Roasted Sweet Peppers Sour Orange Vinaigrette Goat Cheese Recipes

ROASTED SWEET PEPPERS, SOUR ORANGE VINAIGRETTE & GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Turn on two gas-fired stovetop burners (or fire up the grill) and roast the peppers directly on the flames, turning them often with tongs, until fully blackened. Transfer the peppers to a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let steam until cool enough to touch.
• Rub off the black skins, cut out the stems, remove the seeds, and rip the peppers in half. Cut the pepper flesh into strips and then on the diagonal into 1-inch-wide diamonds.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until it turns light golden brown. Add the peppers, season with ¼ teaspoon salt, a few cranks of pepper, and a pinch of sugar, and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the peppers soften and sweeten, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, for the sour orange vinaigrette, whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, black pepper to taste, the red pepper flakes, and the orange and lemon juices.
• Lay the cooked peppers out on a platter, drizzle with the sour orange vinaigrette, and top with the crumbled cheese. Serve warm or at room temperature, with grilled bread.

ROASTED MARINATED PEPPERS WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Arrange peppers on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake until blackened and soft, 25-30 minutes, turning once or twice.
• Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let stand 10 minutes (this helps steam the peppers in their skins, and makes skin removal easier).
• Meanwhile, make the marinade: combine oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, leaves from about half the thyme, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
• While peppers are still hot, slip off the skin and scrape out seeds; remove stems.
• Cut each pepper into quarters.
• Add roasted peppers to the marinade and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
• To serve, arrange peppers on 4 plates, garnish with olives, oranges and remaining thyme, and crumble goat cheese over and season with additional freshly ground pepper.
• Note: instead of all red wine vinegar, you can use 1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar and 1 teaspoon balsamic, for even deeper and sweeter flavor. Chopped basil is also a delicious garnish.

GOAT CHEESE CANAPES WITH SWEET PEPPERS

Steps:

• To make the sweet peppers: Plump the raisins in the sherry.
• Combine the raisins, peppers, tomato, onion, olives, chopped cilantro, jalapeno, and garlic. Add the vinaigrette and toss to combine. Let the salad rest at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes before serving.
• To make the Canapes: Blend the goat cheese and the clabbered cream until smooth and transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a round tip.
• To assemble the canapes, pipe the goat cheese mixture in a ring around the whole wheat bread rounds. Mound about 1 tablespoon of the pepper salad in the center and top with a cilantro leaf. Serve.
• Combine the vinegars and mustard. Whisk in the oil gradually. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Add fresh herbs.