Big Al Roasted Red Peppers And Fresh Mozzarella Recipes

Steps:

• Whisk the olive oil, mayo, vinegar, Dijon, shallot, lemon juice and some salt and pepper together in a small bowl.
• Turn a gas burner on medium-high and cook the whole red pepper directly on the flame, turning occasionally, until charred all over, about 10 minutes. Put the pepper in a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a dish towel. Let stand for 15 minutes to steam, then use the back of a paring knife to remove the skin from the pepper. Remove the stem and seeds, then cut the pepper into thin strips.
• Toss the arugula and mint together in a wide shallow bowl or platter, then arrange the mozzarella and peppers on top. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place the bread slices on a baking sheet. Drizzle lightly with half the olive oil.
• Place a small amount of peppers on each slice of bread.
• Top each slice with a fresh mozzarella.
• Salt and pepper the breads to taste and drizzle with the remaining olive oil.
• Cook for 10 - 15 minutes or until cheese begins to brown slightly.
• Serve immeadiately.

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.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Cook onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until onion is slightly softened, about 4 minutes. Add roasted red peppers and salt; season with black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is jammy, 8-10 minutes. Add olives, tomato paste, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring often, until tomato paste is slightly darkened in color, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, crushing with your hands as you go, and their liquid and cook, stirring often, until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes.
• While sauce is cooking, place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente (about 2 minute less than package directions; pasta will continue to cook in the oven). Drain pasta, reserving ⅓ cup pasta cooking liquid.
• Add pasta and reserved pasta cooking liquid to sauce. Reduce heat to medium and stir in butter, oregano, and half of Parmesan. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened and glossy and coats pasta, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in half of mozzarella.
• Transfer pasta to a 13x9" baking dish and spread into an even layer. Scatter remaining Parmesan and mozzarella over. Bake until bubbling around the edges, 15-20 minutes.
• Heat broiler. Broil pasta until top is brown and crisp in spots, about 3 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then top with basil for serving.