Mozzarella And Roasted Red Pepper Boo Schetta
Kids and adults alike will get a kick out of these "red-veined eyeball" toasts. The great thing about the boo-schetta is that a platter full of them not only looks eerie but also tastes deliciousa claim you cant always make when striving for themed party food. Whatever you do, don't blink! These cheese-topped toasts will disappear before your very eyes.
Yield
Makes about 20 toasts, or 10 servings
Active Time
45 minutes
Total Time
1 hour
Ingredients
- 1 (12-inch-long) loaf of Italian bread (about 2 to 3 inches in diameter), cut into 20 slices, about 1/2 inch thick
- 1 to 2 large garlic cloves, halved crosswise
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 (1/2-pound) balls fresh, lightly salted mozzarella
- 2 tablespoons prepared basil pesto (see Cooks' notes)
- 2 tablespoons mascarpone, softened
- 7 large pitted black olives (Mediterranean-style or canned California), ends trimmed and each olive cut crosswise into thirds
- 1 (7-ounce) jar roasted red bell peppers, drained, patted dry, and cut into thin strips
Preparation
- Heat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
- Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet and bake until pale golden, 6 to 12 minutes. Rub tops of slices with cut sides of garlic, then brush each bread slice with oil. Season toasts with salt and pepper and transfer to a wire rack to let cool completely.
- Cut mozzarella crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and trim, if necessary, to fit toasts.
- Stir together pesto and mascarpone in a small bowl. If necessary, thin mixture with a little olive oil or water.
- Dollop 1/2 teaspoon pesto mixture in center of each mozzarella-covered toast, then top each dollop with an olive slice to form the "irises" of the "eyeballs." Add 6 to 8 pepper slices for "veins," trimming to fit.
- Serve within 1 hour of making.
Cooks' notes:
•Prepared pestos can vary in texture. Some homemade versions can be very dense, while some store-bought ones can be quite loose with excess oil. If purchasing pesto, look for one that is not loose.
•Bread can be toasted 4 hours ahead and kept at room temperature.
•Boo-schetta should be assembled no more than 1 hour ahead and kept at room temperature because the fresh mozzarella will begin to weep a little liquid and soften the toast.
•Bread can be toasted 4 hours ahead and kept at room temperature.
•Boo-schetta should be assembled no more than 1 hour ahead and kept at room temperature because the fresh mozzarella will begin to weep a little liquid and soften the toast.
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Nutritional Info
- Calories370
- Carbohydrates20 g(7%)
- Fat24 g(37%)
- Protein19 g(37%)
- Saturated Fat11 g(54%)
- Sodium684 mg(29%)
- Polyunsaturated Fat2 g
- Fiber1 g(5%)
- Monounsaturated Fat9 g
- Cholesterol57 mg(19%)
Source: epicurious.com