Fried mozzarella with roasted red pepper sauce

4 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
½ cup Fresh bread crumbs
¼ cup Pine nuts, toasted lightly,
Cooled, and chopped very
Fine
Flour for dredging
1 large Egg
8 ounces Package mozzarella, sliced
Horizontally into four inch thick
Slices
7 ounces Jar roasted red peppers,
Drained, rinsed, and patted
Dry
¼ cup Olive oil
1½ teaspoon Fresh lemon juice
1½ teaspoon Red wine vinegar
Cayenne to taste
¼ cup Kalamata or other brine
Cured black olives, pitted
And chopped
2 tablespoons Minced fresh parsley leaves
Plus additional for garnish
If
Desired

Directions

In a small shallow bowl stir together the bread crumbs, the pine nuts, and salt and pepper to taste. Have ready in 2 separate bowls the flour and the egg, beaten lightly. Working with 1 mozzarella slice at a time, dredge the slices in the flour, shaking off the excess, dip them in the egg, letting the excess drip off, and coat them with the crumb mixture, patting the crumbs gently onto the sides and edges. Line a plate with waxed paper and chill the slices in one layer on it for 15 minutes. While the mozzarella is chilling, in a blender blend the peppers, 1 tablespoon of the oil, the lemon juice, the vinegar, the cayenne, 1 tablespoon water, and salt and pepper to taste until the mixture is smooth. Transfer the sauce to a bowl, stir in the olives and 2 tablespoons of the parsley, and divide the sauce between 2 plates. In a large heavy skillet, preferably nonstick, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it saute the mozzarella slices, turning them once, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until they are golden.

Divide the mozzarella slices between the plates and garnish them with the additional parsley.

Yield: 4 first course servings

Recipe courtesy of Gourmet Magazine COOKING LIVE SHOW #CL8989

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