Basil Ricotta Macaroni And Cheese Food

RICOTTA CHEESE AND BASIL FLATBREAD

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a 10 x 15-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Combine garlic and olive oil, set aside.
• 2. Shape dough into a 9 x 13-inch rectangle. Place on prepared baking pan. Place the tray in the center of the oven and bake 12-15 minutes, or until light brown and cooked through. Remove from the oven. Brush with garlic oil, let stand 10 minutes.
• 3. Spread the ricotta on the cooked dough and top with the Parmesan cheese and the pecans. Use a pair of scissors to cut the basil leaves into pieces and sprinkle them over the flatbread. Serve immediately.
• Note: To make Basic Pizza Dough: Combine 1 tsp. active dry yeast with ¾ cup warm (about 110°F) water in a large bowl. Let sit 10 minutes to proof the yeast. Stir in
• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour, 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tsp. kosher salt, ¼ tsp. ground black pepper and 1 Tbsp. honey. Mix until a dough forms then turn onto a floured surface. Knead 5 minutes or until smooth. Lightly coat inside of mixing bowl with olive oil and return dough to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft-free place for 30 to 45 minutes or until dough has doubled in size. Punch down dough and proceed as indicated in step 2 of the recipe.

TOMATO, BASIL AND CHEESE BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt the water. Add small shell pasta and cook the pasta to al dente doneness which means that the pasta will still have a bite to it or be a little chewy. The pasta will soak up more juice and keep on cooking after we drain it, so we need it to be a little under cooked. The shells will probably cook about 9 or 10 minutes.
• Preheat a deep, big skillet or a medium sauce pot over medium heat.
• Place garlic on the cutting board and place the flat of your knife on top of each clove. Carefully give the garlic a whack with the palm of your hand to separate the cloves from the skins. Throw out the skins and chop up the garlic. Remember to keep your fingers curled under and the edge of your sharp, chef's knife tilted slightly away from your body.
• Add extra-virgin olive oil to the pan by pouring a slow stream of it twice-around-the-pan. This will be about 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil just enough to coat the bottom of the pan. Do not let the oil pour out too fast. You are looking for a slow, steady stream. Add the garlic to the oil. To chop the onion, cut the ends off and cut the whole onion down the center. Wrap half and save it. Cut the other half into thin slices then twist the slices a quarter turn and chop them again. Hold the tip of knife on the cutting board and lift the back of the knife up and down over the onion to make the pieces really small. Add the chopped up onion to the garlic and oil. Cook, stirring a lot, 5 minutes until the onions are mushy and look cooked.
• Add the tomatoes to the onions and stir. When the tomatoes come to a bubble, reduce the heat under the sauce to low. Stir in basil pieces to wilt them. Season the sauce with salt and peppe, to your taste.
• Preheat your broiler to high and place a rack in the center of the oven.
• Drain pasta shells. Add them to a flameproof casserole dish. Add pesto sauce, 1 cup of ricotta cheese and a handful of grated Parmigiano, too. Stir carefully and coat the hot pasta with the pesto and cheeses. Pour the hot tomato and basil sauce over the pasta, as much as you like. You can always serve a little extra at the table, to pass around. Shred up some mozzarella cheese with a grater and scatter it over the pasta. Add a final sprinkle of Parmigiano to the mozzarella as well. Place the casserole under the broiler in the middle of oven, 10 to 12 inches from the heat. Let the cheese melt and bubble on top, 3 to 5 minutes.

WHIPPED BASIL RICOTTA

Steps:

• Combine ricotta cheese, basil, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and pepper flakes in a mini food processor and process until all ingredients are well incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes.

