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Zucchini and Olive Pizza

In this country pizza is synonymous with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. In some parts of Italy, and especially in Rome, where I grew up, sauce and cheese are generally an either-or proposition, as in this veggie-centric version topped with both mozzarella and sharp pecorino but no sauce. I consider this the perfect item for an evening of playing poker (yes, I do like to play poker); it’s easy to eat with your hands, and it will satisfy vegetarians and meat-lovers alike because the olives make it meaty and substantial.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

All-purpose flour, for dusting
1 pound pizza dough, thawed if frozen
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 large (8-ounce) zucchini, trimmed and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano leaves
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup (2 1/2 ounces) grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1/2 cup pitted black olives, sliced

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 450°F.

    Step 2

    On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. With a pastry brush, brush the 1 tablespoon olive oil over the dough. Using the tines of a fork, prick the dough all over.

    Step 3

    Arrange the zucchini slices in a single layer on top of the dough. Drizzle the zucchini with olive oil. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Sprinkle the pizza with 1 tablespoon of oregano, the cheeses, and the olives. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheeses are melted and bubbly.

    Step 4

    Sprinkle the pizza with the remaining oregano, cut into wedges, and serve.

Giada at Home by Giada De Laurentiis. Copyright © 2010 by Giada De Laurentiis. Published by the Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. Giada De Laurentiis is the star of Food Network's Everyday Italian and Behind the Bash. She attended the Cordon Bleu in Paris, and then worked in a variety of Los Angeles restaurants, including Wolfgang Puck's Spago, before starting her own catering and private-chef company, GDL Foods. The granddaughter of movie producer Dino De Laurentiis, Giada was born in Rome and grew up in Los Angeles, where she now lives.
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