Squash Blossom and Pancetta Pizza

Homemade pizza is totally my jam. It’s become a bit of a hobby actually and my boyfriends knows to expect it on Wednesday nights. Why Wednesday – well because that’s farmers market day for me. Well, technically I go Wednesdays and Sundays, but that’s besides the point. I always come home from the farmers market with way too many things for 2 people to actually eat. So I try to stuff as much of it as I can on a pizza for dinner. It just makes sense. (at least to me!) So this past weekend I came with the most beautiful squash blossom. ummm yes. totes obsessed.

They were just begging to be made into a pizza, especially because they only last a few days after being picked, so you’ve got to use there morsels of fabulousness stat!

So, on top of my crust I added, heaps of pepper jack cheese, salty pancetta that I sauteed with the zucchini ends of the squash blossoms and then the edible flowers to finish things off. Then off to the oven it went and about 12 minutes later it was dinner time. The pizza was perfect. The squash blossoms were delicate, the cheese gave the pizza just the kick it needed and the pancetta and sliced zucchini that were cooked together made it a slightly salted bite of heaven!

Squash Blossom and Pancetta Pizza

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 cup water 105 to 115 degrees F
• 3 cups AP flour
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 3 tbsp olive oil divided
• 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
• 4 oz pancetta cubes
• 8 squash blossoms

Instructions

 

• In a large mixer bowl, fitted with a dough hook, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4 cup warm water until the mixture is foamy.
• Once the mixture is foamy, add the flour, salt, 1 tbsp oil and remaining water and mix until the mixture forms a ball. Continue to mix until the dough easily comes away from the sides of the mixing bowl.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and place onto a clean surface. Knead by hand for a few minutes until the dough is smooth. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let it rise for 2 hours.
• Using your fist, deflate the dough in the center and cut it into 2 equal-sized pieces. Form the pieces into 2 balls and place into 2 separate oiled bowls. Cover each bowl with a damp kitchen towel and let rest for 1 hour. Remove the dough and roll into a circle, thickness can vary depending on your preference.
• Preheat oven to 475 degrees
• Detach the zucchini section of the squash blossom. Cut the ends off the zucchini and slices into 1/4 inch pieces and set aside.
• To clean the flower portion of the squash blossom, simply cut off the bottom 1/2 inch of the flower. Remove the insides and dust off if needed. Gently tear each flower into 2 pieces and set aside.
• In a large skillet, saute the pancetta for a few minutes until it starts getting crisp and the fat renders. Add the sliced zucchini and continue to cook until the pancetta is crisp and the zucchini is tender. Remove and set aside.
• Place the pizza dough onto a pizza peel with corn meal so the pizza easily slides off when going into the oven.
• Spread 1 tbsp of olive oil on each of the pizza doughs.
• Add 1 cup of cheese to each pizza and then evenly scatter the pancetta and zucchini mixture on top of the cheese. Lay the squash blossoms on top.
• Slide the pizza from the peel into the pizza stone in the oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the edges of the crust are golden brown. Using the peel, remove from the oven, slice and serve.

Notes

You can totally make your own dough for pizza, but if not either pick up some frozen dough from your local Italian market and let it thaw and then roll out, or pick up a pre-made crust from the grocery store

Also, if you don't have a pizza peel or pizza stone, you can easily place the pizzas on a baking sheet and bake in the oven.