Multilayered Anchovy Bread Food

MULTILAYERED ANCHOVY BREAD

Steps:

• Make dough:
• Stir together water and yeast in a small bowl until yeast is dissolved and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn't foam, discard and start over with new yeast.) Stir oil into yeast mixture. Pulse together "00" flour, semolina, and salt in a food processor until combined. With motor running, pour in yeast mixture and process until a wet dough forms. Transfer dough from bowl to a lightly floured surface and knead gently a few times until smooth. Form dough into a ball and transfer to an oiled large bowl, turning to coat. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel. Let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Make seasoned oil:
• Whisk together all oil ingredients in a small bowl until combined well.
• Form and bake sfogliata:
• Lightly oil an 8-inch square baking pan. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times to remove air. Roll out dough on a well-floured surface into a roughly 18-inch round (1/8-inch thick).
• Reserve 1 tablespoon seasoned oil and brush remaining oil over dough round, leaving a 1/4-inch border around edge. Tightly roll up dough jelly-roll style and pinch seam to seal (some filling will seep out as you roll). Arrange roll seam side down and form into a coil, then transfer to oiled pan. Gently press on coil to flatten slightly, then cover pan loosely with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel. Let rise at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Brush top of dough with reserved oil and bake until pale golden and top and underside are crusty, 35 to 40 minutes. Lift bread from pan with a metal spatula and transfer, right side up, to cool completely on a rack, about 1 hour. Serve bread thinly sliced.
• *Available at fornobravo.com.
• **Available at D. Coluccio & Sons (718-436-6700).

ANCHOVY GARLIC SPREAD

Steps:

• Saute' garlic in oil (do not brown).
• Add anchovies and cook/saute for a few minutes.
• Put mixture in blender or food processor and puree.
• Spread onto sliced French, Sour Dough or Italian bread.
• Cover each slice with desired amount of cheese.
• Place under broiler until the cheese becomes bubbly.
• Note: if you are not terribly fond of anchovies (very salty fish) I would put on a thinner spread.

BREADED FRIED ANCHOVIES ITALIAN RECIPE

Steps:

• Slit open the belly and clean out the guts, then cut off the head and finally remove the spine.
• Rinse the anchovies under running water.
• Pat them with kitchen paper to dry the water.
• Dip the anchovies in the beaten egg one at a time.
• Cover the anchovies with breadcrumbs and press with your hand on both sides.
• Fry the anchovies for 1 or 2 minutes on each side until they become golden and crisp.
• Serve fried anchovies hot with a few drops of lemon juice.

TOMATO AND BREAD SALAD WITH GARLIC-ANCHOVY DRESSING

Steps:

• Core and halve tomatoes, then cut each half into 4-5 wedges. Toss wedges with salt in a large bowl; let rest until small pool of liquid accumulates, 15-20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk oil, vinegar, garlic, basil, anchovies, and pepper to taste in small bowl. Pour mixture over tomatoes and accumulated liquid; toss to coat. Set aside to blend flavors, about 5 minutes.
• Add bread cubes; toss to combine. Adjust seasonings. Sprinkle with some freshly grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.