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Say Cheese! Provoleta, Grilled Provolone

partysugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:30:08 -0700

A whole cow's milk cheese native to Southern Italy, provolone is now produced in other regions of the world. It has a mild flavor and semifirm texture. The cheese comes in various forms, ranging from a long salami-like shape to a squat-pear formation ideal for hanging. Provolone has a cream-colored rind and white to light-yellow interior. Most of it's aged two to three months, but some is aged up to a year. The older cheese has a deeper yellow color and more pronounced flavor. Provolone is a versatile cooking cheese because it is great for both melting and grating. To find out how I recently enjoyed it, hot off the grill, read more.

Provoleta, or grilled provolone cheese, is a classic Argentine dish. The cheese is normally served at the Argentine grill fest known as an asado, but it makes a wonderful starter to any alfresco meal. Although the cheese can be marinated or topped with chimichurri, it's equally delicious plain. I served mine with charred bread and nduja; however, feel free to get creative with the accompaniments.

Provoleta
Original Recipe

Ingredients

oil for the grill
2 slabs of provolone cheese, cut about 1-inch thick
grilled bread, for serving

Directions

Turn on a grill and heat to medium warm. Brush the grill with oil.
Place the cheese slabs directly on the grill. Cook until the cheese has grill marks and begins to melt about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cover the grill. Cook for 2-3 minutes more until the other side of the cheese is grilled and the entire slab is warmed through.
Enjoy immediately with grilled or toasted bread, crackers, salami, etc.

Serves 6-8.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Hamburger and Tomato Pizza

partysugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:45:41 -0800

The classic cheeseburger gets reinvented as a pizza in this scrumptiously simple recipe. Frozen pizza dough and store-bought marinara sauce simplify the homemade pizza making process.

Don't worry about putting raw hamburger meat on the pie, it will cook while the pizza bakes. Sound delicious? Get the recipe: read more.

Hamburger and Grape-Tomato Pizza
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil, such as safflower
All-purpose flour, for work surface
1 pound frozen pizza dough, thawed
3/4 cup store-bought marinara sauce
1 cup grated provolone cheese (4 ounces)
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
1/4 pound ground beef chuck
Coarse salt and ground pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Rub a large rimless baking sheet (or a rimmed one, upside down) with oil.
On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin and your hands to roll and stretch dough into a 15-by-11-inch rectangle (if dough becomes too elastic to work with, let it rest a few minutes). Transfer to prepared sheet.
Spread sauce evenly over dough, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Top with provolone, tomatoes, and if desired, onion; scatter beef over top. Season with salt and pepper.
Bake until crust is golden, beef is cooked, and cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Serves 4.

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What Would You Make?

partysugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:18:31 -0800

Here's the scenario: you are at home and hungry for food. You have to cook up something scrumptious for you and your boyfriend/girlfriend/ spouse/child/friend, but the ingredients you have on hand are limited.

You have provolone cheese, fresh oregano, and a loaf of focaccia. Using these products, along with whatever you currently have on hand in your cupboard and refrigerator, what would you make?

To see what I would make, read more.

I would start by making a marinade with chopped oregano, olive oil, salt, pepper, minced garlic, and hot pepper flakes. I would marinade the cheese in this mixture for at least an hour.
Meanwhile I would thinly slice the focaccia and bake it in the oven until crisp and cracker like.
Next I would take the chunk of marinated cheese and sear it on both sides in a hot frying pan. I would transfer the pan and cheese to the hot oven and bake for about 5-8 minutes until the cheese is browned and melty.
Finally, I would serve the melted cheese with the leftover marinade on top and the crisped focaccia on the side.

Source, Source, and Source

Must Make: Triple Decker Italian Cheese Sandwich

partysugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:00:44 -0700

When I was little there was nothing as comforting as a grilled cheese sandwich. Although I enjoyed its crisply toasted exterior and gooey melted-cheese center, what I loved most about a grilled cheese was the name. For the longest time, I thought they were called "girl cheese sandwiches," meaning that the sandwich was something so special and delicious only girls like myself got to enjoy them. Eventually, I learned that boys ate them too, but at that point, I was so smitten by the classic combination of cheese and bread that I didn't care. My latest favorite "girl" cheese sandwich is actually a baked cheese sandwich. With its three cheeses (fontina, provolone, and parmesan), triple decker, and slow roasted tomatoes, it's far more gourmet than anything I devoured as a child. However, it still is everything a classic grilled cheese should be: nostalgic, comforting, and sublimely scrumptious. To savor every bite of this sandwich yourself, get the recipe now.

'Wich of the Week: Cilantro Chicken Panini

YumSugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:00:51 -0700

At the farmers market near the Sugar offices, there's an Afghan food stand that sells all sorts of innovative breads and spreads, including a pesto sauce made from cilantro instead of the standard basil. I love the simplicity of the classic margherita pizza, and used that as inspiration for this panino.

