Savory Ricotta Pudding Food

SAVORY RICOTTA PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and butter a 9-inch baking dish. Whisk together the eggs, egg yolk and ricotta in a mixing bowl. Whisk in the cream, milk, 1 teaspoon thyme, salt and pepper. The mixture will be a little lumpy.
• Pour into the baking dish. Sprinkle the top with the chile and remaining 1/2 teaspoon thyme. Cover the dish with foil and place it in a roasting pan. Add enough tepid water to come halfway up the sides of the baking dish. Bake until the custard is just set, about 1 1/2 hours.

CHOCOLATE RICOTTA PUDDING WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the sauce: Blend the strawberries and sugar in a food processor until smooth. Strain the puree through a fine mesh strainer. Cover and refrigerate. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• To make the pudding: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Lightly butter 6 (6-ounce) custard cups. Arrange the cups in a large roasting pan. Melt the chocolate in a medium bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Set the melted chocolate aside. Blend the ricotta, 1/4 cup of sugar, egg yolks, orange zest, almond extract, cinnamon, and salt in a food processor until very smooth. Blend in the melted chocolate. Transfer the ricotta mixture to a large bowl.
• Using an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites in another large bowl with the cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining 1/3 cup of sugar. Continue beating until semi-firm peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the ricotta mixture. Spoon the mixture into the prepared cups. Fill the pan with enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the custard cups. Bake until the pudding puffs slightly but the centers are still creamy, about 25 minutes (the pudding will become thick and creamy when cold). Allow puddings to cool slightly before removing from water bath. Remove the custard cups from the bath. Cover and refrigerate until cold, about 3 hours.
• Run a knife around the sides of the puddings to loosen. Invert the puddings onto plates. Drizzle the strawberry sauce around the puddings and serve.

SLOW-BAKED SAVORY RICOTTA PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325°F. Spray a 2-quart soufflé dish or an 8- or 9-inch cheesecake pan with oil, and dust with 3 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese. Combine the remaining ingredients, including the remaining Par-mesan, in a bowl, and mix until well blended. Pour into the prepared pan and bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out with a bit of set batter clinging to it, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool to warm room temperature, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Cover with a serving plate, invert and shake slightly to release the pudding, and remove the baking pan. Slice to serve.From Homemade In A Hurry. Text copyright © 2006 by Andrew Schloss. Cover photograph copyright © 2006 by Noel Barnhurst. All rights reserved. First published by Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco, California.