Ricotta Soufflés With Blackberry Compote Food

FRESH BERRIES & SWEET RICOTTA

Steps:

• Place the Homemade Ricotta in a medium bowl and stir in the sugar, honey, and vanilla. Set aside at room temperature for up to 2 hours. In another bowl, combine the strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
• When ready to serve, divide the berries among 6 bowls. With an ice cream scoop, place a large dollop of the ricotta in each bowl and drizzle with lots of the Fresh Raspberry Sauce. Sprinkle with the lemon zest and serve.
• 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.
• Place the raspberries, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 4 minutes. Pour the cooked raspberries, the jam, and the framboise into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until smooth. Pour into a container and chill. The sauce can be refrigerated for up to one week.

WAFFLES WITH BLUEBERRY COMPOTE AND LEMON RICOTTA CREAM

Steps:

• Make the ricotta cream: In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, confectioners' sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice and whisk until light and fluffy. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
• Make the compote: In a small saucepan, combine the blueberries, 1/4 cup water and the honey and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, add the lemon juice and let cool at least slightly.
• Make the waffles: Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F; set a rack on a baking sheet and put in the oven.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, butter, eggs and lemon zest. Add the flour mixture and mix just until the batter is combined. Let rest for 15 minutes.
• Heat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions; coat with nonstick spray. Pour the batter onto the iron (the amount depends on the size of the iron), leaving a 1/2-inch border on all sides. Close the iron and cook until the waffle is golden brown and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to the rack in the oven to keep warm; repeat with the remaining batter.
• To serve, top the waffles with the blueberry compote and ricotta cream. Garnish with lemon zest.

FLUFFY LEMON RICOTTA PANCAKES WITH BLUEBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• For the blueberry sauce: Place the blueberries in a small saucepan. Add 1/2 cup water, then stir in the honey. Heat over medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a low boil and the blueberries just start to break apart. Dissolve the cornstarch in 2 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl, then add the slurry to the saucepan and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Turn the heat down and simmer on low heat until the sauce is nicely thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Set aside until ready to serve. (See Cook's Note.)
• For the pancakes: Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
• Whisk together the ricotta, milk, vanilla, eggs and lemon zest and juice in a separate medium bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined.
• Preheat the oven to 175 degrees F.
• Heat about a tablespoon each vegetable oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet (I prefer cast-iron) over medium heat. When the butter is foamy, reduce the heat to medium-low and ladle a heaping 1/4 cup pancake batter into the skillet. Repeat to make 2 more pancakes. Cook until bubbles start to form in the batter and the pancakes are golden underneath, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook the other sides until golden, another 3 minutes. Place the finished pancakes on a sheet tray and hold the oven while you finish cooking the remaining batter, adding more oil and butter as necessary. Serve warm with the blueberry sauce.

BLACKBERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine blackberries, sugar, lemon juice, and salt in a saucepan. Toss to coat and let sit for 5 minutes.
• Bring berry mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until sauce has reduced and thickened slightly, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool slightly and serve warm, or refrigerate for later use. Mixture will thicken further as it cools.

LEMON-BLUEBERRY-RICOTTA-BUTTERMILK PANCAKES WITH BLUEBERRY-CASSIS RELISH AND BLUEBERRY MAPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• For the syrup: In a medium saucepan add blueberries, maple syrup, sugar, cinnamon stick, and lemon zest. Bring to a simmer over low heat, and cook for about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and chill overnight. Strain; serve warm or at room temperature.
• For the compote: Combine blueberries, sugar, butter, cinnamon stick and vanilla bean in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and stir in the cassis. Discard the vanilla bean and cinnamon stick. Serve at room temperature, folding in the chopped mint just before serving.
• For the pancakes: Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the egg yolks, oil, buttermilk, lemon zest and vanilla extract.
• Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid mixture. Mix together until flour is just incorporated.
• In a small bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the batter just until incorporated. Let sit for 15 minutes, then gently fold in the blueberries.
• In a small bowl mix the ricotta and milk. Reserve for garnish.
• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
• Heat a nonstick pan or cast iron griddle over medium heat. Add a pat of butter and heat until the butter just begins to sizzle. Scoop a scant 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan or onto the griddle and cook until bubbles appear on the top surface and the bottom is golden brown, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Flip over and cook until the bottom is lightly golden brown, about 45 seconds. Remove to a baking sheet and keep warm in a low oven. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve with syrup and compote and garnish with a dollop of ricotta.

BLUEBERRY OR BLACKBERRY COMPOTE WITH YOGURT OR RICOTTA

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except cornstarch dissolved in water and ricotta or yogurt in a saucepan. Add 1 tablespoon water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until blueberries release their juices and blackberries begin to break apart, about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally from time to time.
• Stir in dissolved cornstarch and stir until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and allow to cool, or serve warm, spooned over yogurt or ricotta. Alternative method: I use this method with blackberries, since as they break down more: Toss the berries in a bowl with 2 tablespoons organic sugar. Cover and refrigerate overnight. The next day, add 1 more tablespoon sugar, honey or agave nectar if desired and proceed with step 1 of the recipe.

LEMON RICOTTA PANCAKES WITH WARM BLUEBERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• For the blueberry compote, in a saute pan, combine the blueberries, cornstarch, 1 cup sugar, water, lemon curd, orange juice, and a pinch of salt. Gently cook over medium heat until the blueberries are tender but not broken down, and the mixture simmers and thickens. Remove from the heat; stir in the butter and vanilla. Set aside to cool slightly.
• For the pancakes, in a medium bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Stir in lemon zest. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix the egg yolks and the cheese. Fold in the dry ingredients alternately with the milk. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites until medium-stiff peaks form. Fold into the batter.
• To complete the recipe, heat a buttered nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-high heat or to 350ºF (water drops on the skillet should skitter or sizzle when hot). For each pancake, pour 1/4 to 1/3 cup batter and cook until bubbles form on top. Turn and cook until the bottom is golden brown and the pancake is cooked through.
• To serve, stack three pancakes on each plate with a dollop of the remaining prepared lemon curd between pancakes. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar and pour compote over the pancakes.

RICOTTA SOUFFLéS WITH BLACKBERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Whisk 3/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, and flour in large bowl. Add egg yolks and lemon peel; whisk to blend.
• Bring milk just to simmer in small saucepan over medium-high heat. Gradually whisk hot milk into yolk mixture. Return mixture to same saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Boil 1 minute, whisking constantly (pastry cream will be thick). Spread pastry cream out to 1/3-inch thickness on small rimmed baking sheet. Cover completely with plastic wrap. Cool to room temperature. Transfer pastry cream to medium bowl. Whisk in ricotta. Cover and chill until cold, about 1 hour.
• Bring blackberries, vermouth, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup sugar to boil in small saucepan, crushing some berries and stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until mixture thickens and measures 1 cup, about 8 minutes. Transfer blackberry compote to small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and chill.
• Butter six 1/2-cup ramekins; coat with sugar, tapping out any excess. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining 6 tablespoons sugar; continue beating until stiff but not dry. Fold egg whites into ricotta mixture. Spoon batter into ramekins; smooth tops. Run thumb 1/4 inch deep around inside edge of each soufflé dish to wipe clean. do ahead Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake soufflés until puffed and golden at edges, about 28 minutes (about 32 minutes if chilled). Serve immediately with blackberry compote.