Baked Lemons With Mozzarella Recipes

BAKED LEMON ZITI

Steps:

• For the pasta: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 13- by 9- by 2-inch glass or ceramic baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes.
• In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook until brown and crispy, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the pancetta and drain on paper towels.
• For the sauce: In a 2-quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Add the lemon zest. Simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Parmesan, salt and pepper.
• In a large bowl, combine the cheese sauce, cooked pancetta, pasta, basil and thyme. Toss until the ingredients are coated. Stir in the lemon juice. Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the mozzarella.
• For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
• Sprinkle the topping over the pasta mixture. Drizzle the top with olive oil and bake until the top is golden brown, 25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and serve.

BAKED LEMON-BASIL PASTA

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Stir in the bow tie pasta; return to a boil. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked through, but still firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Season chicken with lemon pepper.
• Melt the margarine with the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir the chicken pieces until no longer pink in the center. Remove the chicken pieces, and place them in the bottom of a casserole dish.
• To the same skillet, add the garlic, white wine, sour cream, basil, lemon zest, and 1/2 of the lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove the skillet from the heat; stir in the pasta. Spoon the pasta and sauce mixture over the chicken. Cover with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, about 15 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, parsley, spinach, and drizzle with the remaining lemon juice. Bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

LIGHT AND BAKED MOZZARELLA STICKS

Steps:

• Preheat a toaster oven on broil setting, or set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Spray a small baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Insert toothpick vertically into each cheese stick half to mid-way point. Beat egg in a small bowl. Place bread crumbs in a separate small bowl.
• Dip each cheese stick into egg, then press into bread crumbs. Repeat dipping in egg and breadcrumbs for a double-thick coating. Place cheese sticks on prepared baking sheet and spray with additional cooking spray for uniform browning.
• Broil in preheated oven until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Allow cheese sticks to set before serving, about 1 minute.

BAKED LEMONS WITH MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a work surface, trim both ends of lemons so they stand upright; cut crosswise 1 inch thick rounds. Using a small knife, remove flesh from interior of each lemon round, forming 8 hollow rings. Discard lemon flesh or save for other use.
• Spread lemon leaves in a single layer 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Top each leaf with a lemon ring. Place a slice of mozzarella inside each lemon, and top each with a basil leaf, anchovy fillet, cherry tomato, and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with dried chiles, if desired. Top with another slice of mozzarella.
• Bake until golden and bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool slightly. Serve with grilled bread, if desired.

BAKED MOZZARELLA RIGATONI

Steps:

• Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.
• Prepare fresh Basil leaves by tearing or chopping them into dime-sized pieces and set aside.
• Cut about five slices of the fresh Mozzarella cheese and set aside.
• Cube the remaining Mozzarella cheese and set aside. I use about half of the cheese as cubes and about half as slices.
• Dice the tomatoes and set aside.
• Pour the Olive oil into your favorite skillet and apply medium heat.
• Fill a large pot with water, and apply high heat to boil the pasta.
• Lightly oil a 9 x 13 inch baking dish that is about 2 inches deep.
• Into a large bowl, combine the Marinara sauce, the diced tomatoes, the Basil, the Oregano, the red pepper flakes and the cubes of Mozzarella.
• Remove the casings from the sausages and brown in the skillet, breaking the sausages into clumps.
• Cook the Rigatoni in the boiling water until just tender. I like to add olive oil and salt to the water here, but you may cook your pasta how you like.
• After the pasta and sausage are cooked, add both to the large bowl and thoroughly, but gently, combine.
• Once everything has been mixed, pour the contents of the bowl into the baking dish.
• Place the slices of Mozzarella on top of the mixture. I like to cut the slices into smaller slices so I get a nice even distribution of Mozzarella on the top of the mixture.
• Place in the pre-heated oven, on the middle rack, and bake for about 20 minutes.

LEMON AND CAPER MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Place cheese slices on medium platter.
• Heat olive oil in small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper. Heat until garlic sizzles. Remove from heat. Add oregano, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Let cool to room temperature.
• Juice lemon and add to mixture. Add capers and seasonings. Drizzle over cheese.
• Top with fresh oregano as garnish.