Mediterranean Roast Peppers With Olives And Goats Cheese Recipes

ROASTED PEPPERS RECIPE (TWO WAYS!)

Steps:

• Turn your gas burner to medium. Put a bell pepper directly over the flame. Grill, turning around regularly with a pair of tongs, until the pepper is charred and very soft (about 15 minutes or so). You can use more than one gas burner if you like to cook several peppers at once. (Be sure to maintain a safe distance from the heat source).
• Heat the oven on to 450 degrees F. Arrange the peppers in one single layer on the pan. Roast on the center rack of your heated oven for anywhere from 25 to 40 minutes, turning the peppers around occasionally to make sure they soften and char well on all sides. (You can also choose to broil the peppers, but you'll want to watch them carefully as they broil).
• When the peppers are fully roasted, immediately transfer them to a heat-safe bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap to trap the steam. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes or so until they are cool enough to handle. This will help you peel them easily.
• When the peppers are cool enough to handle by hand, uncover the bowl. Handling one pepper at a time, hold from the top (by the stem), poke a small hole to release any liquid from within the peppers. Peel and discard the charred skin(this will be a bit messy). Slice the pepper open and scrape the seeds. Discard the seeds.
• As an easy appetizer, arrange the sliced peppers on a platter and add some burrata or mozzarella and seasonings of your choice (I used garlic and crushed red pepper flakes). Add some sliced rustic bread to serve along.
• You can use your roasted peppers immediately. To marinate them for later, slice the roasted and peeled peppers up into strips and put them in a glass jar. Pour some good extra virgin olive oil on top to cover the peppers (I like to add sliced garlic, a pinch of kosher salt, and some crushed pepper flakes for flavor). Seal the jar shut and store in the fridge. They will keep for 1 to 2 weeks.

ROASTED PEPPER AND GOAT CHEESE BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Brush the baguette slices lightly with olive oil on both sides and season with salt and pepper. Place the slices on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until crisp and golden, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together 3 tablespoons olive oil, the vinegar and honey in a bowl. Stir in the thyme and red pepper flakes. Add the roasted peppers and shallots to the dressing, and season with salt and pepper. Gently toss to combine, then fold in the parsley. Set aside or place in the refrigerator to marinate.
• Spread each toast with a small spoonful of goat cheese. Top with a spoonful of the pepper mixture, followed by a pinch of microgreens. Arrange on a platter and serve.

ORZO WITH ROASTED PEPPERS, OLIVES, AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Roast the peppers over the flame of a gas burner, on a hot grill, or under the broiler, until the skin is black and charred. Remove from the heat and place in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit until cool enough to handle, about 15 to 20 minutes. With clean paper towels, wipe off the skin. Remove the stems and seeds and discard. If necessary, briefly rinse under cold water to remove any remaining charred skin. Dice the roasted peppers and set aside.
• In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the onion and cook just until translucent, but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the reserved peppers and saute for 3 minutes.
• Blanch the orzo in the boiling water for 4 to 5 minutes, or until beginning to cook, but still very al dente. Drain the orzo, reserving the pasta water, and add to the pepper mixture. Add 1 cup of the reserved pasta water and cook, stirring, until creamy and the pasta is cooked tender. Finish with another 1/4 cup pasta water if the mixture is too thick. Stir in the olives and goat cheese and mix until the goat cheese is melted. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Thin with pasta water if the mixture is too thick.
• Garnish with parsley, olives, and a drizzle of olive oil.

ROASTED PEPPER AND GOAT CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Place the whole peppers on a sheet pan and place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until the skins are completely wrinkled and the peppers are charred, turning them twice during roasting. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately cover it tightly with aluminum foil. Set aside for 30 minutes, or until the peppers are cool enough to handle.
• Meanwhile, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Remove the stem from each pepper and cut them in quarters. Remove the peels and seeds and place the peppers in a bowl along with any juices that have collected. Discard the stems, peels, and seeds. Pour the oil and vinegar mixture over the peppers. Stir in the capers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend.
• To assemble the sandwiches, spread the bottom half of the loaf with the goat cheese. Add a layer of peppers and then a layer of basil leaves. Separate the onions into rings and spread out on top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover with the top half of the ciabatta and cut into individual servings.

