Microwavericotta Recipes

5 MINUTE MICROWAVE RICOTTA

Steps:

• Cook: Add milk to a microwave safe bowl, then microwave on high for 3 to 5 minutes (if you have a kitchen thermometer, milk should reach between 185°F and 200°F).
• Curdle: Add vinegar or lemon juice, stirring briefly to combine. Let sit undisturbed for 1 to 2 minutes. Milk should separate into white curds and yellowish liquid (test it by dragging a spoon through the bowl). If milk doesn't curdle and the liquid is still white, add another tablespoon of lemon or vinegar and microwave for another 30 seconds.
• Strain: Lay a clean cloth or sturdy paper towel in a wire mesh sieve, and set over a large bowl. Pour the milk mixture into the sieve to strain out the liquid whey. You can let your ricotta strain up to 1 hour. The longer it sits, the firmer your ricotta will be (though I like it fresh and warm, strained for just a few minutes). Stir salt into ricotta when finished straining.

MICROWAVE FRITTATA FOR ONE

Steps:

• Spray a large coffee mug with cooking spray.
• Whisk eggs, pesto, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and pepper together in a small bowl. Pour frittata mixture into coffee mug.
• Cook the frittata in a microwave oven for 1 minute and 30 seconds, stirring at thirty-second intervals (you will stir twice). Invert cooked frittata onto a plate or eat it right out of the coffee mug. Garnish with green onions.

MICROWAVE FRITTATA

Steps:

• Place butter in a microwave-safe 9-in. pie plate. Cover and microwave on high for 20-30 seconds or until melted. Add ham, onion and green pepper. Cover and cook on high for 1 minute. Stir in eggs, salt and pepper. , Cover and cook on high for 1-2 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 3 minutes or until completely set. Cut into wedges.

MICROWAVE RICOTTA

Steps:

• Moisten 4 layers of cheesecloth or two layers of food-safe paper towels and lay into a colander set over a bowl.
• Combine milk, salt and vinegar or lemon juice in a 4-cup glass bowl or measuring cup. Microwave on high until bubbles form around the edge, 2-4 minutes. (An instant read thermometer should read 165-170°F). Remove from microwave and stir gently for 5 seconds; solid white curds should separate from translucent whey. If not, microwave up to 30 seconds more (if using lemon juice, add an extra 1-2 tsp before reheating).
• Transfer curds to lined colander using a slotted spoon or wire-mesh skimmer. Cover exposed curds with a layer of plastic wrap and refrigerate until desired texture is achieved (see next step). The whey may be used for bread-making or for enriching a garden.
• 5 minutes drain time will give a soft, almost cream-cheese-like consistency, great for immediate consumption drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper as a snack or appetizer, or with honey and berries as dessert. 15-20 minutes of draining will give you a cottage-cheese-like consistency good for moist savory applications like lasagna, manicotti, ravioli or spinach dip, for moist sweet things like cheesecake, or for uncooked pastry applications like cannoli filling. 2-24 hours will result in a dry, firm, crumbly curd best for pastries like ricotta pancakes, ricotta gnochi, or tortas.

MICROWAVE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Place ground beef in 1 1/2-quart casserole. Cook on full power 4 to 5 minutes, or until beef is no longer pink. Stir halfway through cooking time. Drain.
• Add spaghetti sauce, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt to meat. Set aside.
• Combine eggs, ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese, parsley flakes, onion, salt and pepper. Stuff each cooked manicotti shell with egg-cheese mixture.
• Place half of meat mixture into 2-quart utility dish. Overlap stuffed manicotti shells on top of meat mixture and then top with remaining meat mixture. Cover loosely with heavy-duty plastic wrap. Cook, covered, on full power for 13 to 16 minutes, or until heated through. Sprinkle remaining Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over top during last minute of cooking time.