Prosciutto, walnut basil pesto, and sun-dried tomato sauce surround mozzarella in radicchio bundles for a tasty appetizer.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
- PESTO
- 2 large garlic cloves peeled
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cup fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus more
- .
- SUN-DRIED TOMATO SAUCE
- 12 dry-packed sun-dried tomato halves
- 1/4 cup pesto from above
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Salt to taste
- Freshly-ground black pepper to taste
- .
- BUNDLES
- 8 large radicchio leaves
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cut into 8 slices
- 8 (4 to 6 oz) thin prosciutto slices
- Olive oil for brushing
- 8 pieces cotton kitchen string, each 8 inches long
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts for garnish
Preparation:
To make Pesto:
With motor running in food processor fitted with steel blade, drop garlic through feed tube to mince it. Stop machine, add walnuts and salt, and coarsely chop nuts. Add basil and process until finely chopped. With machine running, pour olive oil through feed tube and process to a puree. Use at once, or store in airtight container in refrigerator. Cover pesto with layer of olive oil to keep color bright green.
Makes 1-1/2 cups.
To make Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce:
Place tomatoes in a bowl, cover with hot water and let plump for 20 minutes. Drain and finely chop tomatoes. Place in a bowl and add 1/4 cup pesto, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper. Blend with whisk or in food processor. Set aside.
To make bundles:
Prepare a hot fire in a grill.
Place a large pan of water over high heat and bring to boil. Blanch radicchio by dipping leaves into boiling water for 5 seconds. Remove with tongs and plunge into bowl of ice water. When cool, remove leaves and place on paper towels to drain. They should be limp and pliable.
Wrap each mozzarella slice in a slice of prosciutto. Wrap bundles with radicchio, enclosing completely. Secure each bundle with string and brush with oil. Grill bundles for about 3 minutes each side, or until nicely browned, turning with tongs or a spatula, so as not to pierce them.
Transfer to a heated platter. Drizzle with sauce and sprinkle with pine nuts. Serve warm.
Yield: 8 servings
Source: The Cheese Lover's Cookbook and Guide by Paula Lambert (Simon and Schuster)
Reprinted with express written permission.
With motor running in food processor fitted with steel blade, drop garlic through feed tube to mince it. Stop machine, add walnuts and salt, and coarsely chop nuts. Add basil and process until finely chopped. With machine running, pour olive oil through feed tube and process to a puree. Use at once, or store in airtight container in refrigerator. Cover pesto with layer of olive oil to keep color bright green.
Makes 1-1/2 cups.
To make Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce:
Place tomatoes in a bowl, cover with hot water and let plump for 20 minutes. Drain and finely chop tomatoes. Place in a bowl and add 1/4 cup pesto, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper. Blend with whisk or in food processor. Set aside.
To make bundles:
Prepare a hot fire in a grill.
Place a large pan of water over high heat and bring to boil. Blanch radicchio by dipping leaves into boiling water for 5 seconds. Remove with tongs and plunge into bowl of ice water. When cool, remove leaves and place on paper towels to drain. They should be limp and pliable.
Wrap each mozzarella slice in a slice of prosciutto. Wrap bundles with radicchio, enclosing completely. Secure each bundle with string and brush with oil. Grill bundles for about 3 minutes each side, or until nicely browned, turning with tongs or a spatula, so as not to pierce them.
Transfer to a heated platter. Drizzle with sauce and sprinkle with pine nuts. Serve warm.
Yield: 8 servings
Source: The Cheese Lover's Cookbook and Guide by Paula Lambert (Simon and Schuster)
Reprinted with express written permission.
