Ricotta And Tomato Spread Recipes

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES WITH HERBED RICOTTA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, scallions, dill, chives, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside for up to 30 minutes.
• With a small serrated knife, cut the larger tomatoes in wedges through the stem and the smaller tomatoes in half through the stem. Place them in a medium bowl with the garlic, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside.
• When ready to serve, add the basil to the tomatoes and combine. Pile the ricotta in a large (12-inch) round shallow bowl or oval platter. Using a slotted spoon, place the tomatoes around the ricotta, discarding any liquid. Drizzle the tomatoes and ricotta with olive oil, sprinkle with the reserved basil and fleur de sel, and serve at room temperature.
• Set a fine-mesh sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 pieces of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with a double layer of the cheesecloth.
• Pour the milk and cream into a medium stainless-steel or enameled pot, such as Le Creuset, and stir in the salt. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and pour in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for one minute, until it curdles. It will separate into thick parts (the curds) and milky parts (the whey).
• Pour the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined sieve and allow it to drain into the bowl at room temperature for 20 minutes (for soft ricotta) to 25 minutes (for firmer ricotta), occasionally discarding the liquid that collects in the bowl. Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining liquid. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The ricotta will keep, refrigerated, for 4 to 5 days.

RICOTTA AND TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• Combine the sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, garlic and basil in a food processor. Blend to a smooth puree and season to taste.
• Place the ricotta in a mound in a large round plate. Spoon the tomato mixture around the edge. Garnish the cheese with a sprig of basil.

TOMATO SPREAD WITH RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine the sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, garlic and basil in a food processor. Blend to a smooth puree and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Place the ricotta in a mound in the center of a large round plate. Smooth the tomato mixture around the side. Garnish the cheese with a sprig of basil.

WARM RICOTTA, CORN AND TOMATO DIP

Steps:

• Position the oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a medium ovenproof skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the corn and cook, stirring frequently, until heated through but not beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and season with a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes start to soften slightly and release some of their juice, 3 to 5 minutes depending on their ripeness.
• Remove from the heat and make 8 divots in the tomato mixture using the back of a spoon. Dollop the ricotta among the divots and drizzle with oil. Bake on the top oven rack until bubbly and the cheese is heated through, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, spread out the bread on a baking sheet, drizzle both sides with oil and season with salt and black pepper. Bake on the bottom oven rack, flipping halfway through, until golden brown around the edges, about 10 minutes. Top each piece of bread with a slice of fontina and cook until melted and bubbly, about 5 minutes. While still hot, sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes.
• Top the skillet with the basil leaves, drizzle with more oil and sprinkle with flaky salt. Serve right away with the toasts while the skillet is still warm.

RICOTTA TOAST WITH BACON AND TOMATO

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels. When cool enough to handle, crumble and set aside.
• Combine cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, basil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
• Heat a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush bread slices with olive oil on both sides. Cook in grill pan until grill marks appear and bread is toasted, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Spread toasted bread with ricotta cheese. Top with tomato mixture and sprinkle with bacon. Cut each toast in half and serve.

LASAGNA WITH RICOTTA AND TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil over moderate heat in large suacepan.
• Add onions, stir and cover.
• Cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent.
• Using a food mill, puree plum tomatoes directly into the pan.
• Add 2 teaspoons of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper, and cook, uncovered, for about 30 minutes, or until the sauce is reduced to about 4 1/2 cups.
• In a small bowl mix ricotta, egg, 2 tablespoons of the parmesan, basil, remaining salt and pepper, and nutmeg.
• Stir well to combine.
• Butter generously the bottom and sides of a baking pan, 13X9 inches.
• Take 3/4 cups of tomato sauce and spread on bottom of pan.
• Place 3 lasgana noodles on bottom of pan, overlapping them slightly.
• Spread a heaping 1/3 cup of ricotta mixture evenly over noodles.
• Spread 3/4 cup tomato sauce on top of this, sprinle with a heaping 1/3 cup of mozzarella.
• Repeat this 4 times.
• Then place last 3 noodles on top and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and parmesan.
• This lasagna may be assembled 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator, covered.
• Bring to room temperature before cooking.
• When ready to cook, preheat oven to 400.
• Bake on top shelf of oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
• Let sit 5 minutes and serve.

DELICIOUS AND SIMPLE RICOTTA AND TOMATO PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Firstly, put on a large pot of salted water and bring to the boil, add pasta to water and cook until'al dente' approximately 8- 10 minutes.
• While pasta is on the go, finely dice your onion and crush your garlic.
• In a saucepan, put in the olive oil, when the oil is warm, add your garlic and onion and gently saute these until they are transparent.
• Add the ricotta to the pan, and stir through the onions and garlic well.
• At this stage, add your salt and pepper, parmesan, crushed tomatoes and tomato paste.
• Mix well and let simmer gently for 10 minutes.
• Drain pasta.
• Turn the ricotta sauce off from the heat, add your fresh basil leaves, roughly torn, into the sauce.
• Dish up some pasta into a bowl, put some of the ricotta sauce on top of the pasta, and finish off with some extra shavings of parmesan if desired.

CUCUMBER-RICOTTA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Put cucumbers in a bowl and season with salt and pepper, then toss. Add chile, basil, lime juice, dill, tarragon, mint and chives. Toss well.
• Spread ricotta generously over each ciabatta toast. Spoon cucumber mixture over ricotta on each toast. Garnish with cilantro springs and calendula petals, if using.

RICOTTA DIP WITH CRUSHED TOMATOES & BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mash the ricotta, cream cheese, mint, chives and some salt. When smooth, spread over a large plate or a wide, shallow bowl, creating a dip in the centre to hold the tomatoes. Chill until ready to serve.
• In another bowl, crush and rip up the tomatoes with your hands until they are in small chunks and really juicy. Strain through a sieve and discard the juice (or freeze to use in another recipe). Add the vinegar, sugar, olive oil and a good pinch of salt. Mix together, then set aside.
• Heat a griddle pan until smoking hot. Brush the bread slices with olive oil and rub with the garlic cloves. Place on the hot griddle for 1-2 mins each side until nicely charred - you'll have to do this in batches.
• Pile