Steakhouse Salad Pizza

TGIF, am I right?  Don’t we all agree that Friday is pretty much the best day of the week to shove your face with pizza?  I can probably say that any day of the week is the best day for pizza to face shoving.  In my house, I’m on a constant quest for the perfect pizza crust.  My ultimate goal is to create a pizza crust that duplicates the crust of Mellow Mushroom -- pretty much the best pizza crust I’ve ever tasted (outside of Pizza Sola in Pittsburgh, PA).  I should probably be banned from Mellow Mushroom for accosting the servers for their secret recipe.  {They will not crack!!!}

Anyway, on to today’s recipe!  Out of pure laziness, I used a store bought pizza crust for this one.  I’m not talking about the “pizza crust in a tube” that is sitting next to the cinnamon buns in the refrigerated section of the store.  I’m talking about the ball of fresh dough sitting in bags, usually in the deli section of your grocery store.  This is the stuff that is closest to homemade.  

This pizza is a lovely combination of all things I love in food: meat, cheese, salad, a mean vinaigrette, and of course, crispy pizza dough.  The “sauce” on this pizza is a homemade chunky, creamy blue cheese dressing.  The salad is tangy and crisp and the steak is juicy and succulent.  Pour yourself a big glass of red wine and take this pizza down!  

Steakhouse Salad Pizza

2/3 c. red wine or balsamic vinegar 

3/4 c. extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried basil

2 cloves garlic, minced

Fresh ground black pepper

One (1 1/2-2 lb) bottom sirloin

1 ball prepared pizza dough

1 c. blue cheese dressing

1 package mixed salad greens

1 small red onion, diced

1 small can sliced black olives

Blue Cheese Dressing: 1c. sour cream, juice from 1/2 lemon, 1/4 c. blue cheese crumbles, salt and pepper to taste {this dressing will be quite thick, but it’s perfect to smear on that pizza crust!}

1. Preheat oven to 450 and warm up pizza stone.  Combine vinegar, oregano, basil, garlic and fresh ground black pepper.  Whisk mixture while streaming in olive oil.  Place half of the dressing in a resealable plastic bag and set other half aside.  Add sirloin to plastic bag and turn to coat.  Seal bag and marinate in fridge for 8 hours, turning occasionally.  
2. Preheat grill to 300-350.  Pat sirloin dry and grill 5 minutes on each side over direct heat.  Move to side and cook indirectly for 20 to 30 minutes.  Remove from grill and let stand 10 minutes to rest.  Slice.
3. Spread pizza crust out on pizza stone and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden and crispy.  Remove from oven and spread with blue cheese dressing.  Toss salad greens  with remaining vinaigrette and pile greens on crust.  Top with steak, onions, olives and blue cheese crumbles, if desired.

Hope everyone enjoys and also has a great weekend!  And please, if anyone knows the Mellow Mushroom pizza dough recipe, please pass it along!!!