HERBED GOAT CHEESE AND ROASTED PEPPER TOASTS

Steps:

• Roast the pepper: Place the bell pepper directly over the open flame of a gas burner, under the broiler or on a hot, glowing charcoal grill. Let the skin of the pepper blacken and blister, using tongs to turn the pepper frequently. When completely blackened, after 5 to 8 minutes, transfer to a plate to cool.
• Using a paring knife, cut pepper in half lengthwise. Cut away seeds and stem and discard. Scrape away the skin and discard. Do not rinse. It's OK if a few bits of charred skin remain.
• Cut pepper halves into long strips about 1-inch wide. Season lightly with salt. (The pepper can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead of serving.)
• Marinate the goat cheese: Slice the goat cheese log into 10 pieces (each about 3/4-inch thick). Place pieces in a single layer on a plate and pour 1/4 cup oil over.
• Strip leaves from a few thyme sprigs and a rosemary sprig, roughly chop and sprinkle over the cheese. Finish with a bit of freshly ground black pepper, and a small pinch of red-pepper flakes. Cover and set aside. (This can also be done up to 24 hours ahead.)
• Set oven to 350 degrees. Cut the baguette on a diagonal into 10 slices, each about 1/4-inch thick. (If using ciabatta, cut into similar-size pieces.) Arrange on a baking sheet in a single layer, then place in oven for about 5 minutes, until bread is barely toasted.
• Remove from oven and carefully give each toast a light swipe with the garlic clove. Lay a strip of roasted pepper across each toast to cover. Place a goat cheese round in the center of each toast. Spoon the remaining olive oil from the plate generously over each piece of cheese and any exposed toast.
• To finish, return to the oven and bake, uncovered, until the bread is nicely browned and the cheese has gotten a bit of color, 8 to 10 minutes. Let toasts cool a bit, then arrange on a platter and serve. (They taste best at room temperature or just barely warm.) Toasts can be baked up to 1 hour ahead and popped in the oven to reheat slightly.

PESTO, OLIVE, AND ROASTED-PEPPER GOAT CHEESE TORTA

Steps:

• Drain pesto in a small fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl 15 minutes, then discard excess oil.
• Lightly oil loaf pan and line with a sheet of plastic wrap large enough to allow a generous overhang on all 4 sides.
• Blot peppers well between paper towels to remove excess liquid.
• Spread about one fourth (1/2 cup) of cheese evenly over bottom of loaf pan and top with all of pesto, spreading evenly. Drop 1/2 cup cheese by tablespoons over pesto and spread gently to cover pesto.
• Top with chopped peppers, spreading evenly. Drop another 1/2 cup cheese by tablespoons over peppers and spread gently to cover peppers.
• Spread olive paste evenly on top, then drop remaining cheese by tablespoons over olive paste, spreading gently to cover olive paste. Cover pan with another sheet of plastic wrap and chill at least 8 hours.
• Remove plastic wrap from top of pan and invert torta onto a serving plate, then peel off remaining plastic wrap. Let torta stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving.

LEMON-HERB OLIVES WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• In a small skillet, combine the first 5 ingredients; heat over medium heat just until fragrant, 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in olives; heat through, allowing flavors to blend. Cool completely., To serve, place cheese on a serving plate. Stir basil into olive mixture; spoon over cheese. Serve with crackers.

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pop the peppers on a plate and microwave on Medium for 5 mins, until almost soft. Place on a baking tray, cut-side up.
• Meanwhile, place the couscous in a bowl and cover with 125ml boiling water. Stir, cover the bowl and leave to stand for 10 mins. Stir the couscous with a fork to break it up, then mix in the pine nuts, olives, feta, tomatoes and basil. Pile the couscous stuffing into the pepper halves and bake for 10 mins.

PASTA WITH ROASTED RED PEPPERS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add the garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the sliced roasted peppers, and stir together for about a minute until well infused with the oil and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, and stir in the basil (if using) and goat cheese. Remove from the heat.
• When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the pasta. Cook until al dente - firm to the bite - following the recommendations on the package. Ladle about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water into the frying pan, and stir well so that the goat cheese begins to melt. Drain the pasta, and toss immediately with the pepper mixture in the pan. Serve.