Smashed Peas Ricotta Cheese Food

TAGLIATELLE WITH SMASHED PEAS, SAUSAGE, AND RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes if dry or according to package directions if fresh. Drain pasta reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
• Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet heat the olive oil and garlic over medium-high heat and add the sausage. Use a wooden spoon to break up the sausage into bite-sized bits. When the sausage has browned, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside. Add the peas to the pan and, using the back of the wooden spoon, smash the peas. Turn off the heat. Add the ricotta cheese along with the cooked pasta and toss to coat, adding the pasta cooking water in 1/4 cup additions, if needed, to make the pasta moist. Return the sausage to the pan. Add the basil, Pecorino Romano cheese, and salt. Toss gently to coat and serve immediately.

SMASHED PEAS & RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• To a medium pot over medium heat, add oil, then butter and onion.
• Saute onion bits for 2 minutes, then add frozen peas and raise the heat a bit.
• Stir peas to heat them through and allow their water to evaporate.
• When peas are heated through add ricotta and parsley to the pan and smash cheese together with the peas.
• Add lemon zest.
• Season mixture with salt and pepper and serve.
• Enjoy!

MASHED PEA AND RICOTTA TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high heat. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil.
• Blanch the peas in briskly boiling salted water until a little soft, 1 to 2 minutes, then retire to ice water and remove. Blanch the snow peas for about 30 seconds, then place in the ice water. Drain and set aside in a small bowl.
• Place the peas in a food processor, then break up or pulse until coarsely crushed. Incorporate about 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper and the juice of 1/2 lemon. It should be bright but not overly acidic. Season with salt and pepper and add 2 tablespoons julienned mint.
• Mix together the julienne of snow peas and red onion in a small bowl and dress with about 2 tablespoons olive oil, the remaining lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
• Brush the bread slices with about 2 tablespoons olive oil and grill on both sides until nicely charred, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Place the ricotta in a bowl, then add the remaining 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, zest of 1/2 lemon, salt and pepper and mix well.
• Spread each piece of bread with the ricotta and top with the crushed peas. Place on top of the snow pea mixture, then garnish with the mint leaves and Parmesan.

HOMEMADE WHOLE MILK RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Run a double layer of cheesecloth under warm water to dampen, then gently squeeze to remove any excess water. Line a colander with the cheesecloth and set in the sink.
• Combine the vinegar and lemon juice in a small bowl.
• Bring the milk and cream to 190 degrees F, over medium-low heat, in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, stirring frequently to keep the milk mixture from scorching on the bottom. Add half of the vinegar mixture and 1 tablespoon salt and stir for 10 seconds (you'll see the milk mixture begin to slightly curdle). Remove from the heat, cover the saucepan with a lid and let sit for 20 minutes.
• Remove the lid and you'll see that the milk mixture has separated into small curds. Now stir in the remaining vinegar mixture and the milk mixture will continue to curdle. Stir for a few minutes. Pour this entire mixture into the prepared colander in the sink.
• Let drain until the desired texture, about 15 minutes for soft ricotta, 20 minutes for firm and creamy and 30 minutes for firm and slightly dry. For soft ricotta, serve warm or chilled in a small decorative bowl. For firm ricottas, gather the excess cheesecloth and shape the ricotta into a ball or disc and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.
• Serve the ricotta with your favorite things, like a drizzle of honey and cracked black pepper, fresh or dried fruit, fruit preserves, crackers or fresh bread.

SMASHED BUTTERY PEAS

Steps:

• Cook 1 pound frozen peas with 4 tablespoons each butter and water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a saucepan over medium heat until soft, 12 to 15 minutes. Uncover and smash with a potato masher to make a chunky puree. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon each lemon zest and pepper. Season with salt and thin with 2 to 3 tablespoons water.

TAGLIATELLE WITH SMASHED PEAS, SAUSAGE, AND RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes if dry or according to package directions if fresh. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and garlic in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat until the garlic is fragrant. Add the sausage and cook, using a wooden spoon to break it up into bite-size bits. When the sausage has browned, about 5 minutes, push it over to one side of the pan. Add the peas to the pan and, using the back of the wooden spoon, smash the peas. Turn off the heat. Add the ricotta cheese to the pan and stir to combine, then add the cooked pasta and toss to coat. Add the pasta cooking water 1/4 cup at a time, if needed, to make the pasta moist. Add the basil, Pecorino, and salt. Toss gently to combine and serve immediately.

SMASHED MINTED PEAS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over a medium heat and sizzle the shallot for 5 mins until soft. Add the stock and peas, and bring to a simmer. Cook gently for 10 mins until the peas are soft.
• Roughly mash the pea mixture with a potato masher, or, if you prefer a smoother texture, purée with a hand blender. (It's best to leave some of the peas whole or roughly crushed for texture.) Season to taste and stir through the mint leaves just before serving.

SMASHED PEAS AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat.
• Add the butter and onion and saute onion for 2 minutes.
• Add the frozen peas and stir the peas to heat them through and allow their water to evaporate.
• Once the peas are heated, add the ricotta and parsley to the pan and smash cheese everything together.
• Add the lemon zest or extract, season with salt and pepper and serve.

TAGLIATELLE WITH SMASHED PEAS, SAUSAGE, AND RICOTTA CHEESE-GIADA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes if dry or according to package directions if fresh. Drain pasta reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
• Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet heat the olive oil and garlic over medium-high heat and add the sausage. Use a wooden spoon to break up the sausage into bite-sized bits. When the sausage has browned, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• Add the peas to the pan and, using the back of the wooden spoon, smash the peas. Turn off the heat.
• Add the ricotta cheese along with the cooked pasta and toss to coat, adding the pasta cooking water in 1/4 cup additions, if needed, to make the pasta moist.
• Return the sausage to the pan.
• Add the basil, Pecorino Romano cheese, and salt. Toss gently to coat and serve immediately.

RICOTTA CHEESE WITH PEAR SNACK

Steps:

• Add the sliced pear and slivered almonds to the ricotta cheese, mix well.
• Server cold.