Squash blossoms. Those glorious golden blooms. Not only beautiful but delicious, too. As a colorful and flavorful garnish. Like you see here on my Squash Blossom, Roasted Tomato & Pesto Pie.
Actually, it’s not so easy to get your hands on them. You may be able to find them at a specialty food store or perhaps at the local farmers’ market. If you’re lucky enough to snag some, they can be stuffed and fried, baked in a frittata, used as a pizza topping or enjoyed raw.
This weekend my son and daughter-in-law surprised me with a container of the most amazing squash blossoms that they found at their local farmers’ market. Or I should say …my two-year-old grandson, Dylan, surprised me with them. He couldn’t wait to present them to me. Such a cutie, that one.
After doing a bit of research online, I decided to use them to top a savory pesto pizza. Thanks to Alison of Two Of A Kind Cooks, I found the perfect recipe for a pie that would showcase my treasures.
I switched it up a bit, but the basic formula is all hers. Please bear with me while I share a few pictures of these beauties.
I think I need to move on from the whole squash blossom thing.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, if preferred.
- Place tomatoes on the prepared baking sheet.
- Drizzle with olive oil.
- Season with salt, pepper and chopped fresh thyme.
- Toss to coat.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Let cool completely before using.
While the tomatoes are roasting, prepare the toppings and roll out the dough. This recipe makes one large pie or two small ones. Choose the size and shape that works for you.
- Preheat your oven to 450°F.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the prepared dough to the desired shape and thickness.
- If the dough is resisting, let it sit for about 5 minutes.
- Transfer to baking sheet or pizza pan lined with parchment paper.
The tomatoes are done when they are blistered and aromatic.
Be sure to let them cool before placing them on the pie. And, by the way, these are so good that you may want to consider doubling the amount of tomatoes that you roast …then save the excess for serving with crostini and cheese. I used a mixture of cherry tomatoes …yellow “sunbursts” and red “glory’s.”
Once the tomatoes are cooled and the toppings are prepped, it’s time to create the most amazing Squash Blossom, Roasted Tomato & Pesto Pie.
- Spread the pesto over the dough in an even layer all the way to the edges.
- Sprinkle the minced garlic over the entire surface.
- Place ciliegine and roasted tomatoes evenly on pizza.
- Sprinkle with Asiago cheese and lay squash blossoms over the top.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden.
- Garnish with fresh herbs.
- Serve immediately.
squash blossom, roasted tomato & pesto pie
Adapted from Two Of A Kind Cooks
Ingredients
For the tomatoes
- 16 ounces cherry tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, plus more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the pizza
- 16 ounces prepared pizza dough
- 1/2 cup basil pesto (about 4.5 ounces)
- 1 garlic clove, minced or grated
- 18 to 20 ciliegine (small mozzarella balls), halved (about 6.5 ounces)
- 1 cup grated Asiago cheese (about 4 ounces)
- 8 to 10 squash blossoms
- chopped fresh oregano, for garnish
Instructions
For the tomatoes
-
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, if preferred.
-
Place tomatoes on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper and chopped thyme; toss to coat.
-
Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before using.
For the pizza
-
Preheat oven to 450°F.
-
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the prepared dough to the desired shape and thickness. (If the dough is resisting, let it sit for about 5 minutes.) Transfer to baking sheet or pizza pan lined with parchment paper.
-
Spread pesto over the dough in an even layer all the way to the edges and then sprinkle with garlic.
-
Place ciliegine and roasted tomatoes evenly on pizza. Sprinkle with Asiago cheese and lay squash blossoms over the top. Season with salt and pepper.
-
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden. Garnish with fresh herbs. Serve immediately.
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