Ricotta Puddings With Glazed Rhubarb Food

RHUBARB AND RICOTTA BREAD & BUTTER PUDDING

Steps:

• Trim the rhubarb and cut it into 3cm pieces. Heat 100ml water in a pan with 50g of the sugar. Bring to the boil and add the rhubarb. Simmer for 11/2 mins, then carefully lift the rhubarb out with a slotted spoon. Arrange it on a plate or tray so that it can lie in a single layer (if you keep the pieces too close to each other, they'll continue to cook and soften - you want them to stay intact).
• Put the milk and cream in a heavy-bottomed pan, add a pinch of salt and bring to the boil, then add the vanilla. Beat the eggs, extra yolk and the rest of the sugar together in a bowl. Pour the warm milk and cream onto this, stirring all the time. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Butter the bread. Drain the ricotta (if there is any liquid on top), then add the icing sugar to it. Spread the buttered bread thickly with ricotta. Sprinkle the citrus zest on top, then layer these slices with the rhubarb in a 20 x 30cm ovenproof dish. Pour the egg and cream mixture through a sieve and leave to sit for 30 mins (this makes the pudding lighter).
• Put the dish in a roasting tin. Add enough boiling water to the tin to come halfway up the sides of the dish. Bake for 40-45 mins or until puffy and set on the top, and golden in colour. Leave to cool for about 10 mins (the pudding will continue to cook and 'set' during this time). Dust with icing sugar and serve with crème fraîche, or cream mixed with Greek yogurt.

FRESH RICOTTA WITH RHUBARB, GINGER AND CARDAMOM

Steps:

• Put sugar, ginger, cardamom and 1 cup water in a nonreactive saucepan or skillet, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn heat to low and let syrup simmer for 5 minutes. Do not strain.
• Add rhubarb and stir to incorporate syrup, then continue to simmer for another 5 minutes or so. Set aside and let cool. (The rhubarb syrup can be made a day or two in advance, and becomes more intense.)
• Serve a large spoonful or wedge of ricotta on a small plate. Spoon at least 2 tablespoons of rhubarb sauce over the cheese. Garnish with pine nuts or pistachio, if using.

RHUBARB PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Mix ingredients in large bowl.
• Pour into an ungreased 9x9 cake pan.
• Bake for 1 hour or until golden brown.
• Allow to cool and may be served warm.
• Garnish with milk and sprinkled sugar.
• Enjoy!
• To make a 9x13 pan double recipe.

RICOTTA PUDDINGS WITH GLAZED RHUBARB

Steps:

• Make pudding batter:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly oil muffin cups.
• Blend together all pudding ingredients in a blender until smooth, then divide batter among muffin cups.
• Prepare rhubarb:
• Stir together sugar and cornstarch in a 9- to 10-inch glass or ceramic pie plate. Add rhubarb and toss to coat, then spread in one layer.
• Bake puddings and rhubarb:
• Bake puddings and rhubarb, side by side, carefully turning rhubarb over once halfway through cooking, until puddings are just set and edges are pale golden, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove puddings and rhubarb from oven at the same time. Set rhubarb aside and cool puddings in muffin pan on a rack 5 minutes (puddings will sink slightly).
• Run a thin knife around edge of each pudding, then invert a platter over pan and invert puddings onto platter. Transfer puddings, right side up, to plates and serve topped with rhubarb and its juices.