Grilled Summer Squash Stacks With Herbed Ricotta Recipe 45

GRILLED SUMMER SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium high. Toss 1 1/2 pounds sliced summer squash and 1 sliced onion with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill 3 to 5 minutes per side. Toss with more olive oil, the zest and juice of 1 lemon, and some chopped parsley and mint. Top with shaved ricotta salata.

GRILLED SUMMER SQUASH STACKS WITH HERBED RICOTTA RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Make the ricotta filling: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, green onion, basil, lemon zest, garlic, black pepper and red pepper flakes; refrigerate until ready to use. To make the salsa, in a small bowl, combine tomatoes, green onion, basil, vinegar and salt; set aside at room temperature. Slice squash and zucchini crosswise into eight 1/4-inch-thick slices each; place in a third bowl, coat with cooking spray and toss with remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. Off heat, coat a grill or grill pan with cooking spray; heat to medium-high heat. Grill squash and zucchini, until softened and grill marks appear, about 8 to 10 minutes; let cool to room temperature. To assemble stacks, spread 4 squash slices with 1 1/2 teaspoons ricotta mixture each; top each with a zucchini slice and spread with 1 1/2 teaspoons more ricotta mixture. Repeat with remaining ingredients to form 2 layers; garnish each stack with 2 tablespoons salsa and serve immediately.

GRILLED SUMMER SQUASH STACKS WITH HERBED RICOTTA

Steps:

• In a Medium Bowl combine the Ricotta Cheese, Red Pepper Flakes, Black Pepper, Scallions and Basil. Mix well and then store in the fridge.
• Slice your Squash and Zucchini into 1/4 inch slices. Once they are all sliced place them in a bowl and spray them with a mist of olive oil to coat them.
• Now time to Grill - give your grill a light spray of olive oil and heat to a medium high heat. Grill your Squash and Zucchini, until softened and grill marks appear about 8-10 minutes. The Squash cooks slightly quicker than the zucchini so just remove the slices and set on a plate as they fully cook.
• This step is important - let the Zucchini & Squash rest, cool to room temperature...if you start building your stacks while the Zucchini & Squash are still warm the Ricotta Cheese will start to melt and your stacks will fall. Oh and I know this first hand because I am a bit impatient and did not let my veggies rest the first time and my stacks did not stay standing but they were still delicious just not as pretty.
• Start to assemble your stacks, spread 4 Squash slices with 1 1/2 teaspoons of your Ricotta mixture each, now top with a Zucchini slice and spread with 1 1/2 teaspoons more of the Ricotta mixture. Repeat with remaining ingredients so each stack contains 4 slices of vegetable; garnish each stack with 2 tablespoons of fresh salsa. I used Traders Joe's Salsa.
• Serve and Eat

RICOTTA, SQUASH AND HONEY FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Stir together the ricotta with a large pinch of salt and few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Prepare an outdoor grill for medium-high heat. Brush the grill grates with oil. Toss together the squash and zucchini slices, 1 tablespoon of the oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Grill the vegetables, turning once, until nicely marked and just tender, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove to the large bowl and toss with the juice of one of the lemon halves.
• Brush the tops of the flatbreads with the remaining tablespoon oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread a quarter of the ricotta over each flatbread. Divide the grilled vegetables among the flatbreads. Transfer the flatbreads to the grill, cover and cook until the bottoms are slightly charred and crisp in spots and the ricotta is warm, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove to serving plates and top each with a drizzle of oil, a squeeze of the other lemon half, some lemon zest and a drizzle of honey. Sprinkle with salt and red pepper flakes, then top with the fresh herbs.

HERBED SUMMER SQUASH

Steps:

• Saute 1 1/2 pounds diced yellow squash in butter over medium-high heat, 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup chicken broth, 2 sprigs thyme, and salt to taste; bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low; partially cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 8 minutes. Uncover; cook 2 more minutes. Stir in chopped parsley and salt and pepper to taste.

