From the Clif Family Kitchen
Recipe by Executive Chef John McConnell
Salumi and Herbed Cheese Braid with Toasted Sesame & Pistachio Dukkah
Serves 4 as an appetizer
Ingredients:
1 store-bought pizza dough
6 oz sliced salumi
5.2 oz Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese
½ cup grated mozzarella cheese
½ cup olives, pitted and sliced (green or kalamata)
2 TBSP Clif Family Toasted Sesame & Pistachio Dukkah
1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Preparation:
Pull the pizza dough from the refrigerator and allow to warm to room temperature for one hour. The warmer the dough, the easier it is to stretch and shape. At the same time, remove the Boursin cheese from the refrigerator, remove from package and place in a small bowl to temper to room temperature.
Preheat oven to 425°F with convection, or 450°F without convection. Using a lightly floured countertop, remove dough from packaging and begin pressing it with your fingertips, shaping the dough into a 10”x12” large rectangle, about ¼”- ½” thick. During this step, you may use a floured rolling pin if easier. Turn the dough so that the longest part of the doughs runs lengthwise in front of you and the shortest part of the dough is left to right. Using scissors, cut strips at a 45-degree angle on the length of both sides, approximately 1/3 deep. Space the strips about 2” apart and switch the direction of the angle by 90 degrees for each side. Leave the short ends uncut.
Using a spatula, carefully spread the softened Boursin cheese mixture to cover the length of the middle of the dough. Once the cheese mixture has been spread out, place the slices of salumi over the cheese mixture, shingling the slices. Top with grated mozzarella cheese and olives.
Fold the top and bottom flaps of the pizza dough into the middle. Then braid each flap alternating sides one at a time until the dough is braided onto itself. With the last two strips, fold in the opposite direction so that the final dough looks like one rectangle.
Transfer the dough onto a parchment-lined baking tray. Brush the top of the braided dough with olive oil and sprinkle the Clif Family Toasted Sesame & Pistachio Dukkah over the top of the dough.
Bake for 10-14 minutes until the dough is nicely browned and the cheese has begun to melt out of the sides. Allow cooling for 5-8 minutes. Cut into slices and serve.