Italian Pepper And Fennel Antipasto Recipes

ROASTED VEGETABLE ANTIPASTO

Steps:

• Boil the onions for 2 minutes. (Note: if using tiny pearl onions boil for only 1 minute) Meanwhile prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with water and ice. Transfer the onions to the ice bath with a slotted spoon and leave them to cool for 5-10 minutes. Transfer cooled onions to a cutting board. Slice off their root ends and give them a squeeze towards the top. They should pop right out of their skins. If you have trouble, make a shallow little slice down the side. If any of the onions are a lot larger than the rest, slice them in half through the middle - not through the tip and root ends.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium high heat in a large heavy skillet with a lid. Add onions carefully because the oil will splatter. Sauté onions, partially covered to reduce splattering, for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are softened and nicely browned on several sides. (Note: if you use tiny pearl onions the cooking time will be less) Add the sugar, ¼ cup vinegar and ¼ teaspoon salt. Continue to cook, uncovered, stirring frequently, for 3-4 minutes until onions are coated nicely with sweet and sour sauce. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• You'll need a large bowl and two rimmed baking sheets. Preheat oven to 400ºF. Cut the fennel bulbs in half lengthwise. Carefully cut out the little triangular core piece from each half. Then cut each half down the middle, through the hole where the core was. Pull off any brown or bruised outer leaves. Cut each quarter into ¼-inch thick slices, lengthwise (see photo in the post). Toss fennel with 1½ tablespoons olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Spread out on baking sheet. Toss carrots with 1½ tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, ¼ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Arrange on second baking sheet. Cook carrots and fennel in the upper and lower shelves of the oven for 30 minutes, flipping the vegetable over with a spatula and switching the position of the trays halfway through. Transfer vegetables to a platter but keep the oven on and don't wash trays - you'll use them to roast the squash.
• Lay the squash on it's side and cut it in half crosswise, through the middle (not through the root ends). Slice off each root end. Scoop out the seeds from each squash half so you have two hollow squash cylinders. Cut squash into ¼-inch slices crosswise, which will give you circles of squash. In a large bowl, toss squash rings with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or pomegranate molasses and ½ teaspoon salt. Spread out into a single layer on the two rimmed baking sheets and cook in the top and bottom of the oven for 30-35 minutes, until soft, flipping squash and switching the position of the trays halfway through.
• Spread 1 tablespoon olive oil over the bottom of a large skillet, and heat over medium-high heat. Cook asparagus, shifting and tossing them gently, for 4-7 minutes, depending on how thin they are, until they are bright green, crisp-tender, and browned in spots. Transfer to a plate. For very fat asparagus add a tablespoon of water, cover the pot, and let them steam for a few minutes after browning.
• Arrange vegetables on a platter. Drizzle everything with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2-3 tablespoons balsamic glaze or pomegranate molasses. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste. Add fennel fronds to garnish. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ITALIAN PEPPER AND FENNEL ANTIPASTO

Steps:

• In a bowl combine all dressing ingredients except oil. Whisk in oil gradually until thoroughly combined.
• Trim root, stalk, and leaves of fennel. Chop and reserve 1 or 2 tablespoons of leaves for garnish. Cut fennel bulbs vertically into slices, then into julienne strips.
• In a bowl mix fennel, bell peppers, and onion and pour boiling water over them to cover. Leave in water for 2 minutes, then thoroughly drain and cool. Add garbanzo beans, olives, and feta cheese. Add vinaigrette dressing, tossing to combine. Marinate several hours in the refrigerator.
• Ring a salad bowl or individual plates with watercress. Arrange antipasto mixture in the center. Sprinkle with reserved fennel leaves, and any other garnish if desired.

ANTIPASTO PLATTER

Steps:

• Make vinaigrette: In a small bowl or jar, combine lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, crushed red pepper, and extra-virgin olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Whisk or shake to blend.
• To serve, arrange ingredients on a large platter; drizzle vinaigrette over the fennel, roasted peppers, artichoke hearts, and bocconcini, and garnish with fennel fronds.

MIXED ANTIPASTO

Steps:

• Make the marinade:
• In a small bowl whisk together the garlic, the vinegars, the rosemary, the basil, the orégano, the red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste, add the oil in a stream, whisking, and whisk the marinade until it is emulsified.
• In a large saucepan of boiling water blanch the carrots and the fennel for 3 to 4 minutes, or until they are crisp-tender, drain them, and plunge them into a bowl of ice and cold water. Let the vegetables cool and drain them well. In a large bowl toss together the carrots, the fennel, the roasted peppers, the peperoncini, the olives, the sun-dried tomatoes, the bocconcini, the pepperoni, the artichoke hearts, the marinade, the minced parsley until the antipasto is combined well and chill the antipasto, covered, for at least 4 hours or overnight. Transfer the antipasto to a platter, garnish it with the parsley sprigs, and serve it at room temperature.

SPRING ANTIPASTO PLATTER

Steps:

• Heat the broiler. Put a large pot of water on to boil.
• Trim tops, roots and outer layer of spring onions, then arrange in one layer on a broiler pan. Broil until they are lightly charred on one side, 2 to 3 minutes, then turn and broil the other side until onions have softened a bit, about 3 minutes more. (It's fine if they become blackened in spots.) Remove pan and let cool to room temperature.
• When water boils, salt well and submerge asparagus. Cook briefly, about 2 minutes for medium spears. Lift asparagus from water and spread in 1 layer on a kitchen towel and let cool to room temperature. Repeat process with the sugar snap peas and spread them on a separate kitchen towel.
• Arrange spring onions, asparagus, snap peas and fennel on a large platter. Drape prosciutto around the edge. Season vegetables lightly with sea salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Garnish platter with basil or mint leaves. Put cheese on a small cutting board and pass separately. (Alternatively, compose individual plates with all components.)