Orzomozzarellaandkalamataolivebake Recipes

ORZO WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND KALAMATA OLIVES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.
• Mix orzo pasta, tomatoes, and olives together in a large bowl. Pour pesto over pasta mixture and stir to coat. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the pasta mixture; stir. Drizzle olive oil over the salad and stir to achieve your preferred moisture level.

ORZO, MOZZARELLA AND KALAMATA OLIVE BAKE

Steps:

• Set oven to 375 degrees (oven rack set to second-lowest position).
• Butter a 2-quart casserole dish (or use a larger size).
• Cook the orzo in a large pot of salted boiling water; drain well then transfer to a large bowl; toss with a couple tablespoons of olive oil.
• In a skillet heat the oil and butter, then add in the onions, garlic, basil and cayenne; stir over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes.
• Add in the chopped celery and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring often.
• Stir in the 2 tablespoons flour; cook stirring with a wooden spoon for 3 minutes.
• Stir in the broth and tomatoes with juice breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon; simmer the mixture for about 20 minutes.
• Stir/add in the cooked orzo with the olives and about 3/4 cup mozzeralla cheese, season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Transfer the mixture to prepared baking dish.
• Bake for about 15-20 minutes, remove from oven and sprinkle with mozzeralla cheese (any amount desired) return to oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes.

FRENCH BREAD WITH KALAMATA OLIVES AND THYME

Steps:

• Bring milk to simmer in small saucepan. Add butter and sugar; stir until butter melts. Pour mixture into large bowl. Add 1 cup room-temperature water and cool mixture until lukewarm (85°F to 95°F), about 10 minutes. Add yeast; stir to blend. Stir in olives, thyme and salt. Add 1 cup flour. Using wood spoon, stir until flour is incorporated. Add 3 cups flour, 1 cup at a time, and stir vigorously with wood spoon until incorporated after each addition. If necessary, add up to 1/2 cup more flour until dough is smooth and begins to pull away from sides of bowl. Oil large bowl. Transfer dough to bowl; turn to coat with oil. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap. For do-ahead version: Chill dough overnight. For same-day version: Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes (do not punch down dough).
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 500°F. Oil large baking sheet. Turn dough out onto floured work surface (to avoid deflating, do not punch down dough and do not knead dough). Divide dough into 2 equal pieces. Gently form (do not knead) each piece into baguette 15 inches long by 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches wide (dough will not be smooth). Transfer baguettes to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly apart. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm draft-free area until slightly puffed, about 30 minutes for refrigerated dough and 15 minutes for room-temperature dough.
• Brush top of each loaf lightly with egg white. Generously spray inside of oven with water (about 8 sprays); immediately place loaves in oven. Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400°F and continue to bake until loaves are deep golden and sound hollow when tapped, about 35 minutes. Cool on rack.

KALAMATA OLIVE AND GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• In a medium bowl dissolve sugar in 1/2 cup warm water. To proof yeast, stir in yeast and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes in a warm place.
• Preheat oven to 105 degree F (40 degrees C). Warm an oven-safe bowl in the oven.
• Place flour in bowl of food processor. Add salt and pulse for a few seconds.
• Start food processor. Pour proofed yeast into flour through hole. Immediately add the additional 3/4 cup warm water, then the olive oil. Process for about 1 minute or until dough ball cleans the sides of the processor bowl. If dough is too wet add a little flour through the top while processing, or if too dry, add a little more water.
• Turn off food processor. Remove lid and transfer dough to the heated bowl. Cover with a plate or plastic wrap.
• Let rise for a half hour in a warm place, like the lukewarm oven.
• In a small bowl, combine minced garlic and chopped olives. Set aside.
• Once dough has risen, transfer dough to a lightly floured board. Make an indentation in the dough and place olive mixture inside. Knead dough 10 times. Bulk of mixture should remain in middle of dough. Form dough into a log or round loaf shape.
• Grease a pie pan (for a round loaf) or a baking sheet (for a log) and dust with cornmeal. Place loaf on prepared pan, cover with greased plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake bread in preheated oven until browned and loaf sounds hollow when tapped, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

KALAMATA OLIVE BREAD WITH OREGANO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until onion is tender. Set aside.
• Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture.
• Combine buttermilk, butter, and egg whites, stirring with a whisk.
• Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
• Fold in onion, olives, and oregano.
• Spread batter into an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan.
• Cool completely on wire rack.

OLIVE AND MOZZARELLA ORZO

Steps:

• In a kettle of boiling salted water boil the orzo until it is al dente, drain it well, and transfer it to a large bowl. In a large heavy skillet cook the onion in the oil and the butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is softened, add the celery, and cook the mixture, stirring, for 5 minutes. Stir in the flour, cook the mixture, stirring, for 3 minutes, and stir in the broth, the tomatoes, chopping them with a spoon, the basil, and the cayenne. Simmer the mixture, stirring, for 5 minutes, stir it into the orzo with the olives, 1/2 pound of the mozzarella, cut into 1/4-inch dice, and salt to taste, and transfer the mixture to a shallow 2-quart baking dish. Cut the remaining 1/4 pound mozzarella into thin strips and arrange it decoratively on top of the orzo. The orzo may be prepared up to this point 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled. Bake the orzo in the middle of a preheated 400°F. oven for 30 minutes, or until it is heated through and slightly crisp on top.