Sunchoke Pizza Food

ROASTED SUNCHOKE WITH CREAMY GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Spread the sunchokes out evenly on a baking sheet. Season generously with salt and pepper and drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil. Mix them around with your hands so everything gets evenly coated.
• Slice off the top part of the head of garlic to expose a small amount of the cloves. Place the head, root-side down, in a piece of aluminum foil. Season the top cut part with salt and pepper and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Wrap the garlic in the foil, creating a package, and place it on the baking sheet with the sunchokes. Roast until the sunchokes are brown and slightly tender, 45 to 50 minutes.
• While the sunchokes are still hot, smash them with a potato masher or fork. They should be smashed but not completely mashed up.
• In a large bowl, combine the goat cheese, chives, a generous pinch of salt and pepper and the remaining 2 tablespoon olive oil. Add the smashed sunchokes. Take the garlic out of the foil. Squeeze the bulb so that the roasted cloves come out of the skins and fall into the bowl with the goat cheese and sunchokes. Stir it all up until the ingredients are blended and the sunchokes well coated. Serve immediately.

SUNCHOKES BRAVAS WITH ROASTED PEPPERS AND LEMON AIOLI

Steps:

• Preheat a charcoal grill over high heat. Preheat the oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
• Add the peppers directly to the hot coals and allow to char and blister on all sides, about 5 minutes. Carefully remove from the grill and add to a heatproof bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to steam, 10 minutes.
• Remove the peppers from the bowl and place on a clean work surface. Gently remove the seeds and charred skin. Add the peppers to a food processor and turn on the machine. Stream in the vinegar and olive oil.
• Pour this mixture into a large, high-sided saute pan and place over medium-high heat. Heat just until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Keep warm until ready to serve.
• Meanwhile, add the sunchokes to the deep-fryer and fry until evenly golden brown, about 10 minutes. Drain on a wire rack-lined sheet tray and sprinkle with salt.
• For the aioli: Combine the mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice and zest in a blender. Whip until smooth.
• Add the red pepper puree to the bottom of a serving platter. Top with the fried sunchokes and drizzle with the aioli.