Italian Spinach Food

ITALIAN SAUSAGE, SPINACH, AND RICOTTA CANNELLONI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and saute the onion until fragrant and translucent. Add the Italian sausage meat, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon and brown it until no longer pink, about 10 to 12 minutes. Drain the excess fat from the sausage meat, and set aside to cool. In a large mixing bowl stir together the drained and squeeze-dried spinach, ricotta, 1 1/2 cups Parmesan, eggs, cooled Italian sausage and onion mixture, salt, and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Place the oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the fresh pasta rectangles for 1 minute and remove with a slotted spatula. Set aside. In a 9 by 13-inch baking dish, spread 2 cups tomato sauce. Working with 1 pasta rectangle at a time, spread 6 tablespoons filling along one edge and roll the pasta sheet up tightly, leaving the ends open. Repeat until you have 8 cannelloni. Arrange the prepared cannelloni, seam-side down, in a single layer in the baking dish. Spoon the remaining 2 cups tomato sauce evenly over the cannelloni. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup grated Parmesan over top. Bake the cannelloni for 20 minutes and let it stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serve the cannelloni with extra tomato sauce from the baking dish and garnish with fresh basil.
• To make fresh pasta dough: Mound the flour on a clean work surface. Hollow out the center making a well in the middle of the flour with steep sides. Break the eggs into the well. Add the salt, and olive oil to the hollow center and gently mix together with a fork. Gradually start incorporating the flour by pulling in the flour from the sides of the well. As you incorporate more of the flour, the dough will start to take shape. With your hands or a bench scraper continue working the dough until it comes together. If the dough is too dry, add a little water; if too wet or sticky, add a little flour. Begin kneading the dough and keep kneading until it becomes smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. At this point, set the dough aside, cover it with plastic, and let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes. You can store the dough in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, but allow it to return to room temperature before rolling it out. Divide the pasta dough into 4 even sections. Keep each section covered with plastic wrap or a clean towel while you work with each one. Flour the dough, the rollers of a pasta roller (or your rolling pin), your hands, and the work surface. If using a pasta machine: Flatten 1 of the of the dough pieces between your hands or with a floured rolling pin until it forms a thick oval disk. Dust the disk, the roller, and your hands with additional flour. Flour a baking sheet to hold the rolled out finished pasta. With the roller on the widest setting, pass the pasta through the machine's rollers a few times until it is smooth. Fold the dough over into 1/3, and continue to pass through a few more times until the pasta is smooth again. Begin adjusting the pasta machine settings to become thinner, passing the dough through a few times at each setting. If rolling the pasta by hand: Flatten a dough piece into a thick oval disk with your hands. Flour a baking sheet for the rolled out finished pasta. Place the oval dough disk on a floured work surface, and sprinkle with additional flour. Begin rolling out the dough with a floured rolling pin working from the center of the dough outwards, constantly moving the dough and lifting it to make sure it's not sticking.
• To make Simple Tomato Sauce: In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, and garlic and cook until soft and golden brown. Add the basil and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes. Add the canned tomatoes with their juices and bring to a boil, stirring often. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until the sauce has thickened. With a potato masher, break up the tomatoes to achieve a sauce-like consistency. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve. Cook's Note: Tomato sauce will last 1 week in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer.

CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• Wash the spinach in several changes of water to get rid of any grit. Drain the spinach but keep some of the water clinging to the leaves. Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the spinach and garlic. Cook, turning frequently, until the spinach has wilted down evenly. Remove the garlic and put the spinach into a colander and let it drain well. Press out as much liquid as you can from the leaves and chop them coarsely.
• Heat the skillet again over medium-high heat and add the cream and nutmeg; cook until it reduces a bit, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach and parmesan and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the spinach is hot, about 5 more minutes. Serve immediately.

MUSHROOMS AND SPINACH ITALIAN STYLE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic in the oil until they start to become tender. Add the mushrooms, and fry until they begin to shrink, about 3 to 4 minutes. Toss in the spinach, and fry, stirring constantly for a few minutes, or until spinach is wilted.
• Add the vinegar, stirring constantly until it is absorbed, then stir in the white wine. Reduce heat to low, and simmer until the wine has almost completely absorbed. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve hot.

QUICK ITALIAN SPINACH PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Mix ingredients until blended.
• Pour into 9-inch pie plate sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 40 min. or until center is set.

ITALIAN SPINACH DIP

Steps:

• Mix dressing, sour cream and dressing mix until well blended. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Cover.
• Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.
• Serve with assorted crackers or cut-up fresh vegetables.

ITALIAN SPINACH SPREAD

Steps:

• Mix sour cream and dressing mix in medium bowl until well blended.
• Add spinach, cheese and red pepper; mix well. Cover. Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.
• Serve as a spread on crackers.

SPINACH RICOTTA RAVIOLI

Steps:

