CHEESY GREEN MACHINE STUFFED PESTO BRAID

I was chosen as one of 30 bloggers to compete in a recipe contest to create innovative, out-of-the-box dishes using Foraged & Found Sea Asparagus Pesto.  Superfood sea asparagus (salicornia) is hand-foraged from wild Alaskan beaches and blended with herbs and lemon to make a nutrient packed and absolutely delicious pesto.

My family loves all things bread, so I thought, what a perfect vehicle to highlight the sea asparagus pesto.  And on this particular Meatless Monday, green is where it’s at!!  This bread is a stunner, packed with healthy green goodness, and oozing with cheesy love!  Want your kids to eat their veggies – this is a slam dunk!! Scroll to the bottom of this post for the full recipe or check out the step by step directions on how to make it here:

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium high heat and add 1 ½ cups of chopped leeks and 3 cloves of chopped garlic.  Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant and then add 1 ½ cups of zucchini cut into ½” thick half moons, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of black pepper to the pan.  Cook, stirring frequently for 4-5 minutes until the zucchini is tender and lightly browned.  Add 2 tablespoons of sea asparagus pesto along with 3 cups of baby spinach, ½ cup of thawed frozen peas, and ½ cup of quartered artichoke hearts (packed in water and drained)  to the pan.  Cook, stirring and folding the mixture together until all of the spinach is wilted and there is no excess moisture in the pan.  Set aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees while the bread rises.

CHEESY GREEN MACHINE PESTO BRAID

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 leek, white and light green parts chopped (about 1 ½ cups)

3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped

1 small zucchini, sliced into ½” half-moons (about 1 ½ cups)

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

1, 4-ounce jar + 2 tablespoons Foraged & Found Sea Asparagus Pesto

3 cups baby spinach leaves, packed

½ cup frozen peas, thawed

½ cup artichoke hearts, quartered

1-pound pizza dough (store bought or recipe below)

1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 egg yolk

Microgreens for garnish

 

Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium high heat and add the leeks and garlic.  Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant and then add the zucchini, salt, and pepper to the pan.  Cook, stirring frequently for 4-5 minutes until the zucchini is tender and lightly browned.  Add 2 tablespoons of the pesto along with the spinach, peas, and artichoke hearts to the pan.  Cook, stirring and folding the mixture together until all of the spinach is wilted and there is no excess moisture in the pan.  Set aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Combine the ricotta, parmesan, and 2 tablespoons of the pesto in a small bowl and set aside.

Cover a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place your dough on the countertop and drizzle with about 1 teaspoon of olive oil.  Knead for about 2 minutes and let it rest under a clean kitchen towel for about 20 minutes.  Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a rectangle approximately 12” x 14” (with the short side closets to you).  If the dough is very springy, let it rest for 10 more minutes and go back to rolling it out. Lightly oil your fingers and push the dough into shape as needed.  You may need to let the dough rest several times until it takes the full shape.

Spread 3 tablespoons of the pesto evenly over the dough with an offset spatula.

Using a sharp paring knife, cut diagonal slits 3” long and ¾” wide down each “long” side of the dough, leaving 3”  of the dough in the center of the rectangle, uncut.  As a result, the top 2 corners will be cut completely off and you will cut 2 notches at the bottom of the dough to create the last 2 strips (see image below).

Place the veggie mixture down the center of the dough leaving about 1” of dough exposed on both the top and bottom.  Top the veggies with the ricotta mixture.  Top the ricotta with the shredded mozzarella cheese.

Starting at the top, fold the top left strip of the dough diagonally over the filling and press the end to adhere to the second strip on the right side.  Then, take the first strip on the top right and fold it over the filling (and the first strip) and adhere to the second strip on the left.  Then, take the second strip on the left and fold over to the third strip on the right… Continue this process, alternating sides, all the way to the bottom of the pastry, creating a beautiful braided design.

Place the egg yolk in a small bowl with one teaspoon of the water and mix with a pastry brush.  Dab some of the egg wash on the exposed pieces at the top and bottom of the braid and fold them into the braid, sealing the filling inside, and pressing to adhere.

Gingerly transfer the stuffed braid to the parchment-lined baking sheet.

Brush the rest of the egg wash all over the braid.  Cover loosely with a clean kitchen towel and let rise for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees for at least 20 minutes.  Bake the braid for 12 minutes until it is golden brown and bubbly.

Combine the remaining tablespoon of pesto with 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small bowl.  Brush half of this mixture all over the braid as soon as it comes out of the oven.  Let the braid cool for 10-15 minutes.  Brush the remaining pesto and oil mixture all over the braid again.

Cut into slices, garnish with Microgreens, and DEVOUR!!!

 

PIZZA DOUGH

2 tablespoons olive oil (plus 2 teaspoons to oil the bowl)

1 tablespoon honey

1 ½ cups warm water (115-120 degrees)

1 packet yeast

2 teaspoons salt

3 ½ – 4 ½ cups flour

Place olive oil, honey, and water into the bowl of a stand mixer.  Stir to dissolve honey into the water (so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the bowl).  Sprinkle the yeast on top of the liquid mixture, stir, and let sit for 5-10 minutes until yeast becomes foamy.  Add salt and 2 ½ cups of the flour.  Mix using the dough hook attachment.  Gradually add as much of the remaining flour as needed until a ball forms.  Empty dough onto a floured countertop and knead for 8 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic adding flour as needed if sticky.

Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel.  Let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour until doubled in bulk.  Knead dough briefly and divide into 2 equal parts and form balls.  Let rest for 30 minutes under a clean kitchen towel.  If you are not using both balls, refrigerate each ball in a plastic bag sprayed with cooking spray for up to 5 days

To get the Foraged & Found Sea Asparagus Pesto go to:

Website – https://foragednfound.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ForagedNFound/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/foragednfoundak

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