The cilantro pesto combines perfectly with fresh tomato and grilled chicken. Instead of using a mild cheese like mozzarella, I subbed in saltier provolone, because it complements the cool flavor of the cilantro. Though cilantro haters won't go for this sandwich, it would be just as lovely with traditional basil pesto. To get the recipe, read more.

Cilantro Chicken Panini With Tomato and Provolone
Original recipe

Ingredients

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper
8 slices multigrain or wheat bread
4 tablespoons cilantro pesto
2 Roma tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch thick round slices
4 slices provolone cheese

Directions

On a clean work surface, place the chicken breasts on a large piece of plastic wrap, and fold the plastic wrap over to cover the chicken. Using a rolling pin or meat hammer, flatten the chicken until it is about 1/2 an inch thick. Season with salt and pepper.

On a grill or in a lightly oiled grill pan on the stove, cook each piece of chicken for about 5 minutes per side over medium heat. Set aside to cool, then cut each piece in half so you have four pieces of chicken.

To make each sandwich, spread 1 tablespoon of cilantro pesto on one slice of bread, then top with chicken, tomatoes, and a slice of cheese. Place second slice of bread atop cheese.

In a panini press on medium heat or in a skillet on the stove, cook panini until bread is lightly browned and cheese is melted - about 5 minutes in the panini press or 3 minutes per side in a skillet.

Makes 4 panini.

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Sunday BBQ: Grilled Vegetable Muffuletta

YumSugar — Sun, 31 May 2009 06:00:12 -0700

When you take over the grill tonight, test out a vegetarian barbecue option that's not so redundant: a meatless take on the New Orleans muffuletta sandwich. With crusty bread and warm, caramelized slices of eggplant, zucchini, red bell pepper, and mushrooms, this sandwich is a scrumptious, filling, and nutritious variation of the hearty Louisiana original. For extra creaminess and crunch, you can toast the bread and the provolone on the grill, too. Make this your new favorite veggie sandwich and read more.

Grilled Vegetable Muffuletta
From Every Day With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

1 eggplant, sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 zucchini, sliced 1/2 inch thick on an angle
1 red bell pepper, quartered lengthwise
1 large portobello mushroom cap
1 red onion, sliced 3/4 inch thick
6 ounces baby spinach
1/3 cup pine nuts (a generous handful)
2/3 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese (a couple generous handfuls)
1 cup store-bought giardiniera (pickled vegetable salad)
1/2 cup pitted green olives
One 8- to 9-inch round loaf crusty bread
1/4 pound deli-sliced provolone cheese
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

Directions

Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Lightly brush the eggplant, zucchini, bell pepper, portobello and red onion with 1/4 cup olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Cover and grill, turning once, until charred, about 6 minutes.
Using a food processor, puree the spinach, pine nuts and parmigiano-reggiano; season with salt and pepper. With the machine on, drizzle in the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil. Transfer the pesto to a bowl; rinse the food processor.
Using the food processor, pulse the giardiniera and olives into a coarse relish.
Slice the top quarter off the bread and scoop out the insides. Spread half the pesto on the inside of the bread, layer with half of the grilled vegetables, then spoon the remaining pesto on top. Fill the bread with the remaining vegetables and top with the provolone. Spread the inside of the bread top with the vegetable relish and set into place. Press down firmly, then cut into wedges.

Serves 4.

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What Would You Serve?

YumSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:50:38 -0700

Entertaining at home is one of my favorite activities of all time, but as with all hobbies, it requires lots of thinking ahead and decision-making, from planning a prep schedule to coordinating the menu. In this series, I'll present a dish and ask you to share what you'd serve alongside it.

Here's the scenario: You're having some old friends over this weekend to soak up the Summer sun over a laid-back lunch in your backyard. You know the star course for your meal will be a Cuban sandwich, made with roast pork, ham, provolone cheese, and pickles, and spread with a layer of mustard. What would you feed your guests to accompany it? See what I'd make when you read more.

I'd take my guests on a tropical-Latin staycation by placing a lemonade mojito in each of their hands. To start off the lunch, we'd enjoy a cilantro-dressed hearts of palm salad. I'd serve the sandwich next, alongside crispy plantain chips. The meal would end on a high note with coconut flan for dessert.

What would your menu include?

Fast and Easy Dinner: Cheddar-Stuffed Burgers

partysugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:30:35 -0700

What better way to start the weekend than with a succulent, cheese-filled burger? A crowd-pleasing classic, this cheeseburger comes together quickly and simply. For a leaner variation, use ground turkey instead of ground beef.

Once you've mastered the technique, get creative. Provolone, blue cheese, or mozzarella would make for a delicious molten center with roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, and pesto as toppings. To add the recipe to your collection, read more.

