Zucchini Ricotta Cheesecake Food

ZUCCHINI RICOTTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cut zucchini lengthwise into 1/4-in. slices. Place in a basket over 1 in. of boiling water. Cover and steam until just tender, 5-6 minutes. Drain; pat dry. , In a large bowl, combine ricotta, egg substitute, 3 tablespoons bread crumbs, 3 tablespoons Parmesan, parsley, oregano, basil and pepper; set aside. , Spread a third of the spaghetti sauce in a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons bread crumbs. Cover with half of the zucchini, ricotta mixture and mozzarella. Repeat layers of sauce, zucchini, ricotta mixture and mozzarella. Cover with remaining sauce., Combine remaining crumbs and Parmesan; sprinkle over top. Cover and bake 45 minutes. Uncover; bake until golden brown, 15 minutes longer. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

LAYERED ZUCCHINI AND RICOTTA OMELET CAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the ricotta with some milk to thin it out to a spreadable consistency and season it with thyme, salt and pepper, to taste.
• Line a cake pan with plastic wrap. Choose a nonstick skillet similar in size to your cake pan.
• Beat the eggs with salt and pepper, to taste. Have 2 plates on hand that are similar in size to the skillet. Heat a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil in the skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add 1/3 of the zucchini, chili, sweet peppers and scallions to the pan, season with salt and pepper, to taste. Saute the mixture for a couple of minutes then add 1/3 of the eggs and brown the omelet. Cover the pan with a plate and flip the omelet over and brown on the other side. Slide the browned omelet onto another plate and repeat twice more to create 3 omelets.
• Put the most appealing omelet in bottom of a cake pan, spread with half the ricotta mixture and top with another omelet, more cheese and then the third omelet. Invert onto cake plate or stand and top with arugula and shaved Parmesan. Cut into wedges and serve.

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.

SUMMER PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI, RICOTTA AND BASIL

Steps:

• Put a pot of water on to boil. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the onions in 3 tablespoons olive oil until softened, 5 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat as necessary to keep onions from browning. Add zucchini, season generously with salt and pepper, and continue cooking, stirring occasionally until rather soft, about 10 minutes. Turn off heat.
• Meanwhile, use a mortar and pestle to pound garlic, basil and a little salt into a rough paste (or use a mini food processor). Stir in 3 tablespoons olive oil.
• Salt the pasta water well and put in the pasta, stirring. Boil per package instructions but make sure to keep pasta quite al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.
• Add cooked pasta to zucchini in skillet and turn heat to medium-high. Add 1/2 cup cooking water, then the ricotta, crushed red pepper and lemon zest, stirring to distribute. Check seasoning and adjust. Cook for 1 minute more. Mixture should look creamy. Add a little more pasta water if necessary. Add the basil paste and half the grated cheese and quickly stir to incorporate. Spoon pasta into warm soup plates and sprinkle with additional cheese. Serve immediately.

RICOTTA STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
• Scoop out the seeds of each zucchini half with a spoon. Season the hollowed-out halves with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper.
• Mix together the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper in a bowl. Divide cheese mixture between four zucchini halves. Arrange stuffed zucchini on greased baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until zucchini is tender and filling is beginning to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.