Whipped Basil Ricotta With Crisp Spring Veggies Food

WHIPPED RICOTTA SALAD

Steps:

• For the whipped ricotta: Place the ricotta, olive oil and salt in a food processor. Blend until light and smooth, about 30 seconds. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
• For the dressing: Place the basil, pine nuts, vinegar, salt and pepper flakes in a food processor. With the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil to form a smooth dressing. Set aside.
• For the salad: In a bowl, toss the tomatoes, snap peas and arugula with the dressing.
• To assemble: Spread the whipped ricotta on the bottom of a platter. Place the dressed salad on top of the ricotta, leaving some of the cheese exposed around the edges. Serve.

WHIPPED RICOTTA WITH OLIVE OIL AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer, whip the ricotta until light and airy, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate and use a spoon to create a well in the center. Fill with the olive oil and sprinkle with the rosemary. Generously sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Drizzle the bread with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Grill on the oiled side until toasted, about 2 minutes. Serve with the ricotta.

WHIPPED BASIL RICOTTA

Steps:

• Combine ricotta cheese, basil, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and pepper flakes in a mini food processor and process until all ingredients are well incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes.

BAKED RICOTTA WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil, add the asparagus and blanch 5 minutes. Drain and set aside. Toss mushrooms with 2 teaspoons of the oil and sear in a small skillet over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Grease a 9-inch cast iron skillet with 1 teaspoon oil. Place ricotta in a bowl. Fold in the Parmesan, mozzarella, oregano, egg and egg yolk. Season with salt and pepper. Spread in the cast-iron skillet. Gently swirl in the pesto, leaving streaks of it.
• Heat a broiler. Place the cast-iron skillet on a burner turned to low and let cook about 10 minutes, until heated through and showing signs of browning along the edges. Remove from heat. Scatter the asparagus, mushrooms and artichokes on top. Sprinkle with scallions and mint. Place under the broiler close to the source of heat until it starts to become lightly dappled, about 6 minutes.
• Meanwhile grill or toast the bread. Brush with the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoon olive oil and rub with garlic. Serve the cheese and vegetables directly from the skillet, with grilled bread alongside.

WHIPPED RICOTTA

Steps:

• Combine ricotta cheese and sea salt in the bowl of a mini food processor and process until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.

THIN-CRUST PIZZA WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Make the dough. Toward the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 500˚ F (use the convection setting, if available) with a pizza stone, baking steel or inverted large baking sheet in the lower third of the oven.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil; put the bell pepper halves on one side and the mushrooms on the other side. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil; rub all over the peppers and toss the mushrooms to coat. Arrange the peppers cut-side down and roast, turning the peppers and stirring the mushrooms occasionally, until the peppers are tender and browned and the mushrooms are tender and dry, 15 to 20 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring, until tender and lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes (reduce the heat if the onions start to get too dark). Stir in 1/4 cup water, the tomato paste and sugar. Cook, stirring frequently, until the tomato paste is toasted and a few shades darker, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vinegar; season with salt, pepper and more sugar, if needed. (The sauce should be slightly sweet and tangy.) Let cool.
• Remove the roasted peppers to a cutting board and chop; transfer to a large bowl and stir in the mushrooms, artichoke hearts and a pinch each of salt and pepper.
• On a lightly floured surface, cut one 1-pound ball of dough in half. Cup your hand around each piece and gently roll each into a small ball. Transfer 1 ball of dough to a lightly floured piece of parchment paper and roll into a thin 12-inch round with a rolling pin (keep the other ball of dough covered).
• Top the dough with half of the sauce, spreading it to the edge, then top with half of the roasted vegetable mixture and 2 tablespoons Parmesan.
• Transfer the pizza (on the parchment) to the hot stone and bake until the crust is set, 3 to 5 minutes. Slide out the parchment from under the pizza. Continue baking until the crust is golden brown and crisp, 7 to 10 more minutes. Remove the pizza to a cutting board and dot with half of the ricotta. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and top with basil. Repeat to make another pizza.
• Sprinkle the yeast over the hot water in a small bowl. Let stand until dissolved and slightly foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the yeast mixture into the well and add the olive oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, dust the dough with flour and knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until very smooth and elastic but still slightly tacky, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. Divide the dough into two 1-pound balls. (If making sheet-pan pizza, let the dough rise, covered, on an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet coated with 3 tablespoons olive oil instead of in a bowl; do not divide into two balls.)
• If not using the dough right away, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before using.

WHIPPED RICOTTA, SPRING ONION & LEEK MATZO LASAGNE

Steps:

• First, make the tomato sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over a gentle heat and fry the onion for 10-15 mins or until tender.
• Add the tomatoes, tomato purée, oregano and vegetable bouillon, and simmer over a low-moderate heat for 20-30 mins, stirring from time to time, until thickened.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling. In a frying pan, heat the olive oil and fry the spring onions, leeks and garlic for 10 mins, stirring from time to time to stop them catching, until softened, then stir in the spinach to wilt.
• For the cheese sauce, tip the ricotta and egg into a food processor and whip until smooth and light - it should not take more than a minute. Season well and stir in the 50g grated cheese.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. To assemble the lasagne, put some cold water in a large, flat dish. Then, one sheet at a time, soak the matzo in the water - no more than 30 seconds, as you don't want them falling apart, just moistened and more pliable. Use the first three sheets to line the base of an ovenproof dish measuring approximately 20cm x 30cm.
• Top the matzo with a third of the tomato sauce. Spread it over evenly, then top with a third of the ricotta mixture. Top with half the spinach and leek mixture, then a second layer of water-dipped matzo sheets. Repeat the process, then top with the last of the tomato sauce and, finally, the last of the ricotta sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining grated cheese, then cover loosely with foil - try to 'tent' the foil upwards so it's not laying on the surface of the lasagne.
• Bake for 30 mins, then uncover and bake for a further 25-30 mins to get the top nicely golden. Give it a few minutes to settle once out of the oven, and serve with a crisp green salad.