Marinated Mozzarella Roasted Bell Pepper And Olive Brochettes Recipes

ROASTED PEPPERS RECIPE (TWO WAYS!)

Steps:

• Turn your gas burner to medium. Put a bell pepper directly over the flame. Grill, turning around regularly with a pair of tongs, until the pepper is charred and very soft (about 15 minutes or so). You can use more than one gas burner if you like to cook several peppers at once. (Be sure to maintain a safe distance from the heat source).
• Heat the oven on to 450 degrees F. Arrange the peppers in one single layer on the pan. Roast on the center rack of your heated oven for anywhere from 25 to 40 minutes, turning the peppers around occasionally to make sure they soften and char well on all sides. (You can also choose to broil the peppers, but you'll want to watch them carefully as they broil).
• When the peppers are fully roasted, immediately transfer them to a heat-safe bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap to trap the steam. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes or so until they are cool enough to handle. This will help you peel them easily.
• When the peppers are cool enough to handle by hand, uncover the bowl. Handling one pepper at a time, hold from the top (by the stem), poke a small hole to release any liquid from within the peppers. Peel and discard the charred skin(this will be a bit messy). Slice the pepper open and scrape the seeds. Discard the seeds.
• As an easy appetizer, arrange the sliced peppers on a platter and add some burrata or mozzarella and seasonings of your choice (I used garlic and crushed red pepper flakes). Add some sliced rustic bread to serve along.
• You can use your roasted peppers immediately. To marinate them for later, slice the roasted and peeled peppers up into strips and put them in a glass jar. Pour some good extra virgin olive oil on top to cover the peppers (I like to add sliced garlic, a pinch of kosher salt, and some crushed pepper flakes for flavor). Seal the jar shut and store in the fridge. They will keep for 1 to 2 weeks.

MARINATED ROASTED PEPPERS, OLIVES AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Set oven control to broil.
• Broil bell peppers with tops about 5 inches from heat, turning occasionally, until skin is blistered and evenly browned. Place peppers in a plastic bag and close tightly. Let stand 20 minutes.
• Remove skin, stems, seeds and membranes from peppers. Cut peppers into 1/4-inch strips. Place peppers, olives and cheese in glass bowl or jar.
• Shake remaining ingredients in tightly covered container; pour over pepper mixture. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours to blend flavors, stirring occasionally.
• Store tightly covered in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

MARINATED ROASTED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Peppers: Place pepper directly over a high gas flame; use tongs to rotate pepper until the entire surface is charred, about 10 minutes. (Alternatively, roast under the broiler, turning occasionally with tongs to char evenly.) Place charred pepper in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap; the steam trapped in the bowl will enable "carryover cooking." Let rest to loosen skin, 15 minutes.
• Pepper is ready to be peeled when there's condensation under the plastic. Remove plastic wrap and place pepper on a work surface. Use a kitchen towel to gently rub off the charred skin. Tear pepper in half; discard the stem and seeds. Slice into ¼-inch strips, then cut strips into 1-inch segments. Set aside in a bowl.
• In a small saucepan over very low heat, add oil, thyme, bay leaf, garlic, and lemon peel. Heat until warm and aromatic, 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and pour contents over peppers. Stir to make sure peppers are fully submerged, cover with plastic wrap, and marinate in the refrigerator, 6-12 hours. Makes 1½ cups. (You can store the peppers in a lidded container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days.)

MARINATED MOZZARELLA, ROASTED BELL PEPPER, AND OLIVE BROCHETTES

Steps:

• To Roast Peppers
• Using a long-handled fork char the peppers over an open flame, turning them, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the skins are blackened. (Or broil the peppers on the rack of a broiler pan under a preheated broiler about 2 inches from the heat, turning them every 5 minutes, for 15 to 25 minutes, or until the skins are blistered and charred.) Transfer the peppers to a bowl and let them steam, covered, until they are cool enough to handle. Keeping the peppers whole, peel them starting at the blossom end, cut the tops, and discard the seeds and ribs. (Wear rubber gloves when handling chilies.)
• In a bowl or resealable heavy plastic bag combine the mozzarella, the oil, the garlic, the vinegar, the orégano, the basil, the thyme, and salt and pepper to taste and let the cheese marinate for at least 4 hours at room temperature or chilled overnight. Thread a mozzarella cube, an olive half, and a roasted pepper square onto each of the wooden picks and arrange the brochettes on a platter. The hors d'oeuvres may be made 4 hours in advance and kept covered.

MOZZARELLA PEPPERS WITH CHUNKY ITALIAN DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Cut the peppers in half, scoop out the seeds and white membranes with a spoon and discard. Drizzle the peppers with a little olive oil from the tomato jar, rub all over and season generously. Roast for 20 mins until softened and starting to char.
• Roughly chop the tomatoes and olives, then mix in a small bowl with 2 tbsp oil from the jar. Cut 4 anchovies lengthways, giving 8 thin strips, then add to the bowl along with the basil leaves. Season with black pepper. Keep the rest of the anchovies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
• Take the peppers out of the oven and turn the grill to High. Pour any juice out of the peppers, then spoon in a little of the olive mix. Snuggle a mozzarella half into each pepper and return to the roasting tin. Grill for about 3 mins until the top of the cheese has just softened, but not melted. Put the antipasti on a serving platter and add the peppers. Spoon over the rest of the olive mix and splash with a little balsamic vinegar. Enjoy with bread and a glass of wine.

MARINATED MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine first 7 ingredients; add cheese cubes. Stir to coat. Cover; refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

ROASTED AND MARINATED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Brush grill with oil; heat to medium hot. Grill peppers until blackened, 8 to 12 minutes. Let peppers cool in a paper bag. Peel and seed, saving juices. Cut into 1-inch strips.
• In a bowl, combine garlic, vinegar, thyme, salt, pepper, and any pepper juices. Gradually whisk in oil. Toss peppers with vinaigrette, and arrange on a platter to serve.

SMOKED MOZZARELLA AND ROASTED PEPPER WITH OLIVE DRESSING ON ITALIAN BREAD

Steps:

• In a blender blend the olives, the lemon juice, the oil, the garlic, and the cayenne until the mixture is smooth and brush the cut sides of the bread with the olive dressing. Divide the roasted pepper, the mozzarella, and the basil among the bottom halves of the bread and cover the sandwiches with the top halves of the bread, pressing them firmly.

MARINATED PEPPERS AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Preheat broiler to high.
• Arrange the baby peppers in a single layer on a foil-lined jelly roll pan, and broil peppers for 4 minutes on each side or until blackened and tender.
• Cool, Combine peppers, olive oil, garlic cloves, lemon rind, red pepper, salt,and mozzarella balls, and toss.
• Cover, and refrigerate overnight, tossing after 6 hours.
• Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Stir in basil leaves, and lemon juice before serving.
• Serve with a slotted spoon.