Herbed Mozzarella Round Recipes

ROASTED BABY POTATOES WITH HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put the potatoes into a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the herbs, garlic, and oil together until blended, and then pour over the potatoes. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Transfer the potatoes to a heavy large baking dish, spacing them evenly apart.
• Roast the potatoes until they are tender and golden, turning them occasionally with tongs, about 1 hour. Transfer the roasted potatoes to a decorative platter and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and herbes de Provence, if desired. Serve hot or warm.

HERBED BAKED PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Add both cans of the tomatoes and 1 cup of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer rapidly, uncovered, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the ricotta, basil and parsley and season with salt and pepper.
• While the sauce simmers, heat the remaining tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp tender, about 4 minutes. Add the carrots and peas and cook, stirring, just until the carrots start to wilt, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Cook the rigatoni in the salted boiling water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta and add it to the bowl.
• Add the tomato sauce, half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan to the bowl and stir well to combine. Transfer the pasta to a 3- to 4-quart baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, until browned, about 15 minutes. Let the pasta rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

GARLIC AND HERB MOZZARELLA STICKS WITH MARINARA DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 1 inch of oil in a deep pan to 330 degrees F.
• Place the flour in a shallow dish, season with salt and pepper then stir. Beat together the egg with salt and pepper in a second shallow dish. Place the finely crushed garlic and herb pita chips in a third shallow dish. Dip each cheese stick half in flour, shaking off the excess, then in the egg, then repeat the flour and egg. Lastly, dip each in the pita chips, pressing to coat. At this point, freeze for 15 minutes to firm the sticks before frying.
• Combine the marinara, cream and pesto in a small sauce pot. Stir and heat through.
• Fry the mozzarella sticks in the hot oil, turning, until golden brown on all sides, about 30 seconds. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve immediately with the dipping sauce.

PANZANELLA WITH MOZZARELLA AND HERBS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Spread the bread cubes on a rimmed baking sheet and toss with 2 tablespoons oil and a pinch of salt. Bake until they are dried out and pale golden brown at the edges, about 7 to 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
• Cut tomatoes into bite-size pieces and transfer to a large bowl. Add mozzarella, onions, garlic paste, 1 tablespoon vinegar, oregano or thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the red pepper flakes if using. Toss to coat and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar, the mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt and some black pepper to taste. While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in the remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil until the mixture is thickened. Stir in cucumbers, basil and parsley.
• Add bread cubes, cucumber mixture and capers to the tomatoes and toss well. Let sit for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours before serving. Toss with a little more olive oil, vinegar and salt if needed just before serving.

ROUND CHEESE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the biscuit mix, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, oregano, milk and egg (batter will be thick). , Spoon into a greased 9-in. round baking pan. Drizzle with butter; sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese. , Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. Cut into wedges. Serve warm.

MOZZARELLA-STUFFED GARLIC-AND-HERB BREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together flour, yeast, and salt. Make a well in center of mixture; add warm water and 2 tablespoons oil to well. Gradually stir flour mixture into wet mixture to form a ragged dough. Transfer to a floured work surface.
• Knead with floured hands until dough is tacky but no longer sticky and springs back when pressed with a finger, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl drizzled with oil, turning dough to evenly coat. Cover and let proof at room temperature until doubled in volume, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 450°F with a rack in lowest position. Punch down dough, transfer to a lightly floured work surface, and cut in half. Stretch one piece of dough, working outward from center, into an oval, approximately 9 by 13 inches. Brush 2 tablespoons oil onto a rimmed baking sheet. Place dough on sheet; top evenly with mozzarella, leaving a 1-inch border of dough around edges.
• Stretch second piece of dough on floured work surface to roughly same oval shape. Place over mozzarella, gently pressing to remove excess air from between doughs. Fold edge of bottom dough up and over edge of top dough, pinching to seal edges together. Sprinkle top evenly with Parmigiano; drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil.
• Stir together garlic, Italian seasoning, parsley, red-pepper flakes, and sesame seeds; sprinkle evenly over dough. Cut several steam vents in top of dough at 2-inch intervals.
• Bake until dough is golden brown in places and just cooked through, 18 to 20 minutes. (If dough puffs in places while baking, pierce with the tip of a knife to release steam.) Transfer bread from baking sheet to a wire rack and let cool a few minutes. Slice and serve hot, with marinara alongside for dipping.