Ricotta Squash And Honey Flatbread Food

RICOTTA CHEESE AND BASIL FLATBREAD

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a 10 x 15-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Combine garlic and olive oil, set aside.
• 2. Shape dough into a 9 x 13-inch rectangle. Place on prepared baking pan. Place the tray in the center of the oven and bake 12-15 minutes, or until light brown and cooked through. Remove from the oven. Brush with garlic oil, let stand 10 minutes.
• 3. Spread the ricotta on the cooked dough and top with the Parmesan cheese and the pecans. Use a pair of scissors to cut the basil leaves into pieces and sprinkle them over the flatbread. Serve immediately.
• Note: To make Basic Pizza Dough: Combine 1 tsp. active dry yeast with ¾ cup warm (about 110°F) water in a large bowl. Let sit 10 minutes to proof the yeast. Stir in
• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour, 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tsp. kosher salt, ¼ tsp. ground black pepper and 1 Tbsp. honey. Mix until a dough forms then turn onto a floured surface. Knead 5 minutes or until smooth. Lightly coat inside of mixing bowl with olive oil and return dough to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft-free place for 30 to 45 minutes or until dough has doubled in size. Punch down dough and proceed as indicated in step 2 of the recipe.

SQUASH AND RICOTTA PIZZA

Steps:

• In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring often, until browned and caramelized, 30 to 40 minutes. Stir in the sage and cook for 2 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, put a pizza stone in the lowest position in the oven and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. (If you don't have a pizza stone, you can use a baking sheet.)
• On a piece of parchment on a pizza peel or the back of a baking sheet, flatten out half the dough into a 10-inch round. Top with half of the ricotta, half of the Parmesan, a good pinch of salt and few turns of pepper, half of the onion and half of the squash shavings. Brush the squash with a thin even layer of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Slide the pizza onto the pizza stone (or heated baking sheet) and bake until the crust and squash are lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Repeat with the rest of the toppings on the other half of the dough.
• While the pizza is baking, toss the arugula with the lemon juice, a pinch of salt and a few turns of pepper.
• Top the pizzas with the arugula salad, additional Parmesan shavings and a sprinkle of crushed red pepper.

GRILLED FLATBREAD WITH RICOTTA CHEESE, FRESH TOMATOES, OREGANO AND ROASTED GARLIC OIL

Steps:

• Roasted Garlic Oil:
• Place oil and garlic in a blender and blend until smooth. Strain.
• Flatbread:
• Mix water and yeast in a large bowl and let stand 5 minutes to proof. Gradually pour in 2 cups of the flour and stir to incorporate. Mix for about 1 minute to form a sponge. Let stand, covered, for at least an hour.
• Put sponge in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the dough hook, add the salt and oil, then add the flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a dough. Remove from bowl and knead. Place in a clean oiled bowl and let rise, slowly, about 2 1/2 hours. Divide dough into 4 balls, if desired, let rise again for 1/2 hour, and then roll out as desired.
• Flatten flatbread dough, gently press into a large rectangle, brush liberally with olive oil, and throw on grill. Grill on both sides until golden brown. Spread 1 side with ricotta, sprinkle with salt and pepper, scatter tomatoes over, drizzle with Roasted Garlic Oil, and garnish with basil and more freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.
• Yield: 4 individual flatbreads or 1 large flatbread

HONEY RICOTTA WITH CHERRIES

Steps:

• Whole wheat crackers, for serving
• Combine the cheese, cherries, sour cream and honey in a bowl. Fold the ingredients together so as not to discolor the ricotta from the cherries. Season with salt.
• Place the mixture in a serving container and top with the chopped almonds. Serve with whole wheat crackers.