Over the weekend I found myself in a situation with a frozen pizza and no oven to cook it. I’ll explain how I fried it, but here’s a quick side note on grilling a made-from-scratch pizza.

First, before you put any toppings on, put the crust on the grill for about three minutes–basically long enough so it is firm. Remove the crust from grill and flip it over, adding the toppings on this “cooked” side. Put the pizza back on the grill and cook until done.

Now onto frying. You will need a large, non-stick pot with a cover. The pizza should be defrosted but kept in the fridge so it is somewhat firm. Carefully fold the pizza in half (some of the toppings will fall off) as you are essentially constructing a calzone.

Add vegetable oil to the pot, coating the entire surface. I suggest cutting the pizza into strips, which will help it fit into the pot. Turn the stove to medium-low (e.g. 3-4 on a scale of 1-to-10). Once the oil is hot, add the strips of folded pizza and cover the pot.

After about 8-10 minutes, when the bottom crust is browned, flip the strips over. Cover and fry for another 10 or so minutes, checking that the cheese and toppings are cooked thoroughly. Avoid the temptation of increasing the heat, as that will only burn the crust without cooking the toppings.

I will be as bold to say you will enjoy this pizza/calzone more than if it was baked, simply because of the fried crust.