Margherita Salad With Grilled Mozzarella Food

MARGHERITA SALAD WITH GRILLED MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium. Brush grill grate with oil. Put mozzarella slices in freezer until firm, about 15 minutes. Toss cherry tomatoes and quartered tomatoes with 2 t. oil, pepper, and salt in large bowl until coated. Brush cold mozzarella with 1 t. oil. Grill tomatoes until skins start to burst, 4 to 5 minutes. Grill mozzarella until warm, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove mozzarella and tomatoes from grill. Dice mozzarella and halve the cherry tomatoes. Toss with quartered tomatoes and basil in same bowl used for tossing tomatoes with oil. Serve warm. Serves 4
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CHICKEN MARGHERITA

Steps:

• Place the chicken on the cutting board and carefully cut through it as if you are butterflying the chicken but slice it all the way through so you have two thinner, more uniform chicken breasts. This will give you four thin chicken breasts.
• Combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Pour the marinade over the chicken and chill for at least 1 hour, but up to 24 hours.
• Heat a grill or grill pan to medium heat, approximately 375 degrees. Add the chicken and grill for 3-4 minutes on each side. Check the meat using a meat thermometer and when the chicken registers 165 degrees F remove it from the grill and set aside.
• If making the entire dish on an outdoor grill place the grilled chicken in a grill-safe pan and top it with fresh mozzarella and pesto. Add the dish to the grill and close the lid. Allow the chicken to cook 5-6 minutes until the cheese has melted. Alternatively, if you wish to use an oven place the chicken in an oven-safe casserole dish and top with cheese and pesto bake the chicken 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees F until the cheese is melted.
• Combine the chopped tomatoes and basil with a drizzle of good olive oil, salt, and pepper! Add the tomato salad right on top of the chicken and enjoy!

GRILLED EGGPLANT AND FRESH MOZZARELLA SALAD

Steps:

• Set up a grill for cooking with direct and indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• Peel the eggplants and slice into 1/2-inch-thick rings. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil on both sides. Place on the direct-heat side of the grill and char, cooking until softened, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a cutting board and cut each slice into quarters.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, Dijon and honey. Drizzle in 1/2 cup of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, combine the arugula, mozzarella, onion and eggplant. Dress with the vinaigrette and serve!

GRILLED PIZZA MARGHERITA

Steps:

• Make sauce and prepare cheese:
• If using fresh tomatoes, cut an X (just through skin) in each, at end opposite stem, and immerse in boiling water for 10 seconds. Transfer to cold water with a slotted spoon, then peel.
• Seed and chop tomatoes (fresh or canned).
• Simmer tomatoes, salt, and 2 tablespoons oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until very thick and reduced to about 1 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
• Toss together mozzarella and remaining tablespoon oil.
• Form pizza rounds:
• Do not punch down dough. Gently dredge 1 ball of dough in a bowl of flour to coat, then transfer to a lightly floured work surface. Holding 1 edge of floured dough in the air with both hands and letting bottom touch work surface, carefully move hands around edge of dough (like turning a steering wheel), allowing weight of dough to stretch round to roughly 7 inches in diameter. Lay dough round flat on floured surface and continue to stretch by pressing dough with your fingertips, working from center outward to edge, stretching it into a 9-inch round. Transfer to a large floured tray and make another round in same manner, then place it next to other round. Lightly rub a long sheet of plastic wrap with flour, then invert loosely over pizza rounds and let them stand to puff slightly while preparing grill, 10 to 20 minutes.
• To prepare charcoal grill:
• Open vents on bottom of grill and on lid. Light a heaping chimneyful of charcoal and pour it evenly over 2 opposite sides of bottom rack (you will have a double or triple layer of charcoal), leaving clear a 9-inch-wide strip in middle (for grilling over indirect heat).
• Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds.
• To prepare gas grill:
• Preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderate.
• To grill pizzas by either method:
• Remove plastic wrap from both rounds of dough and lightly brush dough with some oil. Carefully flip dough rounds, oiled sides down, with your hands onto middle of lightly oiled grill rack and brush top of each with oil. Grill crusts, uncovered, until undersides are golden brown (rotate them if 1 side of grill is hotter than the other), 2 to 3 minutes on gas grill or 4 to 6 minutes on charcoal grill.
• Flip crusts over with tongs and a spatula and top each crust with half of tomato sauce, spreading evenly over dough and leaving a 1/2-inch border around edge. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over sauce and grill pizzas, covered with grill lid, until undersides are golden brown and cheese is melted, about 3 minutes on gas grill or 5 minutes on charcoal grill.
• Scatter basil over pizzas.

GRILLED CHICKEN MARGHERITA

Steps:

• Gently pound chicken breasts into even thickness using the smooth side of a meat mallet, about 1/2 inch thick. Place chicken into a resealable plastic bag.
• Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt in a small bowl. Pour over chicken, coat evenly, and marinate for 4 to 8 hours.
• Combine cherry tomatoes, basil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat; lightly oil the grate.
• Remove chicken from marinade and grill with the lid closed for 4 minutes. Flip chicken and grill an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Top each breast with a slice of mozzarella cheese and 1 tablespoon of pesto, then top with cherry tomatoes. Close lid on grill and continue grilling until cheese is melted and chicken is no longer pink inside, about 3 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Using a spatula, carefully remove chicken to a serving platter.