Piadine With Caesar Salad And Roasted Garlic Paste Food

PIADINE WITH GRILLED CHICKEN AND SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the grill or grill pan. Carefully oil the grill or grill pan with a cloth dipped in a little olive oil. If using a grill, have the grilling surface 8 to 10 inches above the embers. Regulate the amount of coals under the grill so that it maintains a consistent medium-hot heat (the oil on the grill will begin to smoke).
• Prepare the chicken. Coat each chicken breast with the extra-virgin olive oil. Season each side evenly with a little salt and pepper. Place the chicken on the grill, skin side first, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Turn over and continue to cook in the same manner another 4 or 5 minutes until the meat is slightly firm to the touch. Season 1 side evenly with the roasted garlic rub. Remove from the heat and reserve until cool. Cut the chicken with the grain into bite-size pieces. Reserve.
• Divide the dough into 6 balls. Working on a surface free of flour, roll each ball under your palm. As it rolls, it will stick slightly to the surface, creating tension that helps form a tight, round ball. Dust the work surface with flour, pat each ball down lightly, dust the tops with flour, cover with a towel, and let rise for about 15 minutes.
• With a rolling pin, roll each ball into a circle 8 or 9-inches in diameter and about 1/8-inch thick and place on a cookie sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal (to keep the dough from sticking).
• On a clean grill surface (use a wire brush then oil again as before) gently lay the piadine on the grill and cook until the bottom has set and is cooked, but not so well done that it is not pliable, about 4 minutes. Turn the crust and cook on the second side. The cooking time will vary with the heat of the grill. Remove crusts.
• Meanwhile, toss together the spinach, mozzarella, tomato wedges, red onion, Parmesan and chicken. Toss with vinaigrette to coat the greens and taste for seasoning with salt and pepper. Place the crusts on plates and divide the salad among them. Serve "open face." Diners should fold their piadine in half and eat without utensils!

ROASTED-GARLIC PASTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Peel the outermost layers of skin off the heads of garlic. Cut off the top third of each head to open the cloves. Put the heads, cut sides up, in a small baking dish and pour the olive oil over them. Season with salt and pepper. Cover tightly, place in the oven and roast until about 3/4 cooked (about 45 minutes).
• Uncover and return to the oven until the cloves begin to pop out of their skins and brown (about 15 minutes). Let cool. When cool enough to handle easily, squeeze the roasted garlic into a small bowl. Press firmly against the skins to extract all the sweet roasted garlic you can. Add the oil from the baking dish, the Parmesan cheese, rosemary and a pinch of gray salt. Mix well until a paste forms. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

CAESAR SALAD WITH ROASTED GARLIC DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Peel off papery outer skin from whole garlic, keeping heads in tact. Place in small casserole dish. Pour vermouth over. Drizzle 1 tablespoon oil over garlic. Season with pepper. Cover; bake until garlic is very soft and pastelike, about 1 1/2 hours. Cool garlic.
• Increase oven temperature to 350°F. Mix 2 1/2 tablespoon oil and rosemary on baking sheet. Season with pepper. Add bread cubes and turn cubes in oil mixture to coat. Bake until lightly toasted, about 15 minutes. Cool.
• Squeeze garlic to remove cloves from skins. Place in small bowl and mash with fork to form paste. Transfer paste to blender. Add fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, anchovy paste, Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce and puree. With machine running, gradually add 1/3 cup olive oil. (Croutons and dressing can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Reserve outer endive leaves for another use. Tear enough inner yellow leaves into bite-size pieces to measure 3 cups. Place in large bowl. Add romaine. Pour dressing over. Toss well. Sprinkle cheese and croutons over salad. Toss gently. Season with pepper and serve.