Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Food

RED PEPPER-BASIL PESTO PIZZA

Steps:

• For the pesto: Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F.
• Put the peppers on a baking sheet, rub them with the canola oil and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Roast until they are slightly charred and soft, turning several times, about 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the peppers to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let them steam for 10 minutes. Remove the skins and seeds.
• Put the peppers, garlic, basil and pine nuts into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube and pulse to emulsify. Add the cheese and salt and pepper, to taste and pulse a few more times just to combine. Scrape the mixture into a bowl.
• For the pizza: Light a grill to high heat.
• Roll the pizza dough into 2 (12-inch) circles, brush the top with some canola oil, and season them with salt and black pepper, to taste. Put them on the grill, oiled side down, and grill until the bottoms are slightly charred and golden brown. Brush the tops with additional oil before flipping the pizzas over. Continue grilling until the crusts are just firm, about 40 seconds.
• Transfer the shells to a baking sheet, top each with some of the pesto, mozzarella and shaved Parmigiano and return them to the grill. Close the cover and grill until the cheese melts. Remove the pizzas from the grill and finish the pizza with some sliced red onion and handful of arugula. Slice and serve.
• Combine the bread flour, sugar, yeast and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and combine. While the mixer is running, add the water and 2 tablespoons of the oil and beat until the dough forms into a ball. If the dough is sticky, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together in a solid ball. If the dough is too dry, add additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead into a smooth, firm ball.
• Grease a large bowl with the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, add the dough, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in a warm area to let it double in size, about 1 hour. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 2 equal pieces. Cover each with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let them rest for 10 minutes.

ROASTED RED PEPPER PESTO

Steps:

• Toast the garlic in a small skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until the color of the cloves deepens slightly, about 7 minutes.
• Transfer the garlic to a plate to cool, then peel the cloves and mince.
• Process the garlic, peppers, parmesan, ricotta, shallot, parsley, thyme, oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor until smooth, about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve with your choice of al-dente pasta!

ROASTED RED PEPPER & PARSLEY PESTO WITH PENNE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Meanwhile, put the peppers, parsley, nuts, garlic and olive oil in a small food processor or mini chopper, and whizz to a pesto consistency. Season and mix in the Parmesan.
• Drain the pasta and return to the pan with the pesto. Stir and gently heat for 1 min, then sprinkle with a little more chopped parsley and serve.

ROASTED GARLIC AND RED PEPPER PESTO

Steps:

• Peel away dry outer skin from garlic head.
• Leave skins of garlic cloves intact.
• Cut off pointed top portion with a knife, leaving the head intact but exposing the individual cloves.
• Place garlic head, cut side up, in small baking dish.
• Drizzle with oil; cover and set aside.
• Halve the sweet peppers; remove stem, membranes and seeds.
• Place peppers, cut sides down, on foil lined baking sheet.
• Bake peppers and covered garlic in a 425 oven 20-25 minutes or until pepper skins are bubbly and blackened.
• Remove peppers.
• Place peppers in a clean brown paper bag and seal.
• Let stand 20-30 minutes or until peppers are cool enough to handle.
• Continue baking garlic 20-35 minutes more until garlic cloves feel soft when pressed.
• Set garlic aside to cool.
• Using a sharp knife, carefully peel peppers.
• Cut peppers into pieces.
• Remove garlic head from oil, reserve oil.
• Press to remove garlic paste from the individual cloves.
• In food processor bowl or blender container combine roasted pepper pieces, garlic paste, reserved oil, Asiago or Parmesan cheese, black pepper and salt.
• Cover and process with several on-off turns until smooth.
• When necessary, stop food processor or blender and use a rubber scraper to scrape the side of bowl or container.
• Stir in thyme.
• To store, place in airtight container and store in refrigerator up to 1 week or in the freezer up to 3 months.
• To serve, bring pesto to room temperature.

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND PESTO DIP

Steps:

• Mix pesto and half the cream cheese spread in medium bowl. Stir in half the sour cream.
• Spoon remaining cream cheese spread into separate medium bowl. Add peppers; mix well. Stir in remaining sour cream. Refrigerate both dips 2 hours.
• Spoon dips alternately into serving bowl; swirl with knife. Serve with crackers.