Description
This Zucchini Flower Pizza features a delightful combination of fresh zucchini blossoms stuffed with a savory goat cheese mixture atop a crispy, golden pizza crust loaded with mozzarella and fragrant herbs. Perfect for a unique and elegant homemade pizza experience, this recipe blends fresh garden flavors with classic Italian ingredients in a quick 25-minute bake.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base
- 1 pizza dough (enough for a 12-inch pizza)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (divided)
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
Cheese Filling
- 2 ounces goat cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Toppings
- 6 zucchini flowers
- Optional: fresh herbs such as sage, thyme, or lemon thyme
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven now to heat up for a crispier crust.
- Prepare the dough: Stretch your pizza dough into a 12-inch diameter circle. Place the stretched dough on the heated pizza stone or a baking sheet if you don’t have one.
- Add olive oil and cheeses: Brush the pizza dough evenly with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Spread the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the dough. Then sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt, dried oregano, and granulated garlic to season.
- Initial bake: Bake the pizza in the oven for 10 minutes, allowing the crust to start crisping and the cheese to melt.
- Make the goat cheese filling: While the pizza bakes, mix the goat cheese with the chopped fresh basil and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt in a small bowl until well combined.
- Prepare zucchini flowers: Carefully remove the stamens or pistils from the zucchini blossoms to avoid bitterness. Then stuff each zucchini flower with small spoonfuls of the goat cheese and basil mixture.
- Top the pizza and finish baking: Once the initial 10 minutes of baking is done, carefully place the stuffed zucchini flowers on top of the pizza. Bake for an additional 5 minutes until the flowers are tender and heated through.
- Final touches and serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and garnish with optional fresh herbs such as sage, thyme, or lemon thyme if desired. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Be gentle when handling zucchini flowers as they are very delicate.
- If you don’t have a pizza stone, use a heavy baking sheet but preheat it in the oven for a better crust.
- The stuffing can be adjusted by adding herbs or spices to taste.
- For a crispier crust, pre-bake the dough for 5 minutes before adding toppings.
- Zucchini flowers are seasonal; if unavailable, try substituting with thinly sliced zucchini or edible flowers.
