Roasted Pepper Goat Cheese Sandwich Recipes

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S ROASTED PEPPER AND GOAT CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Place the whole peppers on a sheet pan and place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until the skins are completely wrinkled and the peppers are charred, turning them twice during roasting. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately cover it tightly with aluminum foil. Set aside for 30 minutes, or until the peppers are cool enough to handle.
• Meanwhile, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Remove the stem from each pepper and cut them in quarters. Remove the peels and seeds and place the peppers in a bowl along with any juices that have collected. Discard the stems, peels, and seeds. Pour the oil and vinegar mixture over the peppers. Stir in the capers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend.
• To assemble the sandwiches, spread the bottom half of the loaf with the goat cheese. Add a layer of peppers and then a layer of basil leaves. Separate the onions into rings and spread out on top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover with the top half of the ciabatta and cut into individual servings.

GRILLED GOAT CHEESE, ROASTED PEPPER, AND GREENS SANDWICH

Steps:

• Dice roasted red pepper small and toss with salt, pepper and a teaspoon of olive oil. Measure out 1/4 cup, tightly packed.
• If including artichoke hearts in the mix, preheat oven or toaster oven to 425 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment and spread the artichoke hearts over the pan in a single layer. Roast for 10 minutes and turn over the pieces. Return to oven and roast for another 10 minutes, until browned and tender. Remove from heat and cut in small dice.
• Mash goat cheese in a bowl and add peppers, chopped greens, and diced roasted artichoke hearts if using. Mash together.
• If desired, rub 1 slice of bread with a cut clove of garlic, then purée garlic and stir into the goat cheese mixture. Spread goat cheese mixture over the bread. Top with the other slice of bread (rub it with garlic if desired) and press down firmly. Drizzle remaining olive oil over top slice of bread.
• Toast in toaster oven 3 to 4 minutes, until cheese has melted. Remove from oven, press down firmly, cut in half and serve.

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND GOAT CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Put peppers into work bowl of a process bowl and puree. Add all other ingredients and pulse until combined. Season with salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

HERBED GOAT CHEESE AND ROASTED PEPPER TOASTS

Steps:

• Roast the pepper: Place the bell pepper directly over the open flame of a gas burner, under the broiler or on a hot, glowing charcoal grill. Let the skin of the pepper blacken and blister, using tongs to turn the pepper frequently. When completely blackened, after 5 to 8 minutes, transfer to a plate to cool.
• Using a paring knife, cut pepper in half lengthwise. Cut away seeds and stem and discard. Scrape away the skin and discard. Do not rinse. It's OK if a few bits of charred skin remain.
• Cut pepper halves into long strips about 1-inch wide. Season lightly with salt. (The pepper can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead of serving.)
• Marinate the goat cheese: Slice the goat cheese log into 10 pieces (each about 3/4-inch thick). Place pieces in a single layer on a plate and pour 1/4 cup oil over.
• Strip leaves from a few thyme sprigs and a rosemary sprig, roughly chop and sprinkle over the cheese. Finish with a bit of freshly ground black pepper, and a small pinch of red-pepper flakes. Cover and set aside. (This can also be done up to 24 hours ahead.)
• Set oven to 350 degrees. Cut the baguette on a diagonal into 10 slices, each about 1/4-inch thick. (If using ciabatta, cut into similar-size pieces.) Arrange on a baking sheet in a single layer, then place in oven for about 5 minutes, until bread is barely toasted.
• Remove from oven and carefully give each toast a light swipe with the garlic clove. Lay a strip of roasted pepper across each toast to cover. Place a goat cheese round in the center of each toast. Spoon the remaining olive oil from the plate generously over each piece of cheese and any exposed toast.
• To finish, return to the oven and bake, uncovered, until the bread is nicely browned and the cheese has gotten a bit of color, 8 to 10 minutes. Let toasts cool a bit, then arrange on a platter and serve. (They taste best at room temperature or just barely warm.) Toasts can be baked up to 1 hour ahead and popped in the oven to reheat slightly.

ROASTED RED PEPPER, BABY ARUGULA, & GOAT CHEESE SANDWICHES WITH OPTIONAL BACON

Steps:

• Slice the ciabatta bread in half lengthwise and then cut about a five-inch hunk of bread for each sandwich. Lay sandwich inside-up and begin layering.
• First, add a couple of layers of the roasted red peppers. Sprinkle lightly with kosher salt. I add a little more salt for the veggie sandwich, and just a tad for the carnivore's sandwich because it will have the natural saltiness of bacon, too. Pile a handful of arugula onto each sandwich, then crumble the goat cheese onto the arugula, dividing evenly between the two sandwiches. Lay the bacon on top, if using. Drizzle a teaspoon or so of the olive oil from the roasted red peppers onto the top of the whole thing and lightly dust with black pepper.
• Close up those sandwiches, slice in half, and serve!

ROASTED PEPPER AND GOAT CHEESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• If using whole wheat bread, lightly toast it. This will prevent sandwich from becoming soggy. If using a roll with a hard crust, there is no need to toast.
• In a bowl, mash goat cheese with a fork or spoon and stir in chopped herbs.
• Spread equal amounts of goat cheese on each slice of bread or on both halves of roll. Top the bottom half with roasted pepper and cover with other slice of bread or half of roll. Cut in half if using bread, or into quarters if using a ciabatta roll. Wrap each piece tightly in plastic if transporting. The sandwich keeps well for 2 days.