Time to squash summer with pizza

The summer squash plants in my garden are finally producing fruit and our local farmers markets are fully stocked with them. I love to use zucchini and squash in breakfast casseroles and salads, but most of all, I like to use them on pizza. You’ll really enjoy this pizza recipe. The combination of zucchini, ricotta and thyme is just scrumptious. If you don’t have time to make your own pizza dough, pick up a bag of ready-made dough at the grocery store, the pizza is going to be just as delicious.

Summer squash and ricotta pizza

Makes one pizza

Pizza Dough

2 1/2 cups flour

3/4 tsp salt

1 tsp yeast

1 tbsp olive oil

3/4 cup cold water

Place the flour, salt, yeast and olive oil into a stand mixer. Use a dough hook to mix the dough while slowly pouring in half a cup of water. Let the dough hook knead the dough until a ball starts to form. Add a little water at a time, as needed to form the ball. Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for five minutes. Divide the dough into two pieces and shape each into a disk. Place each disk in a half-gallon Ziploc bag and place them into the fridge until ready to use. Use the dough within two days.

Pizza Fixins

2 tbs olive oil

1 cup ricotta cheese

3 tbs fresh thyme

2 garlic cloves, minced

salt

2-3 summer squash or zucchini, shaved thin

1/2 red onion, shaved thin

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

10 basil leaves, sliced

freshly cracked pepper

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Roll out your pizza dough and place it on a pizza stone or lightly oiled baking sheet. Brush the pizza dough with olive oil, then top with the ricotta cheese, spread evenly. Sprinkle on the thyme, garlic and salt. Follow with the onions and zucchini, then cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle the top of the pizza with the parmesan cheese. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the crust starts to brown. Top the pizza with fresh basil and cracked pepper before serving and enjoy!

Chef Arica Davis – Yummy Fixins, Personal Chef Services and Pasta Parties. Visit www.yummyfixins.com or call 530-539-4504 to book your next dinner party. Let me do the cooking for you!