Tomato Spread With Ricotta Cheese Food

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES WITH HERBED RICOTTA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, scallions, dill, chives, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside for up to 30 minutes.
• With a small serrated knife, cut the larger tomatoes in wedges through the stem and the smaller tomatoes in half through the stem. Place them in a medium bowl with the garlic, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside.
• When ready to serve, add the basil to the tomatoes and combine. Pile the ricotta in a large (12-inch) round shallow bowl or oval platter. Using a slotted spoon, place the tomatoes around the ricotta, discarding any liquid. Drizzle the tomatoes and ricotta with olive oil, sprinkle with the reserved basil and fleur de sel, and serve at room temperature.
• Set a fine-mesh sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 pieces of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with a double layer of the cheesecloth.
• Pour the milk and cream into a medium stainless-steel or enameled pot, such as Le Creuset, and stir in the salt. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and pour in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for one minute, until it curdles. It will separate into thick parts (the curds) and milky parts (the whey).
• Pour the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined sieve and allow it to drain into the bowl at room temperature for 20 minutes (for soft ricotta) to 25 minutes (for firmer ricotta), occasionally discarding the liquid that collects in the bowl. Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining liquid. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The ricotta will keep, refrigerated, for 4 to 5 days.

TOMATOES STUFFED WITH RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C (approximately 400°F). Brush a baking dish with a little olive oil.
• Rinse spinach thoroughly and blanch for 1 minute in a pot of boiling salted water. Drain, rinse with cold water, drain again and then coarsely chop. Rinse tomatoes, cut a lid by removing the top and scrape out seeds.
• Peel garlic and onion, chop and sauté in a pan with oil until translucent. Then place garlic and onion in a bowl and mix with spinach, ricotta, eggs and Parmesan and season well with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Fill tomatoes with ricotta mixture. Place in the prepared baking dish and cover. Bake for about 20 minutes in the preheated oven and serve while hot.

RICOTTA TOAST WITH BACON AND TOMATO

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels. When cool enough to handle, crumble and set aside.
• Combine cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, basil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
• Heat a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush bread slices with olive oil on both sides. Cook in grill pan until grill marks appear and bread is toasted, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Spread toasted bread with ricotta cheese. Top with tomato mixture and sprinkle with bacon. Cut each toast in half and serve.

RICOTTA AND TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• Combine the sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, garlic and basil in a food processor. Blend to a smooth puree and season to taste.
• Place the ricotta in a mound in a large round plate. Spoon the tomato mixture around the edge. Garnish the cheese with a sprig of basil.

TOMATO SPREAD WITH RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine the sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, garlic and basil in a food processor. Blend to a smooth puree and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Place the ricotta in a mound in the center of a large round plate. Smooth the tomato mixture around the side. Garnish the cheese with a sprig of basil.

TEXAS TOMATO TOAST WITH ROASTED GARLIC SPREAD AND HOMEMADE RICOTTA

Steps:

• For the roasted garlic spread: Combine the oil and garlic in a small saucepot, turn the heat on to low and let sit until the garlic floats, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Remove the garlic from the oil and place in a small bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the cooked olive oil and a pinch of salt to the bowl and mash with a fork until coarsely mixed. Reserve the remaining oil for other uses (including griddling the Texas toast).
• For the ricotta: Combine the milk and buttermilk in a heavy saucepot, turn the heat on to medium-low. Stirring very occasionally, check the temperature until the mixture reaches 180 degrees F. (If you do not have a thermometer, watch for curds to begin forming, turn the heat to low and cook for another 5 minutes.)
• Remove the pot from the heat and let the mixture sit for 1 hour to let the curds fully develop. Do not stir the mixture during this time.
• Line a colander or other large strainer with cheesecloth and set over a large bowl. Gently ladle or pour the mixture over the cheesecloth. Allow the whey to drain from the curds and collect in the bowl below. (Whey can be saved for other uses, mostly anything buttermilk can be used for). After about 1 hour of draining, transfer the curds to a small bowl and season with salt. (If a creamier consistency is preferred, a few tablespoons of cream can be added to the ricotta to loosen it)
• For the Texas toast: Heat a heavy skillet or pan over medium-low heat for a few minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of reserved roasted garlic olive oil to the skillet, then add a slice of bread. When the one side has reached a deep golden brown color, remove the slice from the skillet. Add 2 more tablespoons of oil to the skillet and proceed to griddle the other side of bread. When it has reached a deep golden brown, remove from the skillet and sprinkle with salt. Repeat with remaining slices.
• Slice the tomatoes into thick slices and sprinkle with salt.
• Smear the Texas toast with 2 tablespoons roasted garlic spread. Assemble tomato slices on top of a slice of toast (1 tomato per slice). Place several small dollops of ricotta on top of the tomatoes. Top with basil. Sprinkle with more salt and a twist of freshly ground black pepper. Eat.

RICOTTA DIP WITH CRUSHED TOMATOES & BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mash the ricotta, cream cheese, mint, chives and some salt. When smooth, spread over a large plate or a wide, shallow bowl, creating a dip in the centre to hold the tomatoes. Chill until ready to serve.
• In another bowl, crush and rip up the tomatoes with your hands until they are in small chunks and really juicy. Strain through a sieve and discard the juice (or freeze to use in another recipe). Add the vinegar, sugar, olive oil and a good pinch of salt. Mix together, then set aside.
• Heat a griddle pan until smoking hot. Brush the bread slices with olive oil and rub with the garlic cloves. Place on the hot griddle for 1-2 mins each side until nicely charred - you'll have to do this in batches.
• Pile the squashed tomatoes on top of the ricotta spread. Drizzle with extra oil and scatter with the remaining mint. Place in the centre of the table and let everyone dip in with the charred bruschetta.

GARLIC ROASTED TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Arrange tomatoes, cut side up, in a shallow baking dish; drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle garlic, oregano, sugar, and salt evenly atop.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Turn tomatoes over and roast until caramelized and very soft, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove from oven and set aside to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.
• Transfer tomato mixture to a blender or food processor; puree until smooth.

ROASTED GARLIC & TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• Remove papery outer skin from garlic (do not peel or separate cloves). Cut tops off of garlic bulbs; brush each with 1/2 teaspoon oil. Wrap each bulb in heavy-duty foil. Place garlic and tomatoes in a foil-lined 9-in. square baking pan. Brush tomatoes with remaining oil., Bake at 425° for 30-35 minutes or until garlic is softened. Cool for 10-15 minutes; squeeze garlic into a small bowl. Drain any liquid from tomatoes; chop and add to garlic. Stir in the cream cheese, Italian seasoning and salt. Serve with your favorite crackers or snack breads.

BEST OF THE BEST TOMATO, BASIL, AND FRESH RICOTTA SANDWICH WITH

Steps:

• For the tapenade, place the anchovies in a small bowl and cover with cold water. Let stand for 10 minutes to remove the salt. Drain.
• Using a small knife, lift the anchovy fillets from their bones.
• In a food processor, pulse the anchovy fillets with the remaining ingredients until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a small bowl and mix well. Serve at room temperature. Makes about 3/4 cup.
• To make each sandwich, spread 1 toasted bread slice with 2 Tablespoons of tampenade.
• Cover with a few overlapping tomato slices, drizzle with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.
• Spread with 2 Tablespoons fresh ricotta, season again with salt and pepper, then top with 3 basil leaves.
• Top with another slice of toasted bread, then cut in half with a serrated knife.
• Variations: Make this into an open-faced sandwich and serve with a bouquet of dressed salad greens. Substitute Roquefort cheese for the ricotta and leave out the tapenade.