Smoky Caprese Sandwiches Food

SMOKY CAPRESE BREAD BOWL

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium indirect heat.
• To make the bread bowl, slice off the top one-quarter of the bread with a serrated knife and set the top aside. Hollow out the loaf by cutting a circle around the inside of the bread, leaving a 1-inch border. Pull the soft bread out with your hands, making sure to leave about 1 inch intact at the bottom of the bowl as well. Reserve the bread pieces and the bowl.
• Combine the tomato paste, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, several grinds of black pepper and the red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Whisk in the olive oil until well combined. Brush the mixture all over the inside of the bread bowl and its top with a pastry brush. Fill with the cheese and replace the top.
• Grill the bread bowl until the cheese is completely melted, about 30 minutes. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, grill the reserved bread pieces until golden all over. Transfer everything to a serving platter and remove the top of the bread bowl. Top the cheese with the tomatoes and basil. Drizzle with more olive oil and some balsamic vinegar, then sprinkle with flaky salt.

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND TOMATO SOUP WITH SMOKY CAPRESE PANINI

Steps:

• Char the peppers on all sides over an open flame on a gas stovetop or under a hot broiler (with the oven door cracked to avoid steam buildup in the oven). Put the charred peppers in a bowl, cover, and let them rest until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a soup pot. Add the garlic, carrot, celery, and onions to the pot and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 10 minutes, then put them into a food processor with the diced tomatoes. Seed and peel the peppers and add them to the processor. Puree the mixture until smooth, then pour it into soup pot and stir in the stock.
• Heat a panini press or a large heavy skillet. Make sandwiches using 2 slices of cheese and 2 slices of ripe tomato on 4 of the bread slices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste, and top with some torn basil. Cover with the remaining 4 slices of bread and add them to the panini press or hot skillet. If using a skillet, top with a second smaller pan and weight it down with heavy cans. Press the sandwiches to toast and melt the cheese, a few minutes on each side or 5 minutes in a hot press.
• Serve the soup in bowls with the Panini alongside.

CAPRESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Salt the tomatoes and layer on the bottom piece of bread with the mozzarella and basil. Drizzle with Basil Oil. Top with the remaining piece of bread. Slice into portions.
• Add the basil to boiling water for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Remove to a bowl of ice water to stop it from further cooking. Dry and add to a blender. Add the olive oil, and blend until smooth. Strain through cheesecloth into a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the lemon juice right before serving.

CAPRESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• If using focaccia, cut the slices across the middle so you have a total of eight slices. Spread 1/4 tbsp pesto over four of the focaccia or bread slices, and drizzle each of the remaining four slices with 1/2 tsp olive oil.
• Divide the rocket, mozzarella, tomatoes, basil leaves and red onion slices over the pesto-topped focaccia or bread. Drizzle 1/4 tsp balsamic vinegar over each of the remaining slices. Sandwich the slices together, wrap up for a picnic or serve straightaway. Best eaten on the day they're made.

CAPRESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Spread mayonnaise on 1 side of each slice of toast. Top half the toast slices with tomatoes, salt and pepper. Add onion, mozzarella and basil; top with remaining bread slices.