Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Recipes

Steps:

• Peel away dry outer skin from garlic head.
• Leave skins of garlic cloves intact.
• Cut off pointed top portion with a knife, leaving the head intact but exposing the individual cloves.
• Place garlic head, cut side up, in small baking dish.
• Drizzle with oil; cover and set aside.
• Halve the sweet peppers; remove stem, membranes and seeds.
• Place peppers, cut sides down, on foil lined baking sheet.
• Bake peppers and covered garlic in a 425 oven 20-25 minutes or until pepper skins are bubbly and blackened.
• Remove peppers.
• Place peppers in a clean brown paper bag and seal.
• Let stand 20-30 minutes or until peppers are cool enough to handle.
• Continue baking garlic 20-35 minutes more until garlic cloves feel soft when pressed.
• Set garlic aside to cool.
• Using a sharp knife, carefully peel peppers.
• Cut peppers into pieces.
• Remove garlic head from oil, reserve oil.
• Press to remove garlic paste from the individual cloves.
• In food processor bowl or blender container combine roasted pepper pieces, garlic paste, reserved oil, Asiago or Parmesan cheese, black pepper and salt.
• Cover and process with several on-off turns until smooth.
• When necessary, stop food processor or blender and use a rubber scraper to scrape the side of bowl or container.
• Stir in thyme.
• To store, place in airtight container and store in refrigerator up to 1 week or in the freezer up to 3 months.
• To serve, bring pesto to room temperature.

Steps:

• Toast the garlic in a small skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until the color of the cloves deepens slightly, about 7 minutes.
• Transfer the garlic to a plate to cool, then peel the cloves and mince.
• Process the garlic, peppers, parmesan, ricotta, shallot, parsley, thyme, oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor until smooth, about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve with your choice of al-dente pasta!