• Combine the flour and salt on a flat work surface; shape into a mound and make a well in the center.
• Add the eggs and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the well and lightly beat with a fork.
• Gradually draw in the flour from the inside wall of the well in a circular motion and continue to incorporate all the flour until it forms a ball.
• Wrap the ball in plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes.
• While the pasta is resting, prepare the filling.
• Steam the spinach and drain well, pressing the spinach to remove all excess liquid, then chop finely.
• Heat a large pan over medium heat, add the olive oil and heat until hot but not smoking.
• Add shallots and cook for about a minute, stirring so that they do not brown.
• Add the shallots to the spinach, along with the ricotta, Parmesan cheese and egg.
• Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper as needed.
• Cut the ball of dough in 1/2, cover and reserve the piece you are not immediately using to prevent it from drying out.
• Dust the counter and dough with a little flour, then press the dough into a rectangle and roll it through a pasta machine, 2 or 3 times, at widest setting.
• Pull and stretch the sheet of dough with the palm of your hand as it emerges from the rollers.
• Reduce the setting and crank the dough through again, 2 or 3 times.
• Continue tightening until the machine is at the second narrowest setting; the dough should be almost paper-thin.
• Dust the counter and sheet of dough with flour, lay out the long sheet of pasta, and brush the top surface with a little water, which acts as a glue.
• Drop 1 tablespoon of the filling on 1/2 of the pasta sheet, about 2-inches apart, then fold the other 1/2 over the filling like a blanket.
• With your fingers, gently press out air pockets around each mound of filling, and use a sharp knife to cut each pillow into squares and crimp the 4 edges with the tins of a fork to make a tight seal. (A fluted pastry wheel also works well to make an attractive edge around the pasta.)
• Dust the ravioli and a sheet pan with cornmeal to prevent the pasta from sticking and lay them out to dry slightly while assembling the rest.
• If not using within an hour or two refrigerate until needed.
• To prepare the sauce, heat the two tablespoons of oil in a heavy pot and cook the garlic for just a minute.
• Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes and cook over medium low heat for 10 minutes.
• Add the chopped basil, and mix well.
• Cook over low heat an additional 10 minutes.
• Keep warm while you cook the pasta.
• Cook the ravioli in plenty of boiling salted water until tender.
• They will float to the top when ready, so be careful not to overcrowd the pot.
• Drain the ravioli and return to the pot.
• Pour half of the sauce mixture into the pot and carefully stir until the ravioli is lightly coated.
• Serve the ravioli with a spoonful of additional sauce and a sprinkling of grated cheese.
• Serve hot.

ITALIAN SPINACH PIES

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter up in a 12 inch skillet and add the garlic. Saute for a minute and then add pepper flakes and saute for another minute.Add the spinach and heat it through and taste and season with salt and black pepper.
• Separate dough into 8 portions and let rise until doubled, punch down and rest for 10 minutes. Roll each portion into a circle - not too thin that it tears. Fill one side with cooled spinach mixture, fold dough over and crimp the edge. Let rest while you pre-heat the oven to 375.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until crust looks done.
• Before baking you can mark the pies with letter H using a fork to distinguish the pies with hot pepper flakes from the plain.
• It's really simple. I think the more simple the better although I have added dried tomatoes and other things. Hope you try this.

ITALIAN SPINACH

Steps:

• Place drained spinach in non-stick skillet and heat well.
• Add garlic and egg and stir until egg is set.
• Add Parmesan cheese, cover and remove from heat.
• Let sit for a couple of minutes for the cheese to melt.
• Stir and serve.

ITALIAN SPINACH SALAD - TOH

Steps:

• On eight salad plates, arrange the spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, eggs, bacon, onion, red pepper and dill (if desired).
• In a small saucepan, cook the salad dressing and sugar over low heat until sugar is dissolved.
• Drizzle over the prepared salad plates and then sprinkle the salads with croutons.
• Serve immediately!

ITALIAN SAUTEED SPINACH AND SPINACH WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Steps:

• For the Fried Italian Sauteed Spinach:
• In a large frying pan, add the oil and place the wet-washed spinach in the frying pan before it gets hot to avoid splattering.
• Saute the spinach adding salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste until it's wilted.
• This takes around 5 to 8 minutes.
• If it's not as tender as you prefer your spinach softer, just add more broth or water and continue to saute the spinach until the desired doneness.
• Bonus Recipe
• Brussels Sprouts and Sauteed Spinach Recipe
• 1/4 pound chopped prosciutto or ham
• 1 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 lbs fresh Brussels sprouts thinly sliced
• 2 cup fresh spinach
• 2 cloves fresh minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• pinch of cayenne pepper
• coarsely ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds or pumpkin seeds for allergies
• 1 tablespoon good grade balsamic vinegar
• Optional Topping: Italian flavored bread crumbs mixed with Pecorino Romano Cheese.
• In a large nonstick saucepan, cook and stir prosciutto in olive oil for 3 minutes until crisp.
• Remove from heat drain on a paper towel.
• Add butter to drippings in the pan, add brussels sprouts, spinach, and garlic, salt, pepper cook and stir until they are tender.
• Stir in the broth, boil.
• Cook around 25 minutes or until the sprouts are tender, stir in walnuts, balsamic vinegar, and top with prosciutto.
• Topping is optional: sprinkle with Pecorino Romano Cheese mixed with Italian flavored Bread Crumbs.

SPINACH TORTELLINI SOUP

Steps:

• Bring the stock to a simmer in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the tortellini and simmer gently for 3 minutes. Stir in the spinach, garlic, tomatoes and dried basil. Season with salt and pepper. Return to a simmer and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes. Serve hot with the grated Parmesan cheese.

ITALIAN SPINACH

Steps:

• In a large nonstick frying pan put the olive oil, red chili flakes and minced garlic.
• Heat over medium heat, and cook just until the edges of the garlic are a very light brown.
• Stir in the spinach and cook until the spinach is tender, adding salt as needed.
• Turn off heat and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and lightly blend.
• Optional: Toasted pine nuts can be used as a crunchy garnish!

ITALIAN SPINACH-MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon butter, spinach, shallots, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; saute until spinach wilts and shallots begin to caramelize, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add rice; cook and stir until rice begins to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add wine and continue stirring until liquid is almost absorbed, about 2 minutes.
• Begin to add broth, 1/2 cup at a time. Stir until broth is almost completely absorbed, then add another 1/2 cup and repeat. Continue adding broth until risotto resembles a thick porridge but still has some bite to it. This process will take 20 to 30 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and add Parmesan cheese, spinach-mushroom mixture, remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Season with salt if needed. Serve immediately.