PASTA WITH RICOTTA CHEESE AND BASIL

Steps:

• To prepare pasta with ricotta cheese and basil , put a pot of salted water to boil. Clean the basil leaves with a cloth, then chop them coarsely with a knife 1 . Toast the almond slices over low heat in a large pan 2 . Brown them lightly. In the meantime, boil the pasta for the time indicated on the package 3 .
• Pour the ricotta into a saucepan and add a ladle of water from the cooking water of the pasta 4 . Drain the pasta directly into the saucepan, keeping the water 5 , stir, then add a ladle of hot cooking water 6 ,
• stir again, then add the basil 7 . Season with oil 8 , and almost all of the previously toasted almond slices 9 :
• mix 10 , then serve the pasta with ricotta cheese and basil by adding the remaining almonds on serving plates (11-12) and add a drizzle of oil to taste.

RATATOUILLE & RICOTTA MACARONI

Steps:

• Tip the tomatoes into a pan with a can of water, the tomato purée, garlic, olives and bouillon. Add the aubergine and courgettes, then cover and simmer for 30 mins until the veg are tender.
• Meanwhile, mix the ricotta and basil together in a small bowl with plenty of black pepper.
• Boil half of the pasta following pack instructions, then drain, reserving some of the cooking water. Tip into a bowl and toss with half the ricotta mixture and a couple of spoonful of pasta water, adding more to loosen if needed. Spoon half the ratatouille and the penne into two pasta bowls and sprinkle with half the parmesan and basil leaves. Cover and chill the remaining ratatouille, basil and ricotta for another night. Will keep chilled for up to three days. When ready to serve again, warm the ratatouille in a pan over a low heat and continue with the method from step 3.

TOMATO, BASIL AND CHEESE BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt the water. Add small shell pasta and cook the pasta to al dente doneness which means that the pasta will still have a bite to it or be a little chewy. Cook probably 9-10 minutes.
• Preheat a deep, big skillet or a medium sauce pot over medium heat.
• Place garlic on the cutting board and place the flat of your knife on top of each clove. Carefully give the garlic a whack with the palm of your hand to seperate the cloves from the skins. Throw out the skins and chop up the garlic.
• Add EVOO to the pan by pouring a slow stream of it twice-around-the-pan. Do not let the oil pour out too fast. Add the garlic to the oil.
• Chop onion finely. Add to garlic and oil. Cook, stirring frequently, five minutes or until onions are tender.
• Add the tomatoes to the onions and stir. When the tomatoes come to a bubble, reduce the heat under the sauce to low.
• Stir in basil pieces to wilt them. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to your taste.
• Preheat your broiler to high and place a rack in the center of the oven.
• Drain pasta shells. Add them to a casserole dish.
• Add pesto sauce, 1 cup ricotta cheese and a handful of grated parmigiano.
• Stir carefully and coat the hot pasta with the pesto and cheeses.
• Pour the hot tomato and basil sauce over the pasta.
• Shred up mozzarella and scatter over the pasta. Add a final sprinkle of parimigiano to the mozarella as well.
• Place the casserole under the broiler in the middle of oven, 10-12 inches from the heat. Let the cheese melt and bubble on top (3-5 minutes).

CHEF JOHN'S BASIL RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Briefly blanch basil leaves in simmering water, about 20 seconds. Transfer immediately to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking. Drain on towels. Place basil in bowl of a blender. Add eggs. Blend until basil is blended in and mixture achieves an even green color with flecks of basil.
• Place ricotta in a mixing bowl. Add basil/egg mixture, salt, cayenne, Parmesan cheese, and flour. Thoroughly mix together using a spatula; whisk mixture to ensure ingredient are evenly blended. Cover and refrigerate until chilled and firm, about 2 hours.
• Scoop out a small portion of dough using a teaspoon. Using a second spoon, shape into a rounded oval. Repeat until you have enough gnocchi for a batch, about 6 or so.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a simmer. Drop shaped gnocchi in batches into pot as you form them. After a minute or so they will rise to the surface. Continue simmering until they spring back to the touch when you remove one from the water to test it, 2 to 3 more minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• Optional step: Melt butter in a skillet until bubbling. Add cooked gnocchi and brown on each side. Serve with a dusting of grated Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of the butter from the pan.

BASIL-RICOTTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Toss through with your favorite pasta.