Smoked Red Pepper Dip With Grilled Crudite Recipes

ROASTED RED PEPPER DIP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the nuts on a baking sheet and toast until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
• Put the nuts into a processor and finely chop. Add pepper, vinegar and shallots to the bowl and process until smooth. While the processor is running, drizzle the oil into the bowl. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

CRUDITE WITH ROASTED GARLIC AND RED BELL PEPPER DIP

Steps:

• For the peppers: Roast the peppers by placing them on an open gas flame, turning them frequently with tongs until all sides are charred black, 7 to 10 minutes. Place in a plastic or paper bag, and cool for about 15 minutes. Peel the peppers, remove the seeds and stems, and discard. Coarsely chop the peppers.
• Transfer the peppers and garlic to a food processor and process until smooth. Add the cheese and process until smooth. With the machine running, add 1/4 cup of the extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice in a steady stream through the feed tube. Add the basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and process until smooth. Adjust the seasoning, to taste. Transfer to a decorative bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour. Before serving, drizzle with the remaining 1 teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve cool or at room temperature, with assorted crudite for dipping.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the garlic on a foil-lined baking sheet and rub 1 teaspoon of oil into the top of each head. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and place, cut side down, on the baking sheet. Bake until the cloves are soft and golden, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit until cool enough to handle. Squeeze each head of garlic to expel the cloves into a bowl. Mash into a paste. Set aside until needed.

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND GARLIC DIP WITH FENNEL CRUDITES

Steps:

• Trim fennel stalks flush with bulbs and discard any tough outer layers. Cut bulbs lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices and, if desired, halve slices lengthwise. Transfer fennel to a bowl of ice and cold water. Chill fennel at least 30 minutes, or until crisp, and up to 3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• While fennel is chilling, make dip:
• Quarter bell pepper lengthwise and discard stems, seeds,and ribs. In a shallow baking pan arrange quarters skin side up. Separate garlic cloves, leaving skins intact, and wrap together in foil. Add garlic package to pan with bell pepper and bake in upper third of oven 20 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel pepper and transfer to a blender. Remove garlic from foil and squeeze pulp into blender.
• In a small heavy skillet dry-roast cumin and caraway seeds over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant and a few shades darker, about 1 minute, being careful not to burn them. In a cleaned electric coffee/spice grinder grind seeds to a powder and add to pepper mixture with remaining dip ingredients. Purée mixture until smooth. Dip may be made 5 days ahead and chilled, covered.
• Drain fennel in a colander and pat dry.
• Serve dip with fennel.

HOT ROASTED RED PEPPER DIP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
• In a food processor, blend the roasted red peppers and garlic until combined. Add the cream cheese, mayo, Parmesan, salt, pepper and basil to the processor and blend. Spoon into the prepared baking dish. Top with the mozzarella. Bake until bubbling and the top is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve with toasted rustic bread.

ROASTED RED PEPPER DIP

Steps:

• Combine peppers and ricotta, salt and pepper in a food processor and process until smooth. Transfer to a small serving bowl and surround with endive and crisps.