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Roasted Pepper and Artichoke Puffs

Source of Recipe

From "Cold-Weather Cooking" by Sarah Leah Chase


Recipe Introduction

"Once in a rare while, I perfect an hors d'oeuvre that is so successful and addictive that I end up serving it at every party without ever tiring of it. The Scallop Puffs Que Sera, from my Nantucket Open House cookbook, have become one such signature morsel and these, I wager, are destined to serve as co-stars."

List of Ingredients

â—¦ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
â—¦ 1 bunch scallions, trimmed and minced
â—¦ 2 cloves garlic, minced
â—¦ 1 can (13 ¾ ounces) artichoke bottoms, drained and cut into ¼-inch dice
â—¦ 3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, minced
â—¦ 3 tablespoons finely shredded fresh basil leaves
â—¦ 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (about ½ cup)
â—¦ 2 ounces Jarlsberg or Gruyère cheese, grated (about ½ cup)
â—¦ 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
â—¦ Freshly ground black pepper to taste
â—¦ ½ cup Hellmann's mayonnaise
â—¦ 3 red bell peppers
â—¦ 3 yellow bell peppers
â—¦ ¼ cup olive oil
â—¦ 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
â—¦ Salt to taste


Recipe

Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the scallions and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, just until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a medium-size mixing bowl.

Add the artichoke bottoms, prosciutto, basil, Parmesan, and Jarlsberg to the scallions and toss to combine. Sprinkle with the lemon juice and pepper. Bind the mixture with the mayonnaise and refrigerate at least one hour.

Meanwhile, prepare the peppers: Preheat the oven to 400° F. Stem and seed each pepper, then cut into chunks about 2 x 1 ½ inches. Place the peppers in a single layer in a large, shallow baking dish. Drizzle with the olive oil and vinegar and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the peppers 15 minutes, stirring once halfway through the cooking time. Remove from the oven and let cool.

When ready to serve the hors d'oeuvres, preheat the broiler.

Mound about 2 teaspoons of the artichoke mixture onto each pepper wedge. Arrange in rows on baking sheets and broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat until puffed and bubbly, about 2 minutes. Let cool a few minutes, then transfer to a serving tray and pass with plenty of cocktail napkins.

Makes about 4 dozen