Zucchini blossom and anchovy Pizza (fiori di zucca e alici)

Zucchini blossom and anchovy Pizza. Come with me as I take you to a Roman pizzeria and we order a classic summer pizza: fiori di zucca e alici, zucchini blossoms and anchovies. The sweet and salty combo on a bed of creamy mozzarella will conquer you and win your heart over.

Song of the day: Heaven - Avicii

This pizza is so iconic in Rome, that it can steal the show to the most famous pasta dishes. The combination of zucchini blossoms with mozzarella and anchovies is the same they use to make their famous deep fried fiori di zucca.

Zucchini blossom or squash bloosom

Among the jewels that Summer brings, zucchini or squash blossoms rank high in our books. We wait all winter long, spring, and part of summer for these to arrive. We're quick to ask our local growers how the flowers are coming. Kind of like those kids in the back seat asking "Are we there yet?". However, they have arrived and we already used them in a few recipes.

Wash gently but thorougly the zucchini blossoms under runny water. Remove the pistil inside each one and the stem.

The ingredients

• 1 pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
• 6-8 zucchini blossoms
• mozzarella di bufala (buffalo mozzarella), let it drain to get rid of the excess moisture
• anchovy fillets in olive oil

How to build a Zucchini blossom and anchovy Pizza

• Lightly oil a pizza pan, then place the dough on and spread it with your fingertips from the center outward.
• Add part of the buffalo mozzarella (broken with your hands).

• Add the open zucchini flowers in a circular fashion, next the anchovies, and finally cover with the remaining mozzarella. Drizzle with evo oil, sprinkle with pepper.

• Bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes depending on the oven.
• Remove from the oven, place on a board, slice and enjoy.

Sweet salty crispy cheesy

White pizza is my all-time favorite, and when I say white, I mean without the sauce. Don't let the simplicity of this pizza fool you to think that it lacks flavor. On the contrary, between the sweetness of the zucchini blossoms, the saltiness of the anchovy, and that rich melted buffalo mozzarella, it leaves the taste buds with lots to talk about.

Variations

If you do not like anchovies, add more mozzarella and a stronger cheese. Or, try with prosciutto, speck (a type of cured, lightly smoked ham), or pancetta to recreate that umami. Moreover, we think nice slivers of smoked salmon would work well.

We can't forget the crust. In typical Roman style, we like it thin and crispy on the edges.

A true Roman pizzeria

When we're in Rome, we always make a point of having pizza multiple times. From the location, to the rustic place settings, the antipasti, the pizza and desserts, it is an experience you'll never forget. In the photo, we were at a pizzeria downtown, tucked in an alleyway. Prosciutto e melone was our starter. Dreamy, right?

More recipes with zucchini blossoms?

• Zucchini and zucchini blossom Lasagna bianca
• Deep fried squash blossoms and sage leaves
• Penne with zucchini, blossoms and pesto
• Pizza pesto, zucchini & flowers
• Zucchini Pesto Puff Pastry Tart

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