Orecchiette With Umamified Salsa Cruda And Fresh Ricotta Food

TAGLIOLINI WITH SALSA CRUDA AND RICOTTA SALATA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes with a pinch of salt. Let the tomatoes sit while you prep the rest of the ingredients. This will help draw out some excess moisture from the tomatoes that will help create the sauce. Add the onions, zucchini, asparagus, basil, oregano, garlic, red pepper, olive oil and vinegar and season generously with salt; taste to make sure it's delicious and adjust the seasoning if needed. Let the sauce sit for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to marry.
• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil.
• Add two-thirds of the sauce to a large skillet and bring to medium-high heat--the idea is to heat up the sauce without really cooking it so you maintain the raw integrity of the veggies.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until it is tender but still toothsome, 2 to 3 minutes--you don't want any limp noodles. Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce, along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water if needed and stir vigorously. If the pasta needs it, add the reserved sauce (if it's not needed, then you have lunch for tomorrow!). Cook the pasta together with the sauce until the pasta water has evaporated. Give the pasta a drizzle of big fat finishing oil and stir vigorously again. Divide among individual serving dishes and top with the ricotta salata.

ORECCHIETTE WITH UMAMIFIED SALSA CRUDA AND FRESH RICOTTA

Steps:

• Salsa: Toss together tomatoes and basil in large bowl. Sauté garlic and shallots in olive oil with red pepper using a small saucepan. Pour hot oil mixture over tomatoes and basil in bowl. Add four or so dashes of balsamic vinegar. Mix and season with salt to taste. Ricotta: Line a large sieve with a layer of heavy-duty (fine-mesh) cheesecloth and place it over a large bowl. Slowly bring milk, cream, and salt to a rolling boil in a 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Add lemon juice, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring constantly, until the mixture curdles, about 2 minutes. Pour the mixture into the lined sieve and let it drain up to 1 hour. Less draining time will leave the cheese with more moisture and a creamier texture. Pasta Finish: Cook orecchiette in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 qt water) until al dente. Drain pasta and toss with salsa. Season with shredded parmesan and asiago. Top with a dollop of ricotta.

ORECCHIETTE WITH SALSA CRUDA AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Stir together all ingredients except pasta and ricotta in a large bowl with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Let stand, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook orecchiette in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 qt water) until al dente.
• Drain pasta and toss with tomato salsa. Season with salt and pepper and dollop with ricotta.

ORECCHIETTE CON RICOTTA E POMODORINI: ORECCHIETTE PASTA WITH RICOTTA AND CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a pot of boiling water, cook the pasta for about 8 minutes (remove before the 'al dente' stage). While pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a frying pan and cook the cherry tomatoes for about a minute. Add salt to taste.
• Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water.
• Add the cooked pasta and ricotta cheese to the pan. Ladle in some pasta water - the excess pasta water will break down the ricotta cheese, creating a creamy sauce.
• Cook pasta in the pan with all the other ingredients for another minute. Top with cilantro, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and serve immediately.

BAKED RICOTTA ORECCHIETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine cherry tomatoes, zucchini, bell pepper, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, and garlic in a large, 3-quart baking dish. Drizzle generously with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with pepper flakes, sea salt, and black pepper. Stir to coat everything. Make a well in the center of the dish and drop in the ricotta cheese. Drizzle the ricotta with remaining olive oil and give it a generous pinch more of pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Switch the oven to broil at 500 degrees F (260 degrees C) and continue to cook until desired blistering and browning occurs, 2 to 4 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orecchiette in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
• Remove the baked ricotta dish from the oven and place onto a wire cooling rack.
• Add thyme leaves, then stir the ricotta to break it up. Stir in fresh basil, parsley, and lemon juice. Add the reserved pasta water to loosen things up if needed. Taste and adjust salt if desired. Add the orecchiette and stir until everything is coated. Serve.

ORECCHIETTE WITH PEAS, RICOTTA, AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot for cooking the pasta.
• Bring several cups water to a boil in a small pot for cooking the peas.
• Add the peas to the small pot of boiling water and cook until tender, about 4 minutes for fresh and about 1 minute for frozen; drain and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a small skillet.
• Add in the onion and saute until lightly browned, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in the peas and cook for 30 seconds.
• Scrape the onion and peas into a bowl large enough to hold the orecchiette or small shells when cooked.
• Stir in the ricotta and Parmigiano-Reggiano and salt and pepper to taste.
• When the water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and the orecchiette; cook until al dente and then drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
• Toss the pasta with the cheese sauce, adding as much cooking water as needed to thin the sauce.
• Divide among individual bowls and serve immediately.

ORECCHIETTE WITH GRATED SQUASH, WALNUTS AND RICOTTA SALATA

Steps:

• Begin heating a large pot of water. When it comes to a boil, add a generous amount of salt and keep at a simmer.
• Meanwhile, peel the squash (I use a vegetable peeler for this), cut it into chunks that will fit your food processor tube fitted with the grater blade, and grate. Alternately, grate with the large holes of a box grater.
• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the grated squash and salt to taste. Cook, stirring often, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the squash has softened. Add the garlic, walnuts and half the marjoram or all of the sage and cook, stirring, for another minute. Turn the heat down to medium.
• Add 1/2 cup of the water for the pasta and cook for another couple of minutes, until it has been absorbed and evaporated from the pan. Add another 1/2 cup water and continue to cook for another 3 minutes, or until the squash mixture is tender and moist. Taste, adjust salt, and add a generous amount of pepper. Keep warm while you cook the pasta.
• Bring the pot of water back to a rolling boil and add the orecchiette. Cook al dente, usually 10 to 11 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the cooking water to the squash mixture before draining, then drain the pasta and toss with the squash, along with the remaining marjoram and the ricotta salata. Serve hot.