Stuffed Squash With Herbed Goat Cheese Food

ROASTED HERBED SQUASH WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Toss squashes with oil and seasonings. Transfer to 2 foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pans., Roast squash, stirring once, until soft and some pieces are caramelized, 30-35 minutes. Switch position of pans midway through roasting to ensure even doneness. If a darker color is desired, broil 3-4 in. from heat 2-4 minutes., Cool slightly. To serve, add goat cheese to squash; gently toss. Sprinkle with parsley; drizzle with maple syrup.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH HERB OIL AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Place squash on a rimmed baking sheet and roast, turning once, until tender, 35-45 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, whisk garlic, oil, parsley, marjoram, and 1/2 tsp. vinegar in a small bowl to combine; season herb oil with salt and pepper.
• Halve squash lengthwise and scrape out seeds. Using a large metal spoon, scoop out large pieces of flesh and place in a large bowl; discard skin. Add remaining 1 tsp. vinegar and gently toss to coat; season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer squash to a platter and drizzle with herb oil. Crumble goat cheese over.
• Do Ahead
• Herb oil can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

SQUASH BLOSSOMS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Using the plastic blade in food processor, mix goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, cream, chive florets, basil and oregano (I used blender).
• Pipe mixture into squash blossoms and close end of flower.
• Dip stuffed flower into egg yolk and roll in bread crumbs.
• Deep fry until they turn light brown.
• Remove from oil and drain.
• Serve immediately.

CRISP ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cover 3/4 tablespoon of the sumac with 1 tablespoon of boiling water and leave to infuse for 5 minutes. Add both types of cheese, oregano, walnuts, lemon zest, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a generous grind of pepper. Mix well.
• Fill the flowers by carefully opening them and either spooning or piping about a tablespoon of the ricotta mixture into each, gently pushing the filling all the way to the bottom of each blossom but being careful not to fill them too much; if you can get someone to hold the flower open for you, it would make it much easier. Gently twist the tips of the petals to secure the filling inside and set aside until you're ready to fry.
• Pour enough oil into a medium (about 8-inch/20-centimeter) nonstick frying pan so that the oil rises about 1 inch/2 centimeters up the sides of the pan. Place on a high heat for 5 minutes and then turn the heat down a fraction.
• Meanwhile, mix the flour and baking soda together in a medium bowl. Slowly pour in the sparkling water, whisking continuously to form a smooth batter.
• When bubbles start to surface in the oil, test it by dropping some batter into the oil: if it sizzles, you are ready. (The oil should hover between 320 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit/160 and 180 degrees Celsius.)
• Lower a zucchini blossom into the batter, turning to coat completely, before carefully placing in the hot oil. Repeat, cooking a few blossoms at a time, adjusting the temperature between batches so they take about 30 seconds on each side to turn a golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and then sprinkle with salt and the remaining 1/4 tablespoon sumac. Serve at once with the lemon wedges alongside.

ROAST SQUASH WITH GOAT'S CHEESE & PUY LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Toss the kale lightly in the oil, ½ tsp salt, sesame and chilli, massaging the leaves until coated with the oil and seasoning. Arrange the leaves in one layer in a roasting tin or baking tray - you might need to use more than one to keep them in an even layer. Roast for 15-20 mins until crisp and dry but not brown.
• Once dried, remove from the oven and turn the heat up to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Halve the squash and scoop out the seeds. Wash the seeds to remove the sticky membrane, dry them with kitchen paper and set aside. Cut the squash into 1cm thick slices (don't worry about peeling them), and arrange on a baking sheet or in a roasting tin. Drizzle over 1 tbsp oil, season, then turn and drizzle with a little more oil. Season again and roast for 30-40 mins until tender and caramelising, turning halfway through. Remove from the oven.
• Heat the remaining oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium to high heat until it's shimmering. Add the sage leaves and fry for 15-30 seconds, turning them once. Remove using tongs or a slotted spoon, place on kitchen paper and scatter with sea salt. Add the pumpkin seeds to the hot oil and fry for a few mins until puffed and crunchy. Drain the oil into a bowl and whisk with the red wine vinegar, a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Dress the lentils with half the dressing, then spoon onto the plates or serving platter. Arrange the crispy kale and squash on top, crumble over the goat's cheese, and drizzle over a bit more dressing. Finally, top with the fried seeds, and crumble over the amaretti biscuits and crispy sage leaves.