Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich with Roasted Garlic Goat Cheese Spread

Why You'll Love It

• Most of the ingredients are store-bought, and the ones that need preparation can be made in advance, making the sandwiches come together super fast.
• The tangy and peppery Roasted Garlic Goat Cheese Spread is homemade, which is sure to impress your guests when they inevitably ask about it!
• The roasted red peppers are marinated in balsamic vinegar, giving the sweet peppers an extra depth of flavor that pairs wonderfully with the tangy goat cheese, all with virtually no effort on your part because it's just a matter of waiting for the peppers to pick up the flavors.
• Almost all the ingredients can be bought from Costco, meaning fewer trips to the store as you prepare for your gathering.

Open-face sandwiches are Good for a Group because...

First, they look beautiful, so they add to a stunning tablescape or lunch buffet. Second, they can be tossed together assembly-line style before guests arrive and then topped with fresh herbs as guests arrive. In fact, topping the sandwiches with herbs is an excellent task for a guest who asks, "How can I help?"

The sandwiches can be topped with different types of herbs and other garnishes, making it easy for guests to customize as they desire.

Ingredients

• Ciabatta bread- You can buy a large pack of pre-sliced ciabatta from Costco. Likewise, most grocery stores have ciabatta rolls in their fresh bakery area close to where you can buy individual bagels.
• Roasted Red Peppers - One word: Costco. If you're making this for a group, I strongly recommend getting Costco's large jar of roasted red peppers. They are a fraction of the price from what you'll find at other grocery stores and the peppers are a phenomenal quality. Last time I was there it was about $10 for a large jar of roasted peppers. I couldn't buy that many fresh peppers with that same amount, and I would then have to cook them! Trader Joe's is my second recommendation for purchasing roasted peppers. If you opt to make your own roasted peppers, I recommend following the method and recipe I list in the "Tips" section below.
• Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil - Marinating the roasted red peppers in a quick balsamic-based marinade gives them a delicious added layer of flavor.
• Roasted Garlic and Goat Cheese Spread - Made with goat cheese, roasted garlic, and ranch seasoning, this can be made several days in advance.
• Fresh Cilantro - The addition of fresh herbs brings a bright flavor to the deep and tangy flavors of the rest of the sandwich. Fresh parsley or basil can also be used if desired. Don't skip this!

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

In short:

• Marinate the peppers
• Make the Roasted Garlic and Goat Cheese Spread
• Make the sandwiches by layering the goat cheese spread on the ciabatta, adding the marinated peppers, and topping with fresh herbs.

Substitutions

If you are pressed for time and don't want to make the Roasted Garlic Goat Cheese Spread, you can use plain goat cheese.

Likewise, if you don't want to marinate the roasted peppers, you can use plain roasted peppers instead of marinating them. If you do this, I recommend drizzling some balsamic glaze on top of the peppers if you have some.

If you can't find ciabatta, you can use a French baugette sliced lengthwise, then into 4 inch sections.

Additions

If you want to make these meatier, add sliced chicken. Using a rotisserie chicken makes adding chicken to the roasted red pepper and goat cheese sandwiches super easy. You can also use sliced deli chicken or smoked deli sliced turkey. I've tried roast beef, and the flavors seem to compete rather than compliment each other.

Advance Preparation of Roasted Red Pepper Sandwiches

I highly recommend that all components of the sandwich that can be made ahead of time are - regardless of when you make the actual sandwich.

If you are serving these in your home, I recommend making them shortly before guests arrive or assembling them up to an hour or two before guests arrive and covering them.

However, if you're taking these to a picnic, make them as closed-faced sandwiches, slice them in half, and then wrap each half tightly in plastic or parchment paper.

Equipment

A large cookie sheet to warm the bread is really the only thing you need. However, a large workspace and large serving trays will also do wonders to help make preparation easier and more efficient.

FAQ

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Pairings

If you're serving guests, I will of course recommend a fancy drink. Here are some of the recent drink creations on the blog.