Antipasto Loaf Recipes

ANTIPASTO

Steps:

• In a large bowl with enough lightly salted water to cover, place the cauliflower, pearl onions, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, celery and cucumbers. Soak 8 to 12 hours, or overnight.
• In a small bowl with enough lightly salted water to cover, place the carrots. Soak 8 to 12 hours, or overnight.
• In a large saucepan, place the vegetable oil, vinegar, tomato paste and pickling spice. Bring the mixture to a boil. Drain and rinse the carrots, and place them in the mixture. Boil 10 minutes.
• Drain and rinse the vegetables in the cauliflower mixture. Place them into the saucepan. Cook 10 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender but crisp.
• Stir black olives, green olives, mushrooms and tuna into the mixture. Remove the mixture from heat. Discard the wrapped pickling spice. While still hot, transfer to sterile containers and refrigerate.

CHRISTMAS APPETISER: ITALIAN CHEESE LOAF

Steps:

• Spray a loaf pan with oil then line with cling wrap with overhang.
• Mix Cheese Log ingredients together. Taste and adjust salt if needed (bear in mind saltiness of crackers you are serving with).
• Scrape into loaf pan and level surface, pressing to remove air pockets. Smaller pan = taller loaf.
• Cover with cling wrap overhang and refrigerate for 4 hours+ (up to 1 week).
• Turn out onto platter, peel off cling wrap.
• Top with sun dried tomato and pour over oil. Garnish with parsley and rosemary sprigs to give it a festive look.
• Best to serve closer to room temp than fridge cold. Serve with crackers! Knives for smearing optional - it's soft enough to scoop with crackers.

ANTIPASTO LOAF

Steps:

• Cut baguette lengthwise in half. Remove soft insides from both bread halves. (Reserve removed bread for another use.)
• Mix cream cheese spread and pesto; spread onto insides of bread shells. Fill with tomatoes, artichokes, Parmesan and spinach.
• Reassemble baguette; wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.

ANTIPASTO BREAD

Steps:

• Core and seed peppers and cut lengthwise into 1/4" strips.
• Heat oil in large skillet, add peppers, and saute over medium heat til just tender.
• Drain on papertowels.
• Line baking sheets with foil.
• On lightly floured surface, roll out one loaf bread dough into a 14" x 8" rectangle.
• (Dough shrinks, so let it relax and re-roll til it stays in shape.).
• Brush dough with beaten egg.
• Using half of the cheese and half of the salami, layer on cheese first, then salami, leaving a slight edge of dough all the way around.
• Sprinkle with half of the black olives.
• Place half of the peppers down along long edge, not all over.
• Sprinkle whole top lightly with oregano.
• Stretch long edge over the peppers, and continue rolling securely, jellyroll-style.
• Pinch/seal edge and ends.
• Place bread diagonally on baking sheet.
• Repeat all with second loaf.
• Cover loaves loosely with a lightly damp cloth towel and let rise in warm place for 30-45 minutes.
• Heat oven to 350.
• Brush loaves with egg.
• Make 6-7 slashes on top of each loaf.
• Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
• Bake 25-30 minutes.
• Serve warm or cold.

ANTIPASTO LOAF

Steps:

• CUT baguette in half horizontally; remove bread from centre of each half, leaving 1-inch-thick shells. Reserve removed bread for another use.
• MIX cream cheese spread and pesto until well blended. Spread evenly on bottom of both baguette halves.
• TOP bottom half of baguette with tomatoes, artichokes, Parmesan cheese and spinach. Cover with second baguette half; press together firmly. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to serve or up to 24 hours. Cut into 25 slices to serve.

STUFFED ITALIAN ANTIPASTO

Steps:

• Cut a 6 inch diameter hole in the top of the bread and reserve top. Remove all but a 3/4 inch shell of the inside of the bread (save inside of bread for another use, like feeding the ducks at the park!) Begin assembling the stuffed sandwhich: Divide the provalone cheese into thirds. Place one third along the bottom and sides of the inside of the bread. Next, place half of the salami, half of the hot cappicola, half of the proscuitto, and half of the sopressata. Top with half of the roasted peppers and half of the marinated artichoke. Top with another third of provalone cheese. Repeat layering with the rest of the meats in the same order and then the rest of the roasted peppers and artichokes. Finish up with the last of the provalone. Make the dressing: Mix the garlic, oregano, salt & pepper into the balsamic vinegar and slowly whisk in the extra virgin olive oil until the dressing emulsifies somewhat. Immediately pour dressing over the top of the sandwich and then tilt sandwich back and forth to allow dressing to cover the meats and settle around the inside of the bread. Place top of bread back on the sandwich, wrap the entire sandwich tightly in double thickness of aluminum foil and place in refrigerator overnight for the bread to soak up the dressing and for the flavors to develop. When ready to serve, slice like a pie into 8 slices.

HOMEMADE ANTIPASTO BREAD

Steps:

• Add 1 cup of warm water and the sugar in a measuring cup, stir to dissolve.
• Add in the packet of yeast and stir to dissolve. Allow to activate for about 10-15 minutes. It will foam and increase in size so allow for growing space in your measuring cup.
• On a clean surface, make a mound with the flour and sprinkle with the salt. Form a well in the center of the mound.
• Drizzle the olive oil into the well and carefully pour in the activated yeast.
• Slowly work the flour into the liquid with your hands.
• Begin to knead the dough, adding a little bit of water as you go {up to 1/2 cup of warm water}.
• Knead the dough until it is well combined, elastic and slightly shiny; about 5 minutes. Flour lightly as needed to prevent sticking to the work surface.
• Form the dough into a ball and place into a large bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow it to rise in a warm place.
• Allow to rise for 2-3 hours. It should more then double in size.
• Preheat over to 450 degrees. If you have a pizza stone, preheat the oven with the stone in there.
• Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, form a large rectangle about 1/2 an inch thick {approx 18 inches long by 10 inches wide}.
• Layer the shredded mozzarella on top, leaving an inch border around the edge clear. Top with the remaining filling ingredients distributing evenly over the cheese.
• Starting with the long edge, begin the roll the bread up. After a roll or two, go ahead and fold the short side over slightly {this seals the ends of the bread}.
• Continue to roll the long side of the dough until you reach the end. Cut a few slits in the top of the bread to allow steam to escape.
• If using a pizza stone, place the bread onto a lightly floured pizza peel seam side down then carefully onto the hot stone. If not using a stone then place the bread seam side down onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 25- 30 minutes until golden. Rotate the bread around halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.
• Allow the bread to rest about 10 minutes before slicing.

VEGETABLE ANTIPASTO STUFFED BREAD

Steps:

• Cut the top off a loaf of crusty bread. Hollow out the inside of the bread.
• Mix chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chopped olives and store bought or homemade pesto sauce. Spread the mixture evenly across the bottom of the hollowed out bread. Layer the cheese into the loaf. Layer the roasted red peppers on top of the cheese. Coarsely chop the drained artichoke hearts and add them in a layer over the red peppers. Sprinkle in the chopped hot pickled vegetables and drizzle some extra-virgin olive oil on top. Replace the top, cut the stuffed loaf into pieces and serve.