Grilled Vegetable Antipasti Food

ANTIPASTO PLATTER WITH GRILLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Prepare the artichokes: Fill a saucepan with water; squeeze in the lemon juice. Add the squeezed lemon halves to the water and season with salt.
• Cut off and discard the top one-quarter of each artichoke with a serrated knife. Snap off the tough outer leaves. Peel the stem and base with a paring knife. Halve the artichokes lengthwise and drop into the saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil, then uncover, reduce the heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the artichokes sit in the hot liquid until just tender, 5 to 10 minutes; drain.
• Whisk the olive oil, both vinegars, the sugar, herbs, garlic and tomato juice in a bowl. Put the artichokes and bell peppers in another bowl; drizzle with the vinegar mixture and let marinate 10 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium high. Grill the artichokes and peppers, turning, until browned, about 8 minutes. (Or, roast on a rimmed baking sheet in a 400 degrees F oven, 10 to 15 minutes.)
• Assemble the platter: Arrange the cheeses, cured meats, tapenade, artichokes and bell peppers on a board or platter. Serve with the bread.

GRILLED VEGETABLE ANTIPASTO WITH HERBED CHEVRE AND CROSTINI

Steps:

• Grilled Vegetable Antipasto:
• 1. Brush the grill grates lightly with the safflower oil. Prepare a hot fire on a gas or charcoal grill.
• 2. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, and basil in a small bowl until well blended. Brush the zucchini, yellow squash, onion, red bell peppers, and scallions with the olive oil mixture. Place the vegetables on the hot grill and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side until crisp-tender. Season with salt and pepper.
• 3. Soak the sun-dried tomatoes in 1 cup hot water, covered, about 5 minutes or until softened. Drain and set aside. (Note: Eliminate this step if you are using sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil.)
• 4. Arrange the grilled vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, and sliced tomatoes on individual plates or a serving platter. Add a slice of chevre on the side of the vegetables. Drizzle the vegetables with the vinaigrette, and drizzle a little more vinaigrette around the place. Garnish with the parsley and basil. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired, and serve with crostini.
• Crostini:
• Makes 25 to 30 crostini
• 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
• 2. Slice the bread on a slight angle into 1/4-inch-thick slices and place on a baking pan in a single layer.
• 3. Mix together the olive oil, butter, parsley, dill and pepper in a small bowl.
• 4. Brush one side of each piece of bread with the butter mixture and sprinkle with the salt. Toast in the oven 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown and crunchy.
• 5.Let cool completely, then store in an air-tight container up to 1 week.
• Herbed Balsamic Vinaigrette:
• 1. Combine the vinegar, lemon juice, herbs, and pepper in a small bowl and stir to mix.
• 2. Slowly add the olive oil and the canola oil and whisk until all the oil is incorporated. Refrigerate in an air-tight container until ready to use or up to 1 week.
• Herbed Chevre:
• 1. Mix the parsley and pepper together on a plate. Roll the chevre log in the mixture, pressing lightly so the seasonings adhere. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill 1 to 2 hours.
• 2. Remove the log from the refrigerator and unwrap. Cut into 1-inch slices with string, dental floss, or wire. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve

EASY GRILLED ANTIPASTO PLATTER

Steps:

• Preheat grill.
• Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, rosemary, salt and pepper and set aside.
• Thread 4 scallops on each of 4 skewers.
• Thread 4 shrimp on each of 4 skewers.
• Thread 6 mushrooms on each of 2 more skewers.
• Cut bacon in half crosswise.
• Wrap 2 asparagus spears together with strip of bacon and secure with toothpick. Repeat with remaining spears.
• Wrap each artichoke heart in strip of bacon and thread onto remaining 2 skewers.
• Place all skewers, pepper strips, zucchini slices, artichoke hearts and asparagus spears on baking sheet.
• Reserve 1/4 cup of lemon baste.
• Brush remaining baste on skewers and vegetables, coating all sides.
• Grill 7-12 minutes or until seafood firms up and turns opaque, vegetables are done, and bacon crisps up, turning occasionally. Rotate items on grill as need to ensure even doneness.
• Items will be done at different times, remove to platter as they get done.
• Drizzle remaining lemon baste over all.
• Serve with lemon wedges, hot or at room temperature.

GRILLED-VEGETABLE AGRODOLCE

Steps:

• Preheat grill for direct-heat cooking. Season zucchini, squashes, and eggplants with salt and pepper. Lightly drizzle with oil; grill until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes per side (if browning too quickly, move to cooler part of grill).
• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add onion and 2 tablespoons sugar. Season with salt and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 cup water. Return to medium high heat and cook until reduced by half, 9 to 10 minutes. Stir in raisins, capers, and bay leaves; season with salt. Let cool slightly. Arrange grilled vegetables in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or other shallow vessel and pour marinade mixture over top. Drizzle generously with oil. Let cool completely, cover with plastic, and refrigerate at least 12 hours and up to 2 days.
• When ready to serve, toast bread on grill or under broiler, flipping once, until lightly charred, 2 to 3 minutes total. Drizzle with oil. Arrange marinated vegetables and cured meats on a platter. With kitchen shears, cut burrata into quarters; drizzle generously with oil. Season with salt and pepper. Layer toast with cheeses, and top with cured meat, marinated vegetables, and parsley.

GRILLED VEGETABLE ANTIPASTI TRAY WITH HERB VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a screw-top jar, combine the last 7 ingredients to make the herb vinaigrette. Cover and shake well.
• Scrub potatoes thoroughly and cut in half lengthwise.
• In a large saucepan, cook potatoes, covered, in enough boiling water to cover for 10 minutes or until nearly tender.
• Drain and rinse with cold water, drain again and set aside.
• Meanwhile, wash asparagus spears and break off woody bases where spears snap easily.
• In a medium skillet, cook asparagus, covered, in a small amount of boiling water for 3 minutes.
• Drain and rinse with cold water, drain again.
• For a charcoal grill, grill tomatoes, asparagus and potatoes in a grill wok or on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals, brushing occasionally with 1/4 cup of the herb vinaigarette.
• Grill potatoes for 10 to 15 minutes or until just tender, gently tossing or turning occasionally.
• Grill asparagus for 3 to 5 minutes or until just tender and browned, tossing or turning once.
• Grill tomatoes, cut sides down, for 10 to 12 minutes or until softened and skin is charred.
• (For gas grill, preheat grill, reduce heat to medium and proceed as stated above).
• To serve, arrange greens on a large platter, arrange grilled veggies on top of salad greens.
• Top with salami slices and shaved cheese.
• Serve with remaining herb vinaigrette dressing.