Grilled Minas Cheese w/ Pesto Sauce

Grilled Minas Cheese with a Brazilian Pesto Sauce

Minas grelhado com Pesto Brasileiro

Serves 4 to 6

For the Brazilian Pesto:
1/3 cup Brazil nuts (between 18-20 nuts)
1 clove of garlic
1 cup parsley leaves
1 cup cilantro leaves
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

For the Minas Cheese:
14 ounces firm Minas cheese (** see below)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Prepare the Pesto:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 325˚F.
2. Roast the nuts in a sheet pan until they just start to develop the aroma, about 12 minutes. Remove from the oven, transfer to a flat plate and wait until they are completely cool before using them. Rub the nuts between your hands or use a cloth to peel away the thin brown skin. It should come off quite easily.
3. Place the nuts, garlic, herbs, and about ¼ cup of the olive oil in the food processor. Pulse until blended.
4. With the machine running, pour the remaining olive oil in a steady stream to create an emulsion.
5. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne.
6. Reserve the sauce in a container covered with a tight- fitting lid in the refrigerator. Pesto can be prepared up to 3 days ahead of time and kept in a plastic container covered with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator.

Assemble the dish:
1. Place a rigid grill pan over high heat on the stovetop, or preheat a gas grill.
2. Trim the round Minas cheese into a square.
3. Cut the cheese in half diagonally to make 2 large triangles. Cut each large triangle in sections to make 4 to 5 thinner triangles, about ½-inch thick.
4. Brush each triangle slice with olive oil and season with just a tiny pinch of salt (not too much since minas cheese is already salted) and pepper.
5. Grill the cheese until you see nice medium-browned grill marks on both sides, being careful not to let the cheese melt, about 2 minutes on each side.
6. Carefully transfer each triangle to a serving platter. Spoon the pesto (which should be slightly cold or at room temperature) over the cheese and serve.

** OBS: Here are a few sources in CT where you can find Minas cheese:

Coelho Plaza
827 North Ave
Bridgeport, CT
Tel: (203) 366-5945

Fernandes Foods Store
99 Townhill Ave
Danbury, CT
Tel: (203) 748- 9181

Bem Brasil
213 White Street
Danbury, CT
Tel: (203) 743-4433

For more information, visit www.chefleticia.com