Big Al Roasted Red Peppers And Fresh Mozzarella Recipes

" BIG AL" - ROASTED RED PEPPERS AND FRESH MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Slice your favorite baguette.
• Douse with a balsamic vinaigrette (however you like your vinaigrette; I like garlic and shallots) Add thinly sliced tomatoes.
• Add a layer of roasted red peppers.
• Add a generous layer of sliced, fresh mozzarella.
• Sprinkle with herbs (thyme is good with this, or oregano) and salt and pepper.
• BIG AL is best when the flavors have had time to meld.
• It is one of the few sandwiches I make or order when eating at a local restaurant.

ARUGULA, MOZZARELLA, ROASTED RED PEPPER AND MINT SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk the olive oil, mayo, vinegar, Dijon, shallot, lemon juice and some salt and pepper together in a small bowl.
• Turn a gas burner on medium-high and cook the whole red pepper directly on the flame, turning occasionally, until charred all over, about 10 minutes. Put the pepper in a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a dish towel. Let stand for 15 minutes to steam, then use the back of a paring knife to remove the skin from the pepper. Remove the stem and seeds, then cut the pepper into thin strips.
• Toss the arugula and mint together in a wide shallow bowl or platter, then arrange the mozzarella and peppers on top. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and serve.

ROASTED RED PEPPER SANDWICHES WITH MOZZARELLA & PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F (broil).
• Line a small baking sheet with foil. Put the pepper on the baking sheet and broil until the skin is beginning to char, using tongs to turn occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and wrap the foil around the pepper. (Use oven mitts!) Let the pepper steam in the foil for 10 minutes.
• Remove the pepper from the foil and transfer it to a cutting board. Peel off the skin, cut off the stem, pull out the seeds, and discard them. Cut the rest of the pepper into thick strips.
• Spread 1 tablespoon of pesto onto the bottoms of the ciabatta bread. Divide the pepper strips onto the bread, then place the mozzarella slices on top of the pepper strips. Top with the remaining slices of bread and brush the tops with olive oil. (If you're going to serve the sandwiches cold, don't brush them with oil-just eat them!)
• Heat a grill pan or griddle over medium heat. Flip the sandwiches over and place them on the grill pan oiled-side down, then brush the other side of the sandwich with oil. Use a spatula to press the sandwiches down slightly, but don't press too hard or you'll have a mess of mozzarella everywhere! Cook 5-8 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.

EASY ROASTED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
• Cut the peppers into quarters. Remove the seeds and the membranes. Roast the peppers until the skin blisters and turns black. Remove from oven and cover with plastic, or a tea towel, or place in a paper bag until cool. The skins should peel away off of the peppers easily when cooled.

MOZZARELLA AND ROASTED RED PEPPER BOO-SCHETTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
• Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet and bake until pale golden, 6 to 12 minutes. Rub tops of slices with cut sides of garlic, then brush each bread slice with oil. Season toasts with salt and pepper and transfer to a wire rack to let cool completely.
• Cut mozzarella crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and trim, if necessary, to fit toasts.
• Stir together pesto and mascarpone in a small bowl. If necessary, thin mixture with a little olive oil or water.
• Dollop 1/2 teaspoon pesto mixture in center of each mozzarella-covered toast, then top each dollop with an olive slice to form the "irises" of the "eyeballs." Add 6 to 8 pepper slices for "veins," trimming to fit.
• Serve within 1 hour of making.

MOZZARELLA AND ROASTED RED PEPPER TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place the bread slices on a baking sheet. Drizzle lightly with half the olive oil.
• Place a small amount of peppers on each slice of bread.
• Top each slice with a fresh mozzarella.
• Salt and pepper the breads to taste and drizzle with the remaining olive oil.
• Cook for 10 - 15 minutes or until cheese begins to brown slightly.
• Serve immeadiately.