made pizza dough before. So I was a bit nervous about it but the cast iron cooking method yielded an Italian pizzeria style pie in 20 minutes from stovetop/oven to table.

raised white vegetable garden bed with fresh thyme and sage growing — I picked some fresh sage and thyme from my garden for the pizza…farm to table fresh!

Grapes in Pizza?

I have to admit that some people might think that my skillet black grape pizza with Gorgonzola, balsamic caramelized onions and walnuts might sound strange. I loved my combination of the balsamic caramelized onions paired with the sweetness of the black grapes in this pizza. In addition of the buttery bite of the Gorgonzola cheese and the crunch of the walnuts was fantastic. I have to admit while I was taking the photos of this pizzeria style pie, I ate three slices.

Meanwhile Patrick was screaming in the background to make him a vegan skillet black grape pizza…yes, hang on, I did plan for that and made extra dough and that’s in the fridge. In conclusion this was a successful day in my Italian pizzeria kitchen even though today was quite a warm spring day and cooking skillet black grape pizza in a 475 degree oven was a bit warm, but hey, I’m a slave to my cravings… “Slave to the Crave!!” baby

skillet black grape pizza with gorgonzola and walnuts in blue cast iron on red and white checkered napkin on wood cutting board — Turn your grapes into pizza…not wine! ha ha, or you could have both

frying pan pizza with gorgonzola and walnuts with fresh thyme garnish in blue cast iron on red and white checkered napkin on wood cutting board

skillet black grape pizza with gorgonzola and walnuts with fresh thyme on wood cutting board red and white checkered napkin with a stack of blue and white floral plates with black marble handled pie server

skillet black grape pizza with gorgonzola and walnuts with fresh thyme on wood cutting board with red and white checkered napkin along side small white marble bowls with walnuts in one and chili pepper flakes in another

Liking this Skillet Black Grape Pizza Recipe and want more? Try these other pizza recipes

skillet black grape pizza with gorgonzola and walnuts with fresh thyme on wood cutting board red and white checkered napkin with a black marbled handled pie server — you won’t be able to resist a second slice…I had 3…that’s 20 extra sit-ups tomorrow! ha, ha…like I could do a sit up, you’re funny Joseph…good times!

skillet black grape pizza pie with gorgonzola and walnuts with fresh thyme on wood cutting board red and white checkered napkin alongside a stack of blue and white grapevine themed plates with black marbled handled pie server and small white marble bowls of walnuts and chili pepper flakes — I’m Sicilian so I Always, have chili pepper flakes on my pizza and my pasta…ALWAYS, I don’t know why, maybe because my dad John does…we a like a spicy life!

a serving of one slice of black grape pizza on a stack of blue and white floral plates

Skillet Black Grape Pizza with Gorgonzola, Balsamic Caramelized Onions and Walnuts

This pizza has the best of both worlds, savory and sweet with a crunch from the toasted walnuts, pour yourself a glass of wine and sit out on the terrace as you enjoy this wine country inspired pie.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword cast iron pizza

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Resting Time 1 hour 11 minutes

Servings 4

Author Joseph Sciascia of Recipe For A Party

Ingredients

Pizza Dough

1 envelope of active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup hot tap water

Pizza Toppings

1 tbsp butter
3 tbsp olive oil, divided
1 large red onion, cut in half and then sliced
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp coarse pepper
1/4 tsp red chili flakes
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp fresh thyme, crumbled
1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
1 cup Gorgonzola, crumbled (I used a 5 oz package)
2 cups Black grapes, halved
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped

Instructions

Pizza dough

Add all the dry ingredients plus the olive oil in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook and while running at low speed add the water and work up the speed to medium until the dough has gathered from the edges of the work bowl to form a ball
If the dough is too sticky add a bit of flour, if too dry, add a bit of water. You want to be able to hand the dough into a smooth large ball shape
Place the dough into a bowl prepped with cooking spray or olive oil, cover with plastic wrap and set on the counter in a warm place for one hour
Take the plastic off and punch the dough a few times and reshape it into a ball again and let rise for another 10 minutes.
This dough will work in a 12 or 14 inch skillet, I had a 12 inch skillet and it made a deep dish style crust.

Caramelizing the onions and assembling the pizza

While the dough is rising, heat the butter and 1 tbsp. olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat; add the onions, salt, pepper and pepper flakes, saute stirring occasionally for 7 minutes
Turn the heat to medium; add the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes, set aside to cool
Preheat the oven to 475 degrees and position the rack to about one shelf up from the middle of the oven
Turn the dough out onto a floured service and roll the dough out in a circle to 12 or 14 inch size
Brush the bottom and sides of a cat iron skillet with 1 tbsp olive oil
Place the dough into the skillet and press down on the bottom and a bit up the sides of the skillet, turning the edges under like a pie, I had a 12 inch skillet, so mine was like a deep dish when cooked
Brush the top of the dough with 1 tbsp of olive oil and sprinkle the thyme and sage over the surface, followed by the onions, Gorgonzola and the grapes.
Sprinkle the top with a pinch of salt and pepper
Place the cast iron pizza on the stove-top over medium/high heat until the bottom of the pizza starts to get golden brown, this took about 5 minutes, lift the edges with a spatula to peek at the bottom to make sure.
Place in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, mine took exactly 15 minutes
Take out of the oven and sprinkle the toasted walnuts evenly over the top and let the pizza rest for 10 minutes before taking out of the skillet and cutting on a cutting board, serves 4

Are you hungry for more pizza recipes besides this skillet black grape pizza? Over at Food & Wine magazine they have an article of 31 Pizza Recipes to Master….these will keep you busy in your own pizzeria style kitchen for sure