Baked Ricotta With Italian Parsley Salad Food

BIG ITALIAN SALAD

Steps:

• Make the dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients in a food processor and blitz to blend.
• Place all of the salad ingredients except for the cheese in a large bowl. Right before serving, add about half of the dressing and toss well. Add more dressing little by little as necessary; be sure to dress greens very generously, otherwise salad will be bland. Toss in the cheese, then taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary.
• Note: Ricotta salata is an Italian sheep's milk cheese that has a salty, slightly tangy flavor, almost like a dry Italian feta. It is not the same as the wet ricotta in the tub. You can find it at Whole Foods, gourmet grocers or specialty cheese shops.
• Note: Nutritional information was calculated assuming ½ cup of ricotta salata and all of the dressing was used.

SHELLY'S BAKED RICOTTA

Steps:

• Mix ricotta cheese, parmesan, beaten egg, seasonings together and place in a oven proof dish.
• Pour marinara on top and top with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake it in the oven @ 450 for about 20-25 minutes (best) or nuke it till hot and bubbly.
• Shelly suggests to first make it in the oven and heat the leftovers in the microwave.

ITALIAN PARSLEY AND BEET SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together juices, oil, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a large bowl.
• Trim beets, leaving 1 inch of stems attached, then peel.
• Using stems as a handle, slice beets paper-thin (less than 1/8 inch thick) with slicer (wear protective gloves to avoid staining hands), then cut slices into very thin matchsticks.
• Thinly slice onion with slicer.
• Toss beets, onion, and parsley with dressing and season with salt. Let stand, tossing occasionally, 30 minutes to soften beets and allow flavors to develop.
• Toss again and season with salt and pepper before serving drizzled with additional oil.

PARSLEY SALAD

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, toss together parsley, onions, garlic, olives and tomatoes.
• In a separate small bowl or cup, mix together lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper; drizzle over the salad.
• Place in a serving bowl and place egg slices on top.

BAKED RICOTTA WITH ITALIAN PARSLEY SALAD

Steps:

• Put ricotta in a large sieve or colander lined with a double thickness of cheesecloth. Cover the ricotta with the cheesecloth, set the sieve or colander over a bowl to catch the draining whey, and set a plate with a weight on top of the ricotta to speed draining. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
• RICOTTA PIE:
• Preheat the oven to 375°. Butter a 10-in pie pan. In a large bowl, stir together the ricotta and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the eggs, beating well. Transfer the mixture to a prepared pan spreading it evenly. Bake in the upper third of the oven until puffed and lightly brown-55 minutes. Let cool, then unmold onto a cutting board.
• PARSLEY SALAD:.
• In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Toss well. Taste and season according to personal preference. Serve immediately or let stand for up to 1 hour, tossing occasionally.
• Cut the ricotta into 8 wedges and place on individual plates. Accompany each serving with some of the parsley salad.