GRILLED YELLOW SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the grill for medium heat.
• Cut the squash horizontally into 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thick slices so that you have nice long strips that won't fall through the grill.
• Heat olive oil in a small pan, and add garlic cloves. Cook over medium heat until the garlic starts to sizzle and become fragrant. Brush the slices of squash with the garlic oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• Grill squash slices for 5 to 10 minutes per side, until they reach the desired tenderness. Brush with additional garlic oil, and turn occasionally to prevent sticking or burning.

GRILLED SUMMER SQUASH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Divide between two double thicknesses of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. x 12 in.). Fold foil around vegetable mixture and seal tightly., Grill, covered, over medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Open foils carefully to allow steam to escape.

SUMMER-SQUASH ROLLS WITH HERBED RICOTTA, ARUGULA, AND TOASTED-HAZELNUT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss squash ribbons with 2 tablespoons oil; arrange in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Roast just until tender, about 8 minutes. Let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine shallot and vinegar; let stand 15 minutes. Whisk in remaining 1/4 cup oil and hazelnuts; season with salt and pepper.
• In a bowl, combine ricotta, herbs, Pecorino Romano, and lemon zest; season with salt and pepper. Place 3 arugula leaves crosswise on one end of each squash ribbon. Top with about 1 1/2 tablespoons ricotta filling. Roll squash up to create a little bundle, and place, seamside down, on a platter. Repeat with remaining squash, arugula, and filling. Serve, drizzled with vinaigrette.

MARINATED SUMMER SQUASH WITH HAZELNUTS AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Toss squash and 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt in a colander; set over a bowl. Let sit 10 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels.
• Toss hazelnuts and 1 Tbsp. oil on a rimmed baking sheet and roast, shaking occasionally, until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Let cool; crush into large pieces with a measuring cup or glass.
• Smack 3 mint sprigs against your cutting board a few times to release their flavor; mix in a large bowl with garlic, vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes, and 2 Tbsp. oil; set dressing aside.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high until shimmering. Arrange squash cut side down in skillet, breaking into smaller pieces if needed in order to fit in a single layer, and cook, moving around in pan to ensure even browning, until golden brown on cut side, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover (if you don't have a lid use a baking sheet), and continue to cook until very tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool slightly.
• Cut squash into 2" pieces and toss in reserved dressing to coat; season with kosher salt and black pepper. Let sit at room temperature, tossing occasionally, 15 minutes. Pluck out mint sprigs; discard.
• Meanwhile, zest lemon half into a small bowl, mix in ricotta and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil; season with kosher salt. Hang on to that lemon.
• Spread lemon ricotta over platter. Top with squash and their juices. Squeeze reserved lemon over. Pull leaves from remaining mint sprigs (you want about 1/4 cup). Scatter mint and hazelnuts over squash. Drizzle generously with oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Serve with toast.

SUMMER SQUASH 'PASTA' WITH RICOTTA

Steps:

• Using a vegetable peeler, peel one strip off of the first squash, lengthwise. Discard first strip (since it's all skin). Rotating the squash, continue peeling the squash so each strip has a thin sliver of skin. Once there is no skin left, use the peeler to slice around the remainder of the squash until you hit the seeds. Repeat with other two squashes.
• In a large pan over medium heat, heat enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Once the garlic starts to turn golden, add the slivers of squash and a dash of salt and pepper. Using tongs, toss to coat and drizzle a little more oil if the squash looks dry. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the slivers start to wilt. At this point, add the tomatoes and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
• Remove the pan from heat and immediately stir in ricotta and fresh basil. Use the tongs to work the ricotta into a sauce, ensuring each strand of squash is coated.
• Serve immediately or at room temperature.

SUMMER SQUASH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 2 1/2-quart baking dish. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Cook in boiling, salted water until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain. Purée in a food processor.
• Melt 6 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and peppers and cook until just tender. Meanwhile, crumb the toast in a food processor, melt remaining butter and toss together.
• Mix the squash purée, onions, peppers, garlic, cracker crumbs and cheese. Stir in the eggs, cream, sugar and seasonings. Blend well. Pour into the baking dish. Top with bread crumbs and bake until browned, about 40 minutes.