Marinated Mozzarella Roasted Bell Pepper And Olive Brochettes Recipes

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.)

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.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place the whole red, green and yellow peppers in the oven directly on the rack. Roast for about 15 minutes, turning if needed, until the skin is well scorched. Immediately place in a bowl covered with plastic wrap or in a paper bag, and allow to cool.
• Remove the skins from the peppers by rubbing with your hands, and rinse under cold water. Cut in half, remove stem and seeds, then cut into strips.
• Place peppers into a medium serving bowl, and stir in the garlic, vinegar, oil, basil, parsley, salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Combine oil, herbs, red-pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Drizzle over mozzarella. Let stand for at least 20 minutes (or up to 1 hour). Serve with olives, crackers, bread, and cured meats.

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.