Zucchini Pesto Pizza Food

GRILLED ZUCCHINI & PESTO PIZZA

Steps:

• Over each naan, spread 2 tablespoons pesto; top with 1/2 cup mozzarella and one-fourth of the zucchini, onion and salami., Grill, covered, over medium-low heat until mozzarella has melted and vegetables are tender, 4-6 minutes. Rotate naan halfway through grilling for evenly browned crust., Remove from heat. Top each naan with basil and Romano; cut into thirds.

ZUCCHINI PIZZA WITH BASIL MINT PESTO

Steps:

• For the pizza dough: Mix together the flour, salt and yeast in a bowl, then stir in 350 grams (1 1/2 cups) water until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and put it down for an 18- to 24-hour nap at room temperature until it's doubled in sized and bubbling.
• For the pizza toppings: Preheat the grill with a pizza stone over medium-high heat. (If you don't have a pizza stone, you can use a baking sheet.)
• Combine the pine nuts, garlic, basil, mint, crushed red pepper, juice of half a lemon, 1/4 teaspoon salt, a few turns of black pepper and the Parmesan in a food processor and pulse to a coarse crumb. With the processor running, drizzle in the olive oil and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired.
• Divide the pizza dough in half. On a floured pizza peel or baking sheet, flatten out one half of the dough into a 10- to 11-inch round. Spread with a thin layer of the pesto and top with half of the mozzarella. Bring it out to the grill. Grill the zucchini and remaining lemon half on the grates until charred, a few minutes. Add half the zucchini to the pizza and slide it onto the pizza stone. Close the grill and cook until the bottom is browned and cheese is melty, 6 to 9 minutes. Drizzle with more pesto, squeeze with juice from the charred lemon and add more Parmesan, crushed red pepper and basil and serve.
• Repeat with the other half of the pizza dough and ingredients.

ZUCCHINI-PESTO PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Brush large cookie sheet or pizza stone with oil. Place crust on prepared pan.
• Seed and slice tomatoes and place on a towel. Sprinkle with salt and let stand 10 minutes. (I skipped the salt on tomatoes--it's salty enough to me without).
• Spread pesto on crust. Blot tomatoes and place on pesto.
• Top with thinly sliced zucchini and summer squash, remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, grated Pecorino cheese, and pepper.
• Bake 15 minutes or until zucchini is tender. Grate peel of lemon over pizza. Top with fresh mint leaves, chopped.

ARUGULA PESTO PIZZA WITH ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Place a pizza stone or inverted rimmed baking sheet on the lower oven rack and preheat to 500 degrees F. Make the pesto: Lightly toast the hazelnuts in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes; let cool. Transfer to a food processor and add the arugula, parsley, garlic and capers; pulse until almost smooth. With the motor running, gradually add the olive oil and process until combined. Add the parmesan and pulse to combine; add 2 tablespoons water to loosen. Season with salt and pepper.
• Assemble the pizza: Keep the prebaked crust on the baking sheet. Spread with the pesto and top with the mozzarella. Arrange the zucchini in overlapping rows on top. Sprinkle with the parmesan and drizzle with the olive oil. Transfer the baking sheet to the hot pizza stone and bake until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with basil; season with salt and pepper.
• Combine the flour, salt and yeast in a large bowl. Stir in 2 cups warm water (about 105 degrees F) and 2 tablespoons olive oil with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until the dough rises slightly, about 1 hour.
• Using lightly floured hands, transfer the dough to a generously floured surface and knead several times until it just starts becoming smooth and elastic, about 1 minute (do not over-knead). Transfer to a lightly oiled large bowl. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled in size, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, place a pizza stone or inverted rimmed baking sheet on the lower oven rack and preheat to 500 degrees F.
• Brush two rimmed 13-by-18-inch baking sheets (not nonstick) with 3 tablespoons olive oil each. Place one piece of dough on each baking sheet. Prepare the pizzas one at a time: Cover the dough with plastic wrap, then press firmly with your hands to fill the baking
• Remove the plastic wrap and transfer the baking sheet to the hot pizza stone. Bake until the crust starts browning, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and carefully loosen the crust from the pan using a spatula. Top and bake, or let cool, lightly wrap in plastic and set aside up to 8 hours.