Mediterranean Stuffed Bread Food

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• For the lemon yogurt sauce: Add the yogurt, lemon juice, dill, coriander and some salt and pepper to a bowl. Mix together, then drizzle some olive oil on top and garnish with a sprig of dill.
• For the collards: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and have a bowl of ice water ready. Boil the collard leaves until bright green and pliable, about 1 1/3 minutes. Transfer to the ice water to cool. Gently squeeze the leaves dry.
• Lay out the leaves one at a time on a paper towel to blot, and use a sharp knife to cut out the thick center stems, cutting about three-quarters of the way to the top and making sure to leave 2 to 3 inches uncut at the top. Set the trimmed leaves aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the rice, raisins and allspice and cook, stirring, until the rice is well coated, about 1 minute. Add 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and remove from the heat. Stir in the dill, parsley, mint and lemon zest.
• Lay out one collard leaf with the intact end pointing towards you and the trimmed stem end pointing away. Spoon 2 level tablespoons of the rice filling in the center of the side facing you. Fold the sides of the leaf over the filling, then roll the leaf up tightly away from you like a burrito, starting from the bottom and finishing seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining leaves and rice filling. (Some of the larger leaves may need to be trimmed slightly if they appear too bulky when rolled up.)
• Add a splash of the remaining 3 tablespoons oil to a medium saucepan. Arrange the collard rolls in a single layer on the bottom of the pan. Top with enough water to just cover the rolls, then drizzle in the remaining olive oil and the lemon juice. Cover the rolls directly with a round of parchment paper. Bring the liquid to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a low simmer and cook, covered with a lid, for 1 hour. Remove the rolls from the liquid, drain on a paper towel-lined plate and let cool to room temperature. Serve with lemon wedges and the lemon yogurt sauce.

ITALIAN STUFFED BREAD

Steps:

• Place dough in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Roll dough into a 17x20-inch rectangle about 1/4-inch thick on a large piece of parchment paper. Brush olive oil over dough; sprinkle basil and oregano on top. Layer mortadella, provolone cheese, capicola ham, Genoa salami, tomatoes, and mushrooms over dough.
• Roll dough lengthwise into a log. Brush the top with beaten egg; sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Transfer to a baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until puffy, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 45 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing.

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cut one lemon half into 1/4-inch thick slices; remove any rind and quarter each slice. Juice the other half.
• Combine cod, feta cheese, diced bell pepper, zucchini, onion, Kalamata and green olives, and lemon slices in a mixing bowl. Mix in oregano and season with salt and pepper. Add lemon juice and olive oil; toss gently to coat all ingredients.
• Stuff peppers with the cod mixture. Wrap all peppers together in heavy-duty aluminum foil, creating a sealed pouch.
• Bake in the oven until peppers are tender and cod is cooked through, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

STUFFED ITALIAN BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix melted butter, parsley, olive oil, and garlic together in a bowl.
• Slice bread diagonally without cutting all the way through; do the same on the opposite diagonal to create cube-shaped sections still attached to the bottom crust.
• Spoon butter mixture carefully between sections; stuff in shredded Italian cheese blend. Wrap loaf in aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes; unwrap and bake until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes more.

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Use a melon baller to separate and remove seeds and pulp separately from the zucchini, carving out each half and leaving about a half-inch shell. Chop zucchini pulp into pieces about 1/4 inch in diameter. Discard seeds.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in hot oil until tender, about 5 minutes. Add ground lamb; continue to cook and stir until lamb is lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir chopped zucchini into the lamb mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer mixture until the zucchini is hot, about 3 minutes. Drain excess grease. Season lamb mixture with coarse salt and black pepper.
• Remove skillet from heat. Stir tomato sauce, tomatoes, feta cheese, pine nuts, and 1/4 cup mint leaves through the lamb mixture; spoon into the zucchini halves. Put stuffed zucchini halves into a large baking dish. Pour water into the baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Mix bread crumbs and mozzarella cheese in a bowl. Sprinkle 1/4 cup mint leaves over the zucchini and top with the bread crumb mixture. Continue baking until the top is crusty and browned, about 10 minutes more.

STUFFED BREAD

Steps:

• Roll out pizza dough, layer with salami, ham, pepperoni,and cheese.
• Roll from top to bottom.
• Brush on beaten egg and sprinkle with garlic powder.
• Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until top is golden.

