Bocconcini Cheese Food

GARDEN PASTA WITH BOCCONCINI

Steps:

• Make the dressing: Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil; add the garlic and cook 2 minutes. Remove the garlic and place in a blender with the cherry tomatoes, vinegar and basil; puree until smooth. With the motor running, add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Make the salad: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (about 2 minutes less than the label directs). Drain and rinse under cool water; shake off the excess. Transfer the pasta to a bowl and toss with the dressing.
• Shave the zucchini into strips with a vegetable peeler or mandoline; halve the strips crosswise and add to the pasta. Add the tomatoes, bocconcini, pine nuts and basil and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, up to 6 hours. (Bring to room temperature before serving.)

DEEP-FRIED BOCCONCINI WITH SPICY TOMATO AND GARLIC CHUTNEY

Steps:

• For the bocconcini: Drain the bocconcini and pat dry with paper towels. Put on a paper towel-lined plate and allow to dry in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Put the flour in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Put the eggs in a second medium bowl and the bread crumbs in a third medium bowl. Coat the bocconcini in flour and then dip into the eggs. Roll the bocconcini in the bread crumbs until coated. Dip the coated bocconcini, again, in the eggs and then coat with bread crumbs. Freeze the breaded bocconcini for 20 minutes.
• For the chutney: In a blender, combine the garlic, ginger, 1/4 teaspoon salt, vinegar, sugar, olive oil, cumin and pepper. Blend until smooth. Pour into a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan and add the tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the mixture is thick, about 45 to 55 minutes. Using the back of a wooden spoon, gently break up the tomatoes as they begin to soften during cooking. Season with salt, to taste. Let the chutney cool to room temperature, about 35 minutes. Place in a serving bowl.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour in enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 375 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer a cube of bread will brown in about 1 to 2 minutes.) In batches, fry the bocconcini until golden brown, about 15 to 20 seconds. Drain on paper towels.
• Arrange the bocconcini on a platter and serve the chutney alongside as an accompaniment.

BOCCONCINI SALAD

Steps:

• In a large salad bowl, combine the mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, celery, endive and arugula.
• Whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil; pour over the salad. Toss until all the ingredients are thoroughly coated with the dressing. Transfer salad to individual serving plates, if desired. Sprinkle the basil over the salad, season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS AND BOCCONCINI RISOTTO BAKE (SLICE)

Steps:

• Melt the butter and oil in a large pan. Add the sliced leek and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the leek is tender. Add the rice and continue to stir for one minute.
• Add the liquid stock, the water and cream. Mix to combine.
• Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in asparagus, spinach leaves, parmesan and parsley. Remove from the heat and stir in the eggs.
• Spoon in 1/2 of the rice mixture into a greased 12 cup ovenproof dish. Arrange the bocconcini over the rice. Top with the remaining mixture. Sprinkle over the tasty cheese. I use a lasagne dish to make this recipe.
• Cook uncovered 180 degrees celcius for 25 minutes or until the rice is tender.
• Stand at least 10 minutes before serving. The slice cuts better the longer that it is left.

TOMATO AND MARINATED BABY BOCCONCINI APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Combine the oil, vinegar and basil in a medium bowl. Add the cheese and toss to coat in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Drain cheese and discard the marinade.
• Wrap each cheese in a piece of rocket.(The larger rocket leaves work best ). Place on top of a tomato half and spear with a toothpick.

HERBED MARINATED BOCCONCINI

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine bocconcini, olive oil and red-pepper flakes; season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Marinate at room temperature at least 1 hour (or up to 4 hours). Top with basil and serve with crackers or crostini.