Toasted Smoked Mozzarella And Radicchio Sandwiches Food

PERFECTLY GRILLED RADICCHIO

Steps:

• Cut the radicchio in quarters lengthwise, being sure to keep some of the stem attached to each quarter. Trim off any dark bits of stem. Submerge the radicchio quarters in ice water for 1 hour to remove some bitterness. Put a plate on top of the radicchio to keep them under water.
• In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except the mozzarella. Mix well.
• Prepare a hot fire in your grill, or heat a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Drain the radicchio and place them on paper towels to absorb remaining water. Open up the leaves and spoon the olive oil mixture inside. Place the radicchio quarters on a baking sheet and pour the remaining marinade mixture. Season generously with salt and pepper.
• Grill the radicchio until browned on the outside but still raw in the center, 3 to 5 minutes, turning occasionally. Be careful, as the oil mixture may flame up.
• When the radicchio begins to brown, pull from the grill, open up a section of each portion and place a slice of mozzarella inside. Place quarters back onto the sheet pan and place the pan directly on the grill for 5 minutes to melt the cheese. Drizzle any leftover dressing over the top of the grilled radicchio and serve warm.
• If making radicchio in advance: Before the party, have the radicchio drained and marinated in the vinaigrette in the refrigerator.

RADICCHIO WITH SMOKED MOZZARELLA, BALSAMIC VINEGAR, AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 425°F.
• Arrange radicchio wedges, cut sides up, in a 2 1/2-quart shallow glass or ceramic baking dish (11 by 7 inches), then drizzle with oil and vinegar and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Roast radicchio, turning over once or twice, until wilted and tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Arrange cheese over radicchio, then arrange prosciutto over cheese and roast until cheese is just melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

GRILLED MOZZARELLA SANDWICH

Steps:

• Lay one-fourth of the mozzarella between 2 slices of bread and close. Repeat with the remaining bread slices.
• In a small shallow baking dish, whisk together the eggs and milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until hot. Dust 1 sandwich with flour, dip it in the egg mixture, then add it to the pan. Fry about 3 minutes on each side, until the outside is golden and crisp, but not burned, and the mozzarella is completely melted. Remove the sandwich from the pan, then repeat with the other 3 sandwiches. Cut each sandwich in half and serve.

TOASTED SMOKED-MOZZARELLA AND RADICCHIO SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté radicchio with vinegar, stirring, until wilted and tender, about 1 to 2 minutes. Season radicchio with salt and pepper and stir in parsley. Remove skillet from heat.
• Preheat broiler.
• On a baking sheet toast both sides of bread about 3 inches from heat until golden. Rub one side of each toast with garlic and season with salt. Divide radicchio among toasts, spreading evenly, and cover radicchio with mozzarella. Broil toasts until cheese is melted, 1 to 2 minutes.

FRENCH TOASTED MOZZARELLA AND PROSCIUTTO SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200ºF.
• Place 6 slices of bread on a flat work surface, and arrange 1/2 of the mozzarella on the bread - trim and rearrange as necessary to cover each slice.
• Divide the basil and prosciutto over the cheese.
• Place the other 1/2 of the cheese over the prosciutto, arrange and trim as necessary again to cover.
• Top with remaining bread slices, then trim off and discard the bread crusts.
• In a shallow bowl combine the eggs and milk.
• In another bowl combine the bread crumbs, pine nuts and 1/8 tsp each of salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 1/2 Tbs of oil in a large skillet over high heat until hot.
• Dip sandwiches into the egg mixture, letting the excess drip off, then dip into the bread crumbs mixture. Coat the well.
• When the pan is hot, reduce heat to medium-low and add half of the sandwiches.
• Cook them about 3 min on each side or until they are nicely golden and the cheese has melted.
• Place them in the oven to stay warm and repeat with the remaining oil and sandwiches.
• Cut the sandwiches in half or quarters and serve warm.

MUSHROOM, RADICCHIO, AND SMOKED MOZZARELLA LASAGNE

Steps:

• In a large (12- to 14-inch) non-stick skillet heat 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté radicchio, stirring, until wilted and golden. In a food processor pulse quartered mushrooms until chopped fine. Add chopped mushrooms to radicchio with salt and pepper to taste and sauté, stirring, until liquid mushrooms give off is evaporated.
• In a heavy saucepan melt butter over moderately low heat and whisk in flour until smooth. Cook roux, whisking, 3 minutes. Whisk in milk in a stream and salt and pepper to taste and simmer, whisking occasionally, 5 minutes, or until thick. Stir sauce into mushroom mixture. Mushroom sauce may be made 3 days ahead and chilled, its surface covered with plastic wrap.
• In cleaned skillet cook garlic in remaining 2 tablespoons oil over moderately low heat until softened. Add sliced mushrooms and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring, until golden and liquid mushrooms give off is evaporated. Stir in parsley and salt and pepper to taste. Remove skillet from heat and cool. Stir in lemon juice.
• Reserve 1/2 cup smoked mozzarella for topping. In a bowl combine remaining smoked mozzarella with plain mozzarella.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Pour 1 cup mushroom sauce into a baking dish, 13 by 9 by 2 inches (sauce will not cover bottom completely), and cover with 3 lasagne sheets, making sure they do not touch each other. Spread about 1 cup sauce over pasta. Top sauce with one third of sliced mushroom mixture and half of mixed cheeses. Make 1 more layer in same manner, beginning and ending with pasta. Spread remaining sauce evenly over top pasta layer, making sure pasta is completely covered. Spread remaining sliced mushroom mixture evenly over sauce and sprinkle with reserved smoked mozzarella.
• Cover dish tightly with foil, tenting slightly to prevent foil from touching top layer, and bake in middle of oven 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake lasagne 10 minutes more, or until top is bubbling and golden. Let lasagne stand 5 minutes before serving.

MOZZARELLA WITH CHARRED RADICCHIO AND SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 475 degrees. Cut radicchio heads in half, from top to bottom. Cut each half into 2 or 3 large wedges. Drizzle each piece lightly with oil and season with salt and pepper. Lay them on a baking sheet and place on the top oven shelf. Roast until radicchio wedges are somewhat softened and charred at the edges, about 15 minutes. (Alternatively, cook the radicchio under the broiler, on the grill, or in batches on the stovetop in a cast-iron pan over high heat.)
• As radicchio cooks, put parsley, cilantro, chives, capers and lemon zest in a small bowl. Stir in 3/4 cup oil, the lemon juice and sumac, if using. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cut the mozzarella crosswise into 1/4-inch slices. For each serving, put 2 or 3 slices on one side of the plate. Set 2 wedges charred radicchio beside the mozzarella. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons salsa verde in the middle.