Mozzarella Tart With Pesto Food

20 MINUTE CHEESY PESTO TARTS

Steps:

• Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the walnuts and garlic.
• Toast for a few minutes or until golden brown, shaking the pan occasionally to toss the nuts and promote even color.
• Once the nuts are done, remove them from the pan and continue to toast the garlic.
• Remove it from the pan and remove the skin.
• Wait until both are cooled.
• Place the basil, nuts, garlic, and olive oil in a blender and pulse until smooth, but still a tad grainy in texture.
• Place everything in a bowl and stir in the cheese.
• Salt to taste and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Sprinkle a little flour on the counter and roll out the puff pastry sheets.
• Using a biscuit cutter or large glass, cut the dough into circles.
• Using a fork, poke holes all over the dough and gently press into a mini muffin tin.
• Place in the oven for about 10 minutes, remove from the oven and using a small spoon or tart press, push the sides back out, making a well in each center. I often use my fingers and burn myself, but do it anyway. :)
• Fill each cup with 1 teaspoon or so of prepared pesto.
• Add a tomato to each cup, a sprinkle of cheese and place in the oven for 5 minutes or until golden and cheesy.
• Remove from the oven and add a pinch of black pepper.
• Serve immediately or at room temperature.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO TART WITH PESTO AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Pour flour into a bowl and make a well in the center. Add butter, egg, water, salt, and sugar. Work the ingredients together with your fingertips until they resemble bread crumbs. Mix until smooth, pushing with the bottom of your palm to form dough into a ball. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
• Roll dough out into a large round on a floured work surface. Roll up dough over the rolling pin to transfer it to a tart pan with a detachable bottom. Drape dough over the tart pan; press over the bottom and against the edges. Trim the edges. Chill the crust for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Prick the bottom of the crust with a fork. Line with waxed paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans.
• Bake crust in the preheated oven until partially cooked, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the weights and waxed paper. Continue baking for 5 minutes. Let cool. Leave the oven on.
• Spread a thin layer of pesto over the crust. Break mozzarella into pieces over the pesto. Cover with tomatoes.
• Return tart to the oven; bake until tomatoes are tender and cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Season with sea salt before serving.

TOMATO & MOZZARELLA TART WITH ROAST PEPPER PESTO

Steps:

• Put a baking sheet in the oven and preheat to fan 200C/conventional 220C/gas 7. (Heating the sheet helps cook the pastry base.) Use the pastry to line a shallow rectangular tin about 20 x 30cm. Prick the base lightly with a fork.
• Scatter the Parmesan over the pastry base. Drain the peppers and pat dry on paper towels. (If the peppers are in oil, don't worry about this part.) Lay the whole peppers widthways across the pastry base. If the peppers aren't in oil, brush a little over them and the pastry, then season. Bake for about 15 minutes until the pastry is puffy and golden.
• Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella. Lay alternating, slightly overlapping lines of tomato and mozzarella over the peppers. Drizzle with oil, scatter with basil leaves and an extra grinding of black pepper, then serve while the pastry is still warm.

MOZZARELLA AND PESTO TWISTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• Unroll the crescent dough sheet onto a lightly floured work surface and gently stretch into a 14-by-8-inch rectangle. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough in half into two 7-by-8-inch rectangles. Using a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon, spread 2 tablespoons of the pesto on the top half of each rectangle, then sprinkle 1/2 cup of the mozzarella evenly over each half. Fold the bottom half of the dough upwards to cover the mozzarella and pesto and gently press the edges to seal.
• Cut each rectangle into 8 strips, each about 1/2 inch wide. Carefully twist each strip several times, making sure to keep the filling intact, then place on the prepared baking sheet and pinch the ends to seal. Refrigerate the twists for 30 minutes. Bake until puffed and golden brown, 13 to 15 minutes. Serve warm.

MOZZARELLA AND PESTO CRESCENT MINI TARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 24 miniature muffin cups with cooking spray. Unroll crescent dough sheet into 12x8-inch rectangle. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows to make 24 squares.
• Gently press dough squares into muffin cups (dough will not completely cover inside of cup; do not press too much). In small bowl, mix melted butter and garlic powder. Brush mixture lightly onto insides of crescent dough. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
• Fill each baked crescent cup with generous 1/2 teaspoon pesto, cheese ball half and tomato quarter. Bake 2 to 4 minutes or until cheese is softened. Remove from pan. Top with basil before serving. Serve warm.

FRESH MOZZARELLA BLT WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Slice the baguette open, leaving one side attached to form a hinge. Cook the bacon in a skillet over low heat until crispy; drain on paper towels.
• Combine the pesto with the mayonnaise and smear on the bottom part of the bread. Layer the romaine on the bread, then the tomato, bacon and mozzarella. Season with salt and pepper; close the sandwich and wrap in parchment paper.

MOZZARELLA, PESTO AND TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Prebake a 9" pie crust according to the package directions until barely golden brown.
• Preheat oven to 400 degree farenheit.
• Remove from oven and add the shredded cheeses.
• Let cool.
• Prepare pesto by grinding together all the ingredients and adding enough oil to form a coarse,thick paste.
• Core tomatoes and slice into 1/2 inch thick rings.
• Salt the slices liberally and place them on paper towels for 30 minutes.
• Press slices to extract all the liquid and wipe off as much salt as possible.
• Assemble the pie: Place the sliced mozzarella onto the cooled pie shell (arrange enough slices to closely fit into the shell).
• All the slices you may have might not be needed.
• Spread the pesto over the mozzarella in a thick layer to coat the cheese well.
• Arrange sliced tomatoes on top and season with salt and pepper.
• Bake for 15 min until cheese melts and pie is golden brown.

MOZZARELLA, TOMATO & BLACK OLIVE TARTS

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Cut the pastry into 4 rounds with an 11cm (approx) cutter. Using a sharp knife, score a circle about 1cm in from the edge of each round.
• Put the pastry rounds on a baking sheet, brush with egg and prick the bases with a fork. Spread each with tapenade or pesto, then arrange the sliced tomatoes on top and finish each with a couple of slices of mozzarella. Drizzle with a little olive oil, season and sprinkle with fresh thyme.
• Bake for 15-20 mins until the pastry is golden and the base is cooked. Remove the tarts from the oven and transfer to plates. Top each tart with a few olives and serve with a rocket salad or top with a few rocket leaves.

CHEESE, TOMATO & PESTO TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200c/fan 180c/gas 6. Unroll the pastry onto a flat baking sheet and, using a sharp knife, score a rectangle two finger-widths from the edge. Fork the pastry all over the inside of the marked edge. Scatter the cheese, olives and tomatoes over the centre of the tart, then season to taste.
• Bake for 20-25 mins until pastry is crisp and risen, tomatoes are soft and the cheese is golden. Drizzle over the pesto and cut the tart into slices to serve. Great with a green salad.

MOZZARELLA TART WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Spray 11-inch tart pan with removable bottom with cooking spray. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface into an 11-inch circle. Place in prepared pan. Prick dough several times with fork. Brush with egg. Bake 12 to 15 min. or until golden brown.
• Meanwhile, heat dressing in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken, onions and crushed red pepper; cook and stir 5 min. or until chicken is no longer pink and onions are crisp-tender.
• Spread crust with pesto sauce. Top with chicken mixture, roasted red peppers, tomatoes and cheese.
• Bake 10 to 12 min. or until chicken is done and cheese is melted. Remove tart from rim of pan. Cut into wedges to serve.