Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Roasted Pepper and Mozzarella Bites
I saw these appetizer beauties on Tastespotting, and instantly bookmarked it because I LOVE roasted red peppers, and I love mozzarella. This was such an easy, yet delicious appetizer to prepare, I recommend it next time you throw a party! You could easily just use red peppers. At the store I shopped, the red peppers were much larger than the yellow ones; and after roasting, I had a hard time wrapping some of the yellow peppers around the mozzarella. Plus, every once in a while, you can catch red peppers on sale, which is more the reason to make them! I roasted, peeled, and cut the pepper strips the night before, so this was easy to prepare come party time, especially if you’ve got a lovely lady named Violet helping out!
Roasted Pepper and Mozzarella Bites
from the Italian Dish
Ingredients:
2 bell peppers, one yellow and one red
1 tub fresh mozzarella, preferably the cherry sized
olive oil
salt and pepper and/or seasoning that you like
3-4 fresh basil leavesDirections:
Set oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with foil. Place the whole peppers on the foil and place under broiler. When the tops of the peppers have turned black, take tongs and rotate peppers. Keep turning peppers until the skin is completely charred. Place peppers in a brown paper lunch sack or in a large zip lock bag. Close. Let steam for 10 minutes. Remove peppers to a cutting board and let cool.
After peppers have cooled, skins will slip off easily. Remove all skins and then cut peppers in half, removing stem carefully so peppers don't tear. Remove seeds carefully. Slice each pepper half into about 5 or 6 strips. Season pepper strips.
Drain 20 to 22 mozzarella balls. Place mozzarella in small bowl and drizzle some olive oil on them. Sprinkle some salt and pepper and/or your seasoning (don't be skimpy with the salt) and toss.
Take each mozzarella ball and wrap with a strip of pepper. Secure with a toothpick and place on serving platter. Repeat with remaining peppers and cheese. Slice some fresh basil, if you like, into chiffonade and sprinkle over the appetizers.
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