Antipasto Loaf Recipes

Steps:

• Cut baguette lengthwise in half. Remove soft insides from both bread halves. (Reserve removed bread for another use.)
• Mix cream cheese spread and pesto; spread onto insides of bread shells. Fill with tomatoes, artichokes, Parmesan and spinach.
• Reassemble baguette; wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.

Steps:

• CUT baguette in half horizontally; remove bread from centre of each half, leaving 1-inch-thick shells. Reserve removed bread for another use.
• MIX cream cheese spread and pesto until well blended. Spread evenly on bottom of both baguette halves.
• TOP bottom half of baguette with tomatoes, artichokes, Parmesan cheese and spinach. Cover with second baguette half; press together firmly. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to serve or up to 24 hours. Cut into 25 slices to serve.

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• Cut the block of cheese in half lengthwise and position end to end, so that the cheese forms a long rectangle. Center the cheese rectangle on the top of the bread so there is a small border of bread around it. Using the point of a chef's knife and a back and forth sawing motion, cut into the crust following an outline 1/2 inch larger than the cheese on all sides; be careful not to cut all the way through to the bottom of the bread. Remove the cut crust and some of the loaf's interior, leaving the bottom crust and the bread on the sides intact (set aside the extra bread for breadcrumbs or another use). The cheese should fit in the cavity with about a 1/2-inch space around it and it should be about flush with the top of the bread. If not, cut and trim the cheese so it fits.
• Line the bread bowl with the prosciutto so that the meat completely covers the bottom and sides (this will stop the melted cheese from leaking as it bakes). Drape the cured meats along the sides of the cutout so that they hang over the edges of the loaf.
• Sprinkle half of the giardiniera and olives over the prosciutto. Top with the cheese blocks. Sprinkle the remaining giardiniera and olives over the top and sides of the cheese. Brush any exposed bread with oil. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, cover with foil and bake until the cheese is completely melted and beginning to drip down the sides, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Let sit covered for 10 minutes before cutting into thick slices.

Steps:

• Cut the top off a loaf of crusty bread. Hollow out the inside of the bread.
• Mix chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chopped olives and store bought or homemade pesto sauce. Spread the mixture evenly across the bottom of the hollowed out bread. Layer the cheese into the loaf. Layer the roasted red peppers on top of the cheese. Coarsely chop the drained artichoke hearts and add them in a layer over the red peppers. Sprinkle in the chopped hot pickled vegetables and drizzle some extra-virgin olive oil on top. Replace the top, cut the stuffed loaf into pieces and serve.

Steps:

• Cut baguette in half horizontally; remove bread from center of each half, leaving 1 inch thick shells. Reserve removed bread for another use.
• Mix cream cheese spread and pesto until well blended. Spread evenly on bottom of both baguette halves.
• Top bottom half of baguette with tomatoes, artichokes, Parmesan cheese and spinach. Cover with second baguette half; press together firmly. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to serve or up to 24 hours. Cut into 25 slices to serve.

Steps:

• Cut bread in half lengthwise, then in half widthwise. Place cut side up in a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Brush with 2 tablespoons oil. Bake at 450° for 5-8 minutes or until lightly browned., Meanwhile, in a small skillet, saute the carrot, green pepper, celery, onion and garlic in remaining oil for 5 minutes or until tender., Spread pesto over bread. Top with salami, tomatoes, carrot mixture and olives. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut each piece of bread in half to serve.

Steps:

• To roast peppers, set them directly in the flames of a stovetop gas burner turned to high, or over hot coals if you happen to be grilling. (You could also roast under the broiler, with peppers as close to heat source as possible.) Turn peppers with tongs until skins are blackened and blistered all over, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove to a plate and let cool. To peel, cut peppers lengthwise. Scrape seeds and veins away with your knife, then turn peppers over and scrape away charred skin. Slice peeled peppers into 1/2-inch ribbons and place in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then add 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss. (Peppers may be roasted up to a day ahead.)
• Cut mozzarella into 1/4-inch slices. Cut tomatoes into 1/2-inch slices and halve cherry tomatoes.
• Arrange mozzarella slices in the center of a large platter. Surround with tomatoes and sprinkle lightly with salt. Add roasted pepper strips, caperberries and olives. Drape prosciutto around the platter. Garnish with basil leaves. Drizzle generously with olive oil and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°F.
• Crisp the bread in the low oven and cool. Split and hollow out the bread.
• Chop and add the meats, cutting them into bite-size pieces or strips and place in a large bowl. Dice or slice the cheeses and add to the meats. Finely chop the pickled vegetables and add to the bowl. Add the parsley, olives, celery, and lettuce to your antipasto salad and dress with the lemon juice, EVOO, and pepper.
• Fill the bottom of the bread with salad, mounding and packing it in there with a rubber spatula to help. Top with the basil leaves or spread the top with a layer of pesto, and set the top into place, pressing down on the stuffed bread. Cut a baguette into 4 pieces across, or cut a round loaf into 4 wedges. Wrap the ends of the sandwiches with wax paper or paper towels to control drips. How wide can you open your mouth?

Steps:

• Core and seed peppers and cut lengthwise into 1/4" strips.
• Heat oil in large skillet, add peppers, and saute over medium heat til just tender.
• Drain on papertowels.
• Line baking sheets with foil.
• On lightly floured surface, roll out one loaf bread dough into a 14" x 8" rectangle.
• (Dough shrinks, so let it relax and re-roll til it stays in shape.).
• Brush dough with beaten egg.
• Using half of the cheese and half of the salami, layer on cheese first, then salami, leaving a slight edge of dough all the way around.
• Sprinkle with half of the black olives.
• Place half of the peppers down along long edge, not all over.
• Sprinkle whole top lightly with oregano.
• Stretch long edge over the peppers, and continue rolling securely, jellyroll-style.
• Pinch/seal edge and ends.
• Place bread diagonally on baking sheet.
• Repeat all with second loaf.
• Cover loaves loosely with a lightly damp cloth towel and let rise in warm place for 30-45 minutes.
• Heat oven to 350.
• Brush loaves with egg.
• Make 6-7 slashes on top of each loaf.
• Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
• Bake 25-30 minutes.
• Serve warm or cold.