Appetizer (Hot) - Rosemary Flatbread with Blue Cheese, Grapes and Honey
It’s a tradition for winemakers to bake bread with grapes to celebrate the harvest. However, we’re not going to wait for the fall harvest, we are going to celebrate “Bud Break” instead as the vines are just starting to kick into gear and soon, and with the blessing of the sun we will soon see some beautiful fruit starting to develop.
This crusty flatbread studded with creamy crumbled blue cheese and sweet table grapes pairs well with both the Calotte Blanc and the Cabernet Franc. If you prefer a thinner crust, split the dough in half and freeze it for another day.
Category : Spring into Fresh Produce 2009
Ingredients:
- 1 envelope active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 cups bread flour, plus more for rolling
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 2 teaspoons chopped rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 pound red grapes (1 1/2 cups)
- Coarse sea salt
- 3 ounces blue cheese, crumbled (1/2 cup)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon snipped chives
Directions:
- In a large bowl, whisk the yeast and sugar with 1/4 cup of the flour. Stir in 1/4 cup of the warm water and let stand until slightly foamy, about 5 minutes. Add the rosemary, fine salt, pepper and the remaining 1 3/4 cups of flour and 1/2 cup of water; stir until a dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, cover and let rise in a draft-free spot until billowy and doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450°. Place a pizza stone in the bottom of the oven, and preheat for at least 30 minutes.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Press and stretch the dough into a 13-inch round, then transfer to a lightly floured pizza peel. Press the grapes into the dough and sprinkle with sea salt.
- Slide the flatbread onto the hot stone and bake for about 12 minutes, until the crust is golden and the grapes have begun to release some of their juices. Sprinkle the blue cheese on top and bake for about 2 minutes longer, until the cheese melts. Slide the flatbread onto a work surface and drizzle with the honey and sprinkle with the chives. Cut into wedges and serve.