Baked Ricotta In A Tomato Base Food

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES WITH HERBED RICOTTA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, scallions, dill, chives, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside for up to 30 minutes.
• With a small serrated knife, cut the larger tomatoes in wedges through the stem and the smaller tomatoes in half through the stem. Place them in a medium bowl with the garlic, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside.
• When ready to serve, add the basil to the tomatoes and combine. Pile the ricotta in a large (12-inch) round shallow bowl or oval platter. Using a slotted spoon, place the tomatoes around the ricotta, discarding any liquid. Drizzle the tomatoes and ricotta with olive oil, sprinkle with the reserved basil and fleur de sel, and serve at room temperature.
• Set a fine-mesh sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 pieces of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with a double layer of the cheesecloth.
• Pour the milk and cream into a medium stainless-steel or enameled pot, such as Le Creuset, and stir in the salt. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and pour in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for one minute, until it curdles. It will separate into thick parts (the curds) and milky parts (the whey).
• Pour the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined sieve and allow it to drain into the bowl at room temperature for 20 minutes (for soft ricotta) to 25 minutes (for firmer ricotta), occasionally discarding the liquid that collects in the bowl. Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining liquid. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The ricotta will keep, refrigerated, for 4 to 5 days.

WHOLE BAKED RICOTTA WITH LENTILS & ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the shallots in a medium-sized roasting tin, drizzle over 2 tbsp olive oil and season. Roast for 15 mins until golden brown and beginning to soften. Meanwhile, to make a dressing, whisk the remaining olive oil with the lemon zest and juice, stir through half the herbs and season.
• Toss the lentils together with the shallots, spinach and 4 tbsp water. Put the ricotta in the centre of the roasting tin and lay the tomatoes around them. Drizzle the dressing over the lentils and shake the tin a little to combine everything. Drizzle a little olive oil over the ricotta and season everything well. Return to the oven for 30-35 mins or until the ricotta is firm and lightly golden.
• Serve the lentils in shallow bowls topped with spoonfuls of the creamy ricotta and sprinkled with the remaining herbs.

DELICIOUS AND SIMPLE RICOTTA AND TOMATO PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Firstly, put on a large pot of salted water and bring to the boil, add pasta to water and cook until'al dente' approximately 8- 10 minutes.
• While pasta is on the go, finely dice your onion and crush your garlic.
• In a saucepan, put in the olive oil, when the oil is warm, add your garlic and onion and gently saute these until they are transparent.
• Add the ricotta to the pan, and stir through the onions and garlic well.
• At this stage, add your salt and pepper, parmesan, crushed tomatoes and tomato paste.
• Mix well and let simmer gently for 10 minutes.
• Drain pasta.
• Turn the ricotta sauce off from the heat, add your fresh basil leaves, roughly torn, into the sauce.
• Dish up some pasta into a bowl, put some of the ricotta sauce on top of the pasta, and finish off with some extra shavings of parmesan if desired.

BAKED EGGS WITH SPINACH, TOMATOES, RICOTTA & BASIL

Steps:

• Heat the oil and 2 tbsp butter in a large, shallow, flameproof casserole or frying pan over a low-medium heat and fry the onion with a pinch of salt for 10 mins until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and chilli flakes, and fry for 1 min more. Tip in the tomatoes, 1 tsp sugar and pesto. Season and simmer, uncovered, for 10 mins, stirring often. Tip in the spinach and cook for another 5 mins until wilted.
• Heat the grill to high. Make eight gaps in the sauce with the back of a spoon and crack an egg into each. Dot over the ricotta and scatter with the parmesan. Cover and cook for 5 mins, then slide under the hot grill for a few minutes until the egg whites are set and the yolks runny. Scatter with the basil and serve with crusty bread for dunking.

BEAUTIFUL BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Cook sausage, and slice into coins.
• In a large bowl, mix the cooked sausage, pasta, sauce, water, chopped basil, garlic, parmesan and pepper, and toss gently.
• Spread into a greased 9x13 pan.
• Place the 12 slices of bread on top of the mixture, and cover the bread with the shredded mozzarella.
• Dip tomato slices in olive oil and place on the bread slices.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, or until heated through.
• After removing from oven, carefully place basil leaves slightly under each tomato slice.
• Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

BAKED RICOTTA IN A TOMATO BASE

Steps:

• Baked ricotta:.
• buy a 400-500g (1lb)block of ricotta and cut in halves.
• Wrap both halves in a clean linen tea towel and leave for 30 minutes so moisture is absorbed.
• Place in foil lined baking tray and bake in moderate oven for 20 minutes or until golden.
• Turn over with spatula and bake a further 20 minutes.
• Leave to cool and cut into dices.
• Main dish:.
• Shell peas or thaw frozen peas.
• Heat oil in sauce pan and gently fry onion, garlic, ginger until soft, translucent and just turning golden.
• Add ground spices and stir for 1 minute.
• Then add tomatoes, salt and 1 tsp of garam masala.
• Stir, cover and cook until tomatoes can be easily mashed into a pulp.
• Add a little water if mixture sticks to pan.
• Add peas and cook until almost tender.
• Add cheese and half of the fresh herbs and simmer, covered for 10 minutes or until peas are tender.
• Sprinkle remaining garam masala and fresh herbs over.
• Stir well and serve with indian bread or rice.