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Cabbage -- I like to blanch my cabbage just in the microwave. Remove the leaves and put them in a flat dish with some water and nuke 1-2 minutes it doesn't take long. I do about 15 leaves at a time. It is quick and easy. If you prefer to blanch them in a large pot of boiling water to get the cabbage soft, that is fine too. You just want the leaves soft enough to roll but not cooked. Cool once soft so they are easier to handle.
• Filling -- In a large bowl mix the couscous, egg, seasoning, herbs, pine nuts, olives, cheese and onions. Stir well until everything is combined. Add the lamb and mix until combined.
• Time to roll up the cabbage -- Add a tablespoon or two to the cabbage leave and roll, folding in the sides. Secure with a tooth pick. Add to either a large pot for stove top cooking or a crock pot. Personally I love the crock pot for this. They both work equally as good.
• The sauce -- Add to the pot the wine mixed with the tomato paste, the canned tomatoes, chopped well, and the shallots. Cook on medium low on the stove for 2 hours. Or in the crock pot on low for 6-8 hours depending on the size of your crock pot.
• Serve this with grilled pita bread to soak up all the sauce and a fresh green salad with a lemon and oregano vinaigrette.

ITALIAN STUFFED BREAD

Steps:

• Thaw out bread dough.
• Dice a green pepper and onion (I make my pieces very small).
• Roll out dough on a floured surface.
• (your dough should be just wide enough to put your meats on) Stack the dough with a layer of each meat, cheese, and vegetable.
• bring edges of dough together.
• Using a little water will help the dough stick together.
• Be sure you leave no cracks in the dough, or your cheese will run out when cooking.
• Bake at 350 until golden brown (usually about 20-26 minutes depending on your oven and thickness of dough).
• enjoy!

MOROCCAN BREAD STUFFED WITH MEAT

Steps:

• Dough:.
• Add the sugar to 1/4 cup of lukewarm water. Then add the yeast and stir to soften. Let it sit in a warm place until the yeast is bubbly & doubles in volume, roughly 2 minutes.
• Mix the flours & salt in the large mixing bowl. After yeast is ready add it to the flour along with the milk. Add enough lukewarm water to the mixture to form a stiff dough.
• Note:Flours differ in their ability to absorb moisture so no precise amount can be given. Add a small amount at a time. If you have added too much the mixture will be extra sticky and it will be hard to get off your hands. The right consistency should allow the dough to pull easily off your fingers.
• Place the dough onto a lightly floured board & knead hard with closed fists, pushing outward. Add the seeds during the final part of kneading.
• It will take between 10-15 minutes to knead the dough thoroughly. You will know it is ready when it achieves a smooth, elastic consistency. (If you are using an electric beater with a dough hook, knead 7-8 minutes on a slow speed).
• With lightly oiled hands, form the dough into 4 equal sized balls. Flatten each piece into a rectangle approximately 8x12 inches (20x30cm).
• Filling:.
• Saute the meat & onion for in a skillet until the meat is no longer pink. Drain then add the rest of the ingredients for the filling.
• Spread a quarter of the filling down the center of each rectangle. Fold over the right side the then left to form a package that is 3x8 inches (7.5x20cm).
• Flatten the package out until it is again a rectangle measuring 8x12. Then refold as before until the package is 3x8 inches. Repeat with all 4 balls.
• Spray two baking pans with cooking spray then place 2 bread packages on each pan. Cover with a clean towel & leave in a warm place for the dough to rise for an hour.
• Heat a griddle & brush with a little oil or butter. Poke the package five times on each side with a fork. Fry the dough for 8-10 minutes on each side until crisp & golden. Brush with a little melted butter just before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED BREAD

Steps:

• BREAD.
• In a large bowl, whisk warm water with honey.
• Sprinkle in yeast; let stand for 10 minutes or until frothy.
• With wooden spoon, stir in 2-1/4 cups of the flour, semolina, oil and salt until dough comes away from the bowl.
• Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes or until soft and slightly sticky, dusting with remaining flour as needed.
• Place in a greased bowl, turning to grease all over.
• Cover with plastic wrap; let rise in warm draft-free place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
• FILLING.
• In a small bowl, cover sun-dried tomatoes with boiling water.
• Let stand for 10 minutes or until softened then drain and chop to make about 3/4 cup.
• In a bowl, toss together sun-dried tomatoes, cheese, parsley, onions, garlic, oil, oregano, basil, salt & pepper.
• Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface; roll out into 16x9 inch rectangle and spread with filling.
• Starting at long side, roll up into cylinder.
• Pinch along seam to smooth and seal.
• Flatten slightly & pinch ends to seal.
• Preheat oven at 375 degrees F.
• TOPPING.
• Sprinkle semolina on baking sheet; place loaf on top.
• Brush with oil; sprinkle with parsley and pat lightly into dough.
• Cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
• Bake on lowest rack in 375 degree F oven for 35 minutes or until well-browned and loaf sounds hollow when tapped from bottom.
• Remove from pan and let cool slightly on rack.