Mini Ricotta Spinach Souffles Food

SPINACH SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place the spinach in a colander to drain, pressing out as much excess liquid as you can.
• Make the bechamel sauce: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add the flour and stir until it becomes a thick paste. Add the milk 1/2 cup at a time, whisking well after each addition, until you have a smooth sauce. Remove from the heat and whisk in the salt, nutmeg and pepper. Taste for seasoning. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Beat the egg whites until just frothy with an electric mixer. Add the cream of tartar and beat on high speed until it forms firm peaks. Set aside.
• Whisk the egg yolks in a large bowl until they are pale yellow, then add the warm bechamel sauce a bit at a time. Switch to a large rubber spatula; gently mix in the spinach, Parmesan and 1/2 cup Romano. Fold in a third of the egg whites to lighten, then gently fold in the remaining egg whites until thoroughly combined but still light and fluffy.
• Lightly grease a 2-quart souffle dish with cooking spray or softened butter, then add the remaining 1/2 cup Romano and rotate the dish to coat the bottom and sides with the cheese. Pour in the souffle batter, then bake until puffy and golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

MINI SPINACH SOUFFLE' CUPS (STOUFFERS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lay out 1 sheet of phyllo dough. Spray lightly with olive oil cooking spray. Repeat with 4 remaining sheets.
• Cut phyllo sheets into 6 pieces. Fit each section into a muffin cup. Bake for 10 minutes.
• Remove plastic cover from spinach soufflé and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Remove from microwave and stir in lemon juice, salt, and cayenne pepper.
• Divide spinach mixture into baked phyllo cups. Sprinkle feta cheese over spinach mixture. Return to oven for 5 minutes.

SPINACH AND CHEDDAR SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 6 to 8-cup souffle dish (6 1/2 to 7 1/2 inches in diameter by 3 1/2 inches deep) and sprinkle evenly with Parmesan.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. With a wooden spoon, stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Off the heat, whisk in the hot milk, the nutmeg, cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook over low heat, whisking constantly, for 1 minute, until smooth and thick.
• Off the heat, while still hot, whisk in the egg yolks, one at a time. Stir in the Cheddar, 1/4 cup of Parmesan and the spinach and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• Put the egg whites, cream of tartar, and a pinch of salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on low speed for 1 minute, on medium speed for 1 minute, then finally on high speed until they form firm, glossy peaks.
• Whisk one quarter of the egg whites into the cheese sauce to lighten and then fold in the rest. Pour into the souffle dish, then smooth the top. Draw a large circle on top with the spatula to help the souffle rise evenly, and place in the middle of the oven. Turn the temperature down to 375 degrees F. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes (don't peek!) until puffed and brown. Serve immediately.

SPINACH-RICOTTA STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes; season with salt. (You should have about 4 heaping cups of sauce.)
• Make the stuffed shells: Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook as the label directs for baking, about 9 minutes. Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Spread out on a baking sheet.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and cook, tossing occasionally, until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a large plate lined with a kitchen towel. Squeeze to remove any excess liquid, then finely chop.
• Put the spinach in a large bowl and add the ricotta, mozzarella, parsley, Parmesan, lemon zest, beaten egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Stir until combined.
• To assemble, spread about half of the sauce in the bottom of a 10-by-14-inch baking dish. Evenly fill the shells with the spinach-ricotta mixture using a spoon, or pipe it in using a pastry bag. Arrange the shells side by side, open-side up, in the baking dish on top of the sauce, then top with the remaining sauce.
• Cover the dish with foil and bake until heated through and the sauce is simmering around the edges, about 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until any shells or cheese poking through the sauce are lightly browned in spots, about 10 more minutes. Let sit 10 minutes. Top with more Parmesan and red pepper flakes.

MINI RICOTTA & SPINACH SOUFFLES

Steps:

• Cook the diced onion with the fresh spinach in olive oil until spinach is wilted. About 2 minutes. Set aside. Beat the eggs w/ both cheeses, salt and pepper. When spinach mixture has cooled add it to the egg mixture. If you are making a large souffle, then place in a greased square baking dish with 4" sides. If you are making appetizer size souffles, then butter a dish with lower sides (I used a rectangle Pyrex baking casserole, 8x10), and pour batter in the dish. Bake at 350F for about 35 minutes until puffed. You can serve the dish hot, however, if you are making mini appetizers, then place the baking dish in the fridge for 4 hours (or overnight) until the souffle has completely cooled and firmed up. Now you are ready to use your biscuit cutter to cut out shapes. I used a 2" fluted edge cutter and easily cut out the rounds. (eat the leftover scraps as you go!). Garnish each souffle with a roasted red pepper piece and serve.

CRUSTLESS SPINACH RICOTTA QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Grease a 9" pie dish.
• Steam the fresh spinach until just wilted.
• (Or thaw frozen spinach and steam for about 5 minutes).
• Press the water out of the cooked spinach and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a small skillet and cook the onions until soft but not brown.
• Combine the ricotta cheese, eggs, dill, pepper, and nutmeg in a large bowl.
• Add the prepared spinach, tomatoes, and onions.
• Mix thoroughly and place mixture into the pie pan.
• Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top and bake for about 30-35 minutes.
• Let the quiche cool for 5 or 10 minutes before serving.

RICOTTA -SPINACH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Beat all the ingredients (except spinach) together and mix until well blended Stir in the spinach.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.
• Pour in the spinach mixture.
• Bake apprx 35 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

RICOTTA SOUFFLE PIE

Steps:

• Arrange oven rack on lowest rack.
• Place a cookie sheet on rack.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees.
• Start to prepare Stouffer's frozen spinach souffle according to package directions for the microwave except microwave only 5 minutes, until edges begin to puff and center is defrosted.
• Combine souffle, ricotta, Parmesan, garlic, nutmeg, salt, and pepper in large bowl until well mixed.
• Pour into pie shell, spreading top evenly with a rubber spatula.
• Place pie on the cookie sheet and bake 32-24 minutes until crust is brown and filling is puffed (center may not puff, but that's okay).