Herbed Ricotta Won Tons W Spicy Tomato Sauce 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.

HERBED RICOTTA WON TONS W/ SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• To prepare won tons:
• Place colander in a 2-quart glass measure or medium bowl.
• Line colander with 2 layers of cheesecloth, allowing cheesecloth to extend over outside edges of bowl.
• Spoon ricotta into colander.
• Gather edges of cheesecloth together; tie securely.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Gently squeeze cheesecloth bag to remove excess liquid; discard liquid.
• Spoon ricotta into a food processor.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Place almonds and flour in a spice or coffee grinder, and process until finely ground.
• Set aside 3 tablespoons of almond mixture; add remaining almond mixture, mint, and next 8 ingredients (mint through garlic) to food processor.
• Process until smooth.
• Working with 1 won ton wrapper at a time (cover remaining wrappers with a damp towel to keep them from drying), spoon about 2 teaspoons ricotta mixture into center of each wrapper.
• Moisten edges of dough with water; bring 2 opposite corners together. Press the edges together to seal, forming a triangle.
• Repeat procedure with remaining won ton wrappers and ricotta mixture.
• Place won tons on 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper and coated with cooking spray.
• Brush won tons with lightly beaten egg white; sprinkle with reserved almond mixture.
• Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool won tons 5 minutes on a wire rack.
• To prepare sauce:.
• Place tomatoes in food processor; process until finely chopped.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add onion, and sauté 3 minutes.
• Stir in orange rind, sugar, and habanero pepper; sauté 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium.
• Stir in tomatoes and basil; cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Serve with won tons.

HERBED RICOTTA BRUSCHETTAS

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal grill with hot coals or turn a gas grill to medium-high heat.
• Combine the ricotta, scallions, dill, chives, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside. Cut the bread in half and cut each half into 6 thick slices to make 12 slices total.
• When the grill is hot, brush the bread with olive oil and grill on each side for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from the grill and rub each slice of bread with the cut side of the garlic clove. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and spread with the herbed ricotta. Serve 2 warm slices per person with the green salad on the side.
• Set a large sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 layers of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with the cheesecloth.
• Pour the milk and cream into a stainless-steel or enameled pot such as Le Creuset. Stir in the salt. Bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and stir in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for 1 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 to 25 minutes, occasionally discarding the liquid that collects in the bowl. The longer you let the mixture drain, the thicker the ricotta. (I tend to like mine on the thicker side, but some prefer it moister.) Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining whey. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The ricotta will keep refrigerated for 4 to 5 days.
• Place the salad greens in a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Pour enough dressing on the salad to moisten. Toss and serve.

SPICY ROASTED TOMATO AND RICOTTA PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Toss tomatoes, 4 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper together in a medium bowl. Place tomatoes cut-side up in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until soft and juicy, about 2 hours. Remove from the oven. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Sprinkle remaining 1 teaspoon salt, sugar, Italian seasoning, rosemary, basil, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes evenly over the tomatoes. Drizzle tops of tomatoes with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Return baking sheet to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
• Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Cook sausage and onion until sausage is no longer pink and onion softens, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Transfer roasted tomatoes and any juices to a food processor. Process to desired consistency. Add ricotta and Parmesan cheeses and pulse to combine. Pour tomato sauce into a bowl; mix in sausage-onion mixture.

PASTA WITH HERBED RICOTTA, TOMATOES AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Blanch the rinsed spinach leaves in a large pot of well-salted boiling water until limp, about 1 minute. Drain the spinach and cool completely under cold running water. Pat dry and chop.
• Put the ricotta cheese in a large bowl and beat with a fork until smooth. Stir in the spinach, scallions, basil, tomatoes, parsley and olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook the penne until tender in well-salted boiling water. Drain, toss with the ricotta mixture, garnish with the pine nuts and serve immediately.

SPICY TOMATO SAUCE (MARTHA STEWART)

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
• Add garlic and cook slowly until golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes, careful not to burn.
• Add tomatoes and their juices (do this carefully to keep oil from spattering), red pepper flakes, and salt and peper to taste.
• Raise heat and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium and simmer, breaking up tomatoes into small pieces with the side of a wooden spoon.
• Cook unitl sauce thickens, about 25 minutes.
• Remove from heat, transfer to a service dish, and garnish with parsley.