California Walnut Beet Carpaccio Flatbread

DESCRIPTION

Chef Charlie Ayers serves up great-tasting recipes with mass appeal. This flatbread with beets and walnuts is a great way to serve vegetables at your next meal.

Total Time
1 Hr, 42 Mins
Serves
10
Meal
Course

Total Time

Prep Time
30 Mins
Cook Time
1 Hr, 12 Mins
Total Time
1 Hr, 42 Mins

Nutrition

Calories
215 cal
Total Fat
12 g
Polyunsaturated Fat
4 g
Cholesterol
5 mg
Sodium
373 mg
Carbohydrates
22 g
Dietary Fiber
3 g
Protein
8 g

Ingredients

Basil citrus vinaigrette dressing

  • Handful of basil leaves, fresh
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons shallots, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 seedless orange segments, cut in chunks
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest, finely grated
  • Salt and pepper to taste

flatbread dough and toppings

  • 3 beets, medium-sized, tops removed
  • 2 tablespoons cornmeal
  • 12 ounces bread dough, preferably white or whole-wheat, frozen, thawed but cold
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled
  • 1/2 cup California walnuts, chopped
  • 3 cups (about 2 ounces) arugula leaves

Preparation

  1. To prepare the basil citrus vinaigrette, rinse the basil leaves under water. Place in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave 20 – 30 seconds, until wilted. Cool, then squeeze to remove any excess liquid. In a blender or food processor, combine the basil leaves with the oil, vinegar, shallots, mustard, orange segments and lemon zest. Blend until smooth, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a small bowl or jar, and set aside while preparing the dough and toppings.
  2. Preheat the oven to 450º F. Wrap each beet in foil, place in a shallow pan and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until tender when pierced. Unwrap the beets and let cool, then peel them. Slice the beets as thinly as you can, either on a mandolin, the slicing slot of a box grater, or with a knife. Set aside.
  3. For baking the flatbread, increase the oven temperature to 500º – 550º F–the hotter the better. Sprinkle a 12-inch pizza pan with the cornmeal. Place the bread dough on a floured work surface, then press, pat and roll it into a rough circle 10-12 inches across. As you work, the dough will begin to fight you and spring back. When this happens, stop for a few minutes, then resume–the dough will be easier to handle after it rests. Lift the dough onto the pizza pan and pat it into a rough, roundish circle; it need not fit exactly. Prick several times with a fork, then brush with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
  4. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until the dough has puffed a little and is quite brown. Remove from the oven and spread with the beet slices. Cut the flatbread into 8-10 wedges, keeping them together in a circle. Sprinkle with the goat cheese and the walnuts.
  5. In a bowl, toss the arugula leaves with the citrus vinaigrette, spread over the flatbread, and serve.