Pizza Dough “Focaccia” with Edible Flowers

This is one of my favorite cooking hacks. Simply buy pre-made pizza dough and use it to make focaccia. I know it’s not authentic, but if you’re someone like me who eats pizza just for the crust, this is an acceptable offense. 

Use warm-color flowers for this recipe: nasturtiums, marigold, calendula, and violas. The trick is to add the flower petals after the dough has cooked, otherwise they lose their color in the oven. Although the flowers don’t add too much flavor, it’s still a feast for the eyes.

Prep time: 30 minutes
Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1 ball of pre-made pizza dough (typically 16 oz), room temperature

• Olive oil

• Salt

• Edible flower petals (try: nasturtiums, marigold, calendula, and violas)

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Line a baking tray with parchment paper and gently stretch the dough into a rectangular shape so that it fits the tray. Since you’re not making pizza, try to keep the thickness the same throughout (i.e., no need for a crust around the edges). Use your finger tips to dimple the dough. Drizzle olive oil generously over the dough and spread it around so that the dough glistens. Throw on a few pinches of salt. Let it rest for 15 minutes (this is a good time to pluck the flower petals).

Transfer the tray to the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, depending on how crispy you like it. Once baked, remove from oven and set it on the stove top. Sprinkle the flower petals like confetti, gently pressing them into the bread and using the oil to help the petals stick to the surface; be careful not to burn yourself on the pan or the hotly oiled bread. 

Once cooled (but still warm), cut into squares and serve.