Squash And Ricotta Pizza Recipes

MARINATED SUMMER SQUASH WITH HAZELNUTS AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Toss squash and 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt in a colander; set over a bowl. Let sit 10 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels.
• Toss hazelnuts and 1 Tbsp. oil on a rimmed baking sheet and roast, shaking occasionally, until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Let cool; crush into large pieces with a measuring cup or glass.
• Smack 3 mint sprigs against your cutting board a few times to release their flavor; mix in a large bowl with garlic, vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes, and 2 Tbsp. oil; set dressing aside.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high until shimmering. Arrange squash cut side down in skillet, breaking into smaller pieces if needed in order to fit in a single layer, and cook, moving around in pan to ensure even browning, until golden brown on cut side, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover (if you don't have a lid use a baking sheet), and continue to cook until very tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool slightly.
• Cut squash into 2" pieces and toss in reserved dressing to coat; season with kosher salt and black pepper. Let sit at room temperature, tossing occasionally, 15 minutes. Pluck out mint sprigs; discard.
• Meanwhile, zest lemon half into a small bowl, mix in ricotta and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil; season with kosher salt. Hang on to that lemon.
• Spread lemon ricotta over platter. Top with squash and their juices. Squeeze reserved lemon over. Pull leaves from remaining mint sprigs (you want about 1/4 cup). Scatter mint and hazelnuts over squash. Drizzle generously with oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Serve with toast.

RICOTTA AND TOMATO PIZZAS

Steps:

• To make the dough: Stir the water, oil, and sugar in a liquid measuring cup until the sugar dissolves. Sprinkle the yeast over the surface over the liquid and set aside without stirring until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk flour, cornmeal, and salt in a large bowl, make a well in the center, and add yeast mixture. With a wooden spoon or your hand, gradually stir flour into liquid to make a rough dough. Pull dough together into a ball. Turn onto a work surface dusted with flour. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 to 6 minutes, using a little flour if necessary to keep it from sticking. Shape dough into a ball.
• Brush a large bowl with oil and turn dough around in bowl to coat lightly. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap, trace a circle the size of the dough on the plastic, and note the time -- let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Turn dough onto a work surface; knead briefly to release excess air, re-shape into a ball and return to the bowl. Cover, and let rise until soft and puffy, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile prepare your topping: Grate the tomatoes on the large holes of a box grater into a large bowl. If very juicy, drain lightly in a strainer. Sprinkle the garlic with the salt and mash and smear the garlic into a paste with the side of a chef's knife. Add to the drained tomatoes. Whisk in the olive oil and season with the salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Divide dough in half. Form dough into rounds (see How-to pictures). Press dough into cornmeal, flipping to dust both sides. Hold dough up like a steering wheel and rotate and stretch it to make a thin disk. Lightly brush a pizza screen or crisper with oil and place round on top. Spread half the tomato over the top and bake until crust is golden and crisp, about 15 minutes. Remove pizza from the oven and drop spoonfuls of ricotta on top. Scatter the fresh herbs and serve. Repeat with remaining pizza.

WHITE PIZZA WITH SHAVED VEGETABLES AND PESTO

Steps:

• Place a rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 500°F. Drain ricotta in a paper towel-lined colander.
• Gently stretch dough to a 16x12" oval and transfer to a lightly oiled rimmed baking sheet. (If dough springs back, cover with plastic wrap and let rest 10 minutes, then stretch again, resting as needed.) Brush with 1 Tbsp. oil, then bake until dry and golden, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss zucchini, leeks, asparagus, peas, salt, and 1 Tbsp. oil in a medium bowl. Whisk ricotta, mozzarella, pesto, garlic, and lemon zest in another medium bowl until smooth.
• Spread ricotta mixture over dough, then arrange vegetables over. Bake pizza, rotating pan halfway through, until cheese is melted, vegetables are roasted and tender, and crust is golden brown, 7-9 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss watercress and basil with remaining 1 tsp. oil. Remove baking sheet from oven, then transfer pizza with a pizza peel or offset spatula to wire rack. Top pizza with watercress mixture, Pecorino, and pistachios. Let cool slightly, then cut into wedges and serve.

RICOTTA PIZZA

Steps:

• Place red pepper over gas flame or under broiler; roast, turning as needed, until charred on all sides. Remove from heat, and place in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap for about 10 minutes. Using a paper towel, remove charred skin. Remove stem and seeds, cut into 3/4-inch pieces, and set aside.
• Place a pizza stone in the oven; heat to 400 degrees. Place 3/4 cup warm water in a medium bowl; sprinkle with yeast. Allow to sit until yeast begins to foam, about 5 minutes. Add 2 cups flour, salt, and black pepper; work with your hands to form dough. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap; set aside.
• Heat a large saute pan coated with olive-oil cooking spray over medium-low heat. Add garlic and shallots; cover. Saute until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add anchovy fillets; cook about 2 minutes. Add artichokes; cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Stir in thyme and reserved red pepper; remove from heat. Place ricotta in a bowl; stir in parsley.
• Divide dough into three pieces. Cover two with plastic wrap; set aside. Place the third piece on a clean work surface dusted with 1 tablespoon flour. Roll dough out to a 6-by-12-inch rectangle. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon cornmeal on a pizzapeel; place rolled dough on top. Arrange one-third of artichoke mixture on dough; using one-third of the ricotta mixture, drop teaspoonsful onto dough. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Transfer to pizza stone; bake until dough is golden brown and crisp, about 10 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough and toppings. Serve.

SUMMER SQUASH 'PASTA' WITH RICOTTA

Steps:

• Using a vegetable peeler, peel one strip off of the first squash, lengthwise. Discard first strip (since it's all skin). Rotating the squash, continue peeling the squash so each strip has a thin sliver of skin. Once there is no skin left, use the peeler to slice around the remainder of the squash until you hit the seeds. Repeat with other two squashes.
• In a large pan over medium heat, heat enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Once the garlic starts to turn golden, add the slivers of squash and a dash of salt and pepper. Using tongs, toss to coat and drizzle a little more oil if the squash looks dry. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the slivers start to wilt. At this point, add the tomatoes and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
• Remove the pan from heat and immediately stir in ricotta and fresh basil. Use the tongs to work the ricotta into a sauce, ensuring each strand of squash is coated.
• Serve immediately or at room temperature.