Sarasotas Ricotta And Cheese Sauce Food

SARASOTA'S RICOTTA AND CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Sauce -- In a blender, add the ricotta, corn starch and pulse a couple times until smooth. Slowly add in the chicken broth until creamy.
• Cheese -- Transfer the ricotta sauce to a small sauce pan and heat to medium low heat, add in the cheese and cook until the cheese is melted. It will take approximately 5 minutes. DO NOT let it come to a boil.
• NOTE: Make this ahead and refrigerate, then just slowly reheat when ready to use.

PASTA WITH CARROT SAUCE AND RICOTTA SALATA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, leek and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the carrots begin to soften, about 8 minutes. Add the vegetable broth and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are very tender, about 8 minutes.
• Transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Wipe out the saucepan and add the carrot puree to the pan. Stir in the heavy cream and heat over medium heat. Add the pasta and toss well to coat, adding the reserved cooking water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time if the sauce seems too thick. Season with salt.
• Divide the pasta among bowls. Top with the ricotta salata and a pinch of red pepper flakes, if desired.

CREAMY RICOTTA PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook orecchiette according to package directions, reducing time by 1 minute, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, lemon zest, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Mix until a paste forms. Add 1/3 cup hot pasta water and whisk well. Repeat with another 1/3 cup pasta water.
• Transfer pasta to a saucepan using a strainer, letting most, but not all, the water drain off. Reserve cooking water. Add the sauce mixture and turn heat to medium. Cook and stir until sauce thickens enough to coat the pasta evenly, about 2 minutes. Add more pasta water if sauce gets too thick. Stir in pesto. Taste and season as desired. Transfer pasta to a warm bowl.

PASTA WITH SAUSAGE AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente.
• Meanwhile, heat a medium nonstick skilet over medium-high heat. Crumble sausage and cook until browned.
• Stir in Sauce; bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
• Combine ricotta, parsley, parmesan and pepper in a bowl.
• Add sauce to the pasta; toss to coat.
• Divide pasta between 4 bowls and top each bowl with 2T ricotta mixture.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA CHEESE SAUCE FOR PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onion on a gentle heat until soft but not browned.
• Add the thyme, garlic (if using) and spinach.
• Continue to cook on low heat until the spinach leaves have wilted, approximately 2-3 minutes. If you're spinach was very wet and there is a lot of water in the pan, drain some off otherwise the sauce will be very runny. If you're not sure drain it into a separate bowl you can always add some later if you feel it's too thick.
• Add the ricotta cheese and mix, using a wooden spoon, until it forms a smooth sauce.
• Season, using nutmeg (I use more than stated above, but then I really like nutmeg), salt, freshly ground pepper and powdered vegetable stock to taste.
• Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and serve straight away on your favourite pasta.

SARASOTA'S HAM, PEA, PENNE, IN A FONTINA CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Bread Crumbs -- In a large sauce pan, which you will use for the bacon and finishing the dish, just toast up some bread crumbs. No butter or oil, just heat on medium until the bread toasts up. Once toasty and brown, just remove to a paper towel on the side. This will go in the pasta dish.
• Bacon -- Now, in that same saute pan, add the bacon and saute on medium heat until golden brown and crisp. I don't add additional oil, the bacon will give off enough grease on it's own. Just saute on medium so it doesn't burn. Remove to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain. Don't throw away those drippings.
• Onion -- In the pan with the bacon drippings, save about 1 tablespoon to saute the onion inches Just toss out the rest - you don't want too much grease. Add the onion, garlic and cook until tender. Add in the chopped ham and season with pepper. Hold off on the salt until later, the cheese you will add is salty so we don't want to over salt. Slowly add in the cream and cheese and stir until all melted and creamy. Add the peas and the bacon and cook just another minute on medium to medium low heat. You will add a little of the pasta water to thin it, so don't worry if it is very thick. You can also add a little more cream if you want, but the pasta water is what I prefer.
• Pasta -- Now if using fresh pasta, you know if cooks up in 1/2 the time. If you are using dried, just start the pasta about the same time you start the bacon. Just cook in salted water according to direction.
• Done -- Just finish the dish by adding in the parsley to the ham sauce and then the pasta and toss. If too thick, just add a little pasta water, but this is not meant to be a creamy sauce but just to coat the pasta, so don't make it too creamy.
• Serve -- Just top with the bread crumbs and toss ever so lightly and sprinkle on the remaining parmesan and Enjoy!