Zucchini Carpaccio With Ricotta Cheese Food

ZUCCHINI CARPACCIO

Steps:

• Using a mandolin or a very sharp knife, slice zucchini into very thin rounds. Overlap zucchini disks in 1 layer on a plate; season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over the olive oil and lemon juice and scatter with leeks. Using a mandoline or a vegetable peeler, shave very thin slices of Parmesan and place them over leeks. Garnish with mint leaves. Serve immediately.

ZUCCHINI CARPACCIO

Steps:

• Trim ends of zucchini and slice diagonally into wafer-thin rounds. Place in bowl.
• Combine the olive oil, lemon juice and zest and season with salt and pepper.
• Pour mixture over zucchini and leave for 5 minutes.
• Pile arugula onto serving plates, then top with zucchini.
• Top with the shaved parmesan.

ZUCCHINI CARPACCIO WITH HOMEMADE RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Using knife or V-slicer, cut zucchini into paper-thin rounds. Arrange rounds, slightly overlapping, on large platter. Sprinkle lightly with coarse salt and pepper, then green onions. Whisk lemon juice and oil in small bowl. Drizzle dressing evenly over zucchini. Drop small spoonfuls of cheese all over zucchini. Sprinkle with basil and serve.

ZUCCHINI CARPACCIO WITH BASIL AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Rinse zucchini and cut off ends. Cut with the mandoline, or sharp knife, into 1/4 inch slices.
• Place zucchini slices on a baking sheet, brush with a little oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake in preheated oven at 425°F on the middle rack 8 minutes. Remove and let cool.
• Drain the sun-dried tomatoes. Finely chop the olives. Rinse basil, shake dry, pluck leaves and chop finely. Chop the drained sun-dried tomatoes very finely.
• Mix tomatoes, olives, basil and ricotta in a bowl with salt, pepper and a little crumbled chile pepper to taste.
• Toast pine nuts in a dry frying pan. Trim arugula, rinse and spin dry.
• Place zucchini slices on plate. Scoop portions of the ricotta mixture with 2 moistened tablespoons and add to the zucchini on the plate. Garnish with pine nuts and arugula.

ZUCCHINI CARPACCIO

Steps:

• Cut zucchini diagonally into paper-thin slices with slicer. Arrange slices, overlapping slightly, in 1 layer on 4 plates.
• Make stacks of mint leaves and cut crosswise into very thin slivers, then sprinkle over zucchini.
• Whisk together oil and lemon juice in a small bowl, then drizzle over zucchini. Sprinkle with sea salt, pepper to taste, and pine nuts. Let stand 10 minutes to soften zucchini and allow flavors to develop.
• Just before serving, use a vegetable peeler to shave cheese to taste over zucchini, then sprinkle with zucchini blossoms and mint.
• *Available at specialty produce markets and some supermarkets. **Available at Asian markets, some cookware shops, and Uwajimaya (800-899-1928).

CARPACCIO OF RAW ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Shingle the zucchini slices in a single overlapping layer on a platter. Dust with salt and pepper, then drizzle with a 3-count of olive oil and the lemon juice. Put that into the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to give the flavors a chance to get into the zucchini. Now scatter the leeks over. Sprinkle with the herbs. Garnish garnish with the ricotta cheese and mint leaves, if using; serve.

PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI RICOTTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Put olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; when hot add zucchini, along with a large pinch of salt and a sprinkling of pepper.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini begins to brown, then lower heat and cook until it is quite tender, about 15 minutes total. About 5 minutes before it is done, stir in garlic and begin to cook pasta.
• While pasta cooks, warm a serving bowl and put ricotta in it, along with about half the basil. When pasta is tender but not mushy, remove and drain it, reserving about a cup of its cooking liquid.
• Use as much of this liquid as necessary, a bit at a time, to thin ricotta until it reaches a saucy consistency. Toss with pasta, zucchini, remaining basil and Parmesan, if you are using it, then taste and adjust seasoning. Serve.