Fennel Pita Toasts Recipes

TOASTED PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut each pita bread in quarters and each quarter in half to make 8 triangles. Place them in a single layer on a sheet pan and sprinkle lightly with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake for about 10 minutes, until crisp, turning once.

TOMATO-FENNEL SOUP WITH BRIE TOASTS

Steps:

• Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add fennel, onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss to combine. Reduce heat to medium-low. Partly cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in garlic and chile powder; cook 1 minute. Stir in Pernod and cook until almost completely evaporated, about 3 minutes.
• Pour in tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and the stock. Bring to a simmer and cook gently, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the black pepper. Purée soup in batches using a blender or immersion blender until smooth.
• Transfer soup back to pot over medium heat; simmer until slightly thickened, 5 to 10 minutes more. Scrape down sides and bottom of pot occasionally. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread bread slices on a large baking sheet. Bake until light golden, about 10 minutes.
• Toast fennel seeds in a small skillet over medium heat until fragrant and lightly colored, 2 to 3 minutes. Melt in remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
• Adjust oven temperature to broil and position rack 6 inches from heat. Brush toasts with fennel-seed butter and top with Brie. Return to oven and broil until bubbly and golden, 1 to 3 minutes (check every minute or so to see that they are not burning). Ladle soup into bowls and top with a cheese crouton. Garnish with fennel fronds.

CURRIED SMOKED TROUT TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the red onion, jalapeño, garlic and curry powder and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring, until they begin to lose their shape, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the smoked trout and season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange the bread slices on a baking sheet and brush both sides with vegetable oil (use 1 tablespoon oil per slice); season with salt and pepper. Broil the bread, turning once, until toasted, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir half of the herbs into the trout mixture, then spoon onto the toasts. Toss the fennel with the remaining chopped herbs, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, the fennel fronds and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Serve with the toasts.

ROASTED FENNEL WITH PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Remove the stems of the fennel and slice the bulb in half lengthwise. With the cut side down, slice the bulb vertically into 1/2-inch-thick slices, cutting right through the core. Spread the fennel slices on a baking sheet, coat with olive oil, salt, and pepper and toss with your hands.
• Roast the fennel slices for about 1 hour, turning them once after 30 minutes, until the edges are crisp and brown. Remove from the oven and cover with Parmesan shavings. Taste for salt and pepper and serve.

ROASTED FENNEL WITH PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Lightly oil the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Arrange the fennel in the dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then with the Parmesan. Drizzle with the oil. Bake until the fennel is fork-tender and the top is golden brown, about 45 minutes. Chop enough fennel fronds to equal 2 teaspoons, then sprinkle over the roasted fennel and serve.

PITA TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375° F.
• Halve pitas horizontally to form 8 rounds and lightly brush rough sides with oil. Season pitas with salt and cut each round into 6 wedges.
• Arrange wedges in one layer on 2 baking sheets and bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Cool toasts. Toasts may be made 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.

GARLIC-HERB PITA TOASTS

Steps:

• Cooks Tip: For the best results, use a baking sheet that is not too dark for this recipe; otherwise, watch the pita bread carefully as it burns easily.
• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Separate each pita quarter into 2 pieces.
• Arrange in a single layer, rough side up, on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Brush evenly with the oil.
• In a small bowl, combine the parsley, chives, and garlic.
• Using your fingers, distribute the herb mixture evenly over the pita quarters.
• Sprinkle evenly with coarse salt.
• Bake on the top rack of the oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the pita quarters are nicely toasted.

FENNEL PITA TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• On a cutting board with side of a knife lightly crush fennel seeds. Brush top of pita with oil and sprinkle with crushed fennel and coarse salt. On a baking sheet bake pita in middle of oven until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes.
• Cut pita into 4 wedges.