Ham and Cheese Bites

Name: Ham and Cheese Bites
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H30M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H50M0.000S
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: european
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 medium onion, roughly chopped; 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped; 1 teaspoon piment d'espelette or cayenne; 2 teaspoons sugar; 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar; One 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes; Salt; 1 fresh baguette; 6 thin slices Basque ham, such as Jambon de Bayonne or Kintoa ham, halved; 12 slices Basque hard cheese, such as ossau-iraty or any hard sheep's-milk cheese); 12 good-quality black olives, pitted

Getting reviews...

Ham and cheese is a classic flavor combination that most start eating from a young age. The only difference is that as you get older, the ham and the cheese usually become better in quality! Here is a Basque version using the ham and cheese from the region. If you can't get your hands on these particular ingredients, any other ham and cheese will probably do!

Level: Easy

Total: 50 min
Active: 30 min

Yield: 12 servings

Level: Easy

Total: 50 min
Active: 30 min

Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

Salsa Brava:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, roughly chopped

2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

1 teaspoon piment d'espelette or cayenne

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons red wine vinegar

One 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes

Salt

Ham and Cheese Bites:

1 fresh baguette

6 thin slices Basque ham, such as Jambon de Bayonne or Kintoa ham, halved

12 slices Basque hard cheese, such as ossau-iraty or any hard sheep's-milk cheese)

12 good-quality black olives, pitted

Directions

Special equipment:

toothpicks

For the salsa brava: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and saute, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes more. Stir in the piment d'espelette and fry for another minute. Add the sugar, vinegar, canned tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have broken down and the flavors have had a chance to meld, about 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in 1/4 cup water. Carefully puree the mixture until completely smooth, using an immersion blender or in batches in a blender. If the sauce is too thick, add water 1 tablespoon at a time. Taste and adjust the seasoning. (Makes about 2 cups.)
For the ham and cheese bites: Cut the baguette on the diagonal into 1/2-inch slices. Slather each slice with some salsa brava and top with a piece of ham, a slice of cheese and an olive. Insert a toothpick to hold everything in place.