Cheddar-Stuffed Burgers
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
4 ounces cheddar, cut into 4 slabs
Vegetable oil, for grates
Coarse salt and ground pepper
4 hamburger buns, lightly toasted
Toppings, such as lettuce, tomato, red onion, bread-and-butter pickles, and ketchup

Directions

Divide beef into 4 equal portions, and gently form each into a ball. Insert a piece of cheese in the center of each ball, and flatten into 1-inch-thick patties, pinching beef to enclose cheese.
Transfer to a plate; with thumb, make a shallow indentation in center of patties, taking care not to expose cheese.
Heat grill to high; lightly oil grates. Just before grilling, season patties with salt and pepper. Place on grill; cover, and cook to desired doneness, 2 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Let burgers rest 3 to 4 minutes; serve on buns with desired toppings.

Serves 4.

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'Wich of the Week: Open-Face Ratatouille Sandwich

YumSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:00:13 -0700

Sometimes even a sandwich lover needs a serious serving of vegetables, so the other night, I turned my nutrition attention to these yummy open-face ratatouille sandwiches, made with roasted eggplant and red pepper, among other hearty things.Initially, I made the sandwiches according to the recipe, and they were perfectly delicious with just a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and a dusting of herbs. But I thought they needed something to close up their open-facedness, so I also made a version with melted provolone, which I preferred. For more details and to get the recipe, read more.

Roasting makes the veggies very moist, and the balsamic vinegar helps hold them all together. I definitely endorse the fresh thyme garnish, which makes it more interesting. Since the veggies are somewhat mild, I recommend using a high-quality artisan bread with a strong flavor, such as olive bread; I found a delicious chili bread at Trader Joe's, and the spiciness was a nice touch. I didn't have zucchini, so I left it out, but that doesn't mean you should. Check out the recipe below.

Open-Face Ratatouille Sandwich
Modified From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

1 small eggplant, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small zucchini or yellow summer squash, cut into 3/4-inch slices
1 medium red pepper, cut in strips
1/2 of a small red onion, cut in 1/2-inch wedges
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon herbes de Provence, crushed
6 cherry tomatoes, halved
4 large 1/2-inch slices artisan bread, such as chili bread or olive bread
1 clove roasted garlic, halved
2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
4 slices of provolone cheese
Fresh thyme sprigs (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large shallow roasting pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add eggplant, zucchini, red pepper, and onion to prepared pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with herbes de Provence, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Toss to coat.

Roast vegetables 30 minutes, tossing once. Add tomatoes to roasting pan. Roast 15 to 20 minutes more or until vegetables are tender and some surface areas are lightly browned.

Meanwhile, rub bread with cut sides of the garlic clove. Place one slice of the bread on each of four serving plates. Sprinkle balsamic vinegar over vegetables; toss gently to coat.

Spoon warm vegetables on bread. If desired, garnish with fresh thyme sprigs. Cover each sandwich with a slice of cheese and return to oven until bread is toasted and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

Makes 4 sandwiches.

Nutrition Facts (without cheese): Calories 250, Total Fat (g) 7, Saturated Fat (g) 1, Cholesterol (mg) 0, Sodium (mg) 328, Carbohydrate (g) 43, Fiber (g) 8, Protein (g) 7, Vitamin C (DV%) 90, Calcium (DV%) 5, Iron (DV%) 14

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Say Cheese! Fresh Ricotta

partysugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:00:07 -0800

One of my New Year's resolutions was to learn more about cheese, and now that it's almost March, I decided I better get on it! Don't worry readers, I'm taking you along for the ride: allow me to introduce my new feature devoted to the wonderful world of cheese. Each week, I'll pick a different type of cheese and use it in a delectable recipe. First up: homemade fresh ricotta. To learn more about this creamy cheese and check out the surprisingly easy recipe, read more.

The word ricotta means "recooked" in Italian, and the fresh cheese is not actually a cheese - it's a whey cheese. Whey is the leftover liquid that separates from the curds when making mozzarella, provolone, romano, etc. The remaining protein-rich byproduct is harvested, made more acidic, and reheated to create ricotta. Ricotta can be made from the whey of sheep, cow, goat, or water buffalo milk, but most American ricotta is a combination of whey and store-bought cow milk. Fresh ricotta has a slightly grainy texture and moist, almost sweet flavor. It's used in both savory (lasagna) and sweet (cheesecake) preparations.

This homemade variation is from the January issue of Bon Appétit. I was shocked when I read the article and saw how simple the recipe is: it only involves three common ingredients. After allowing plenty of time to chill, use in any recipe that calls for ricotta (stay tuned to find out how I used mine!).

Fresh Ricotta
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

8 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
tools: slotted spoon or fine-mesh skimmer, cheesecloth*, medium colander

Directions

Line a medium colander with four layers of cheesecloth. Set the cheesecloth-lined colander in the sink.
Bring the whole milk and salt to a simmer in a large, heavy-duty saucepan over medium-high heat.
Stir in the fresh lemon juice. Simmer the milk mixture gently until curds form, usually one to two minutes.
Using a slotted spoon or mesh skimmer, transfer the curds to the prepared colander. Let them drain for only a minute.
Transfer the ricotta to a medium bowl. It can be served right away, or covered and chilled up to two days.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

*I forgot to purchase cheesecloth, so instead of using a colander, I used a fine mesh strainer lined with a paper towel - it worked fine!

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