Miniature Olive Focaccias With Marinated Peppers Recipes

MINIATURE OLIVE FOCACCIAS WITH MARINATED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Make tomato paste:
• In a small food processor purée tomatoes, reserved tablespoon oil, pine nuts, and Parmesan until smooth. Tomato paste may be make 1 week ahead and chilled, covered.
• Prepare Peppers:
• Broiler method:
• Preheat broiler. Quarter peppers lengthwise, discarding stems, seeds, and ribs. Put peppers,skin sides up, on rack of a broiler pan and broil about 2 inches from heat until skins ate blistered and charred, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer peppers to a bowl and let stand, covered, until cool enough to handle. Peel peppers.
• Gas stove method:
• Lay whole peppers, on their sides, on racks of burners (preferably 1 to a burner) and turn flame on high. Char peppers, turning them with tongs, until skin are blackened, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer peppers to a bowl and let stand, covered, until cool enough to handle. Peel peppers. Cut off tops and discard seeds and ribs.
• Cut roasted peppers into 1-inch-long thin strips. In a small bowl stir together peppers, garlic, oil, and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Marinate peppers at room temperature, covered, at least 3 hours. Peppers may be prepared 1 week ahead and chilled, covered.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. and lightly oil 2 large baking sheets.
• On a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin roll out dough into a 16-inch round (1/8 inch thick). Cut out 36 rounds with a 1 1/2-inch round cutter and arrange 1 inch apart on baking sheets. Spoon about 3/4 teaspoon tomato paste onto each round and top with about 12 tablespoon marinated peppers. Sprinkle hors d'oeuvres with thyme.
• Bake hors d'oeuvres in batches in middle of oven 16 minutes, or until rounds are pale golden, and cool on a rack. Hors d'oeuvres may be made 1 day ahead, cooled completely, and chilled, covered, or 1 month ahead and frozen. Bring hors d'oeuvres to room temperature and heat in a 300°F. oven 10 minutes before serving.

OLIVE FOCACCIA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and 1 cup flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, peppers, olives and parsley., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 50 minutes., Punch dough down. Shape into a 9-in. circle on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 25 minutes. With fingertips, make several dimples over top of dough. Brush with oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt and cheeses., Bake at 400° until golden brown, 14-18 minutes. Remove to a wire rack.

OLIVE FOCACCIA DOUGH

Steps:

• In bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with dough hook stir together water, yeast, and sugar and let stand 5 minutes, or until foamy. Stir in 2 1/4 cups flour, salt, pepper, oil, and olives and knead dough, scraping down dough hook occasionally and adding enough of remaining 1/4 cup flour to form a soft, slightly sticky dough, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat, and let rise, covered with plastic wrap, in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes. Dough may be made 1 day ahead and chilled in bowl, covered with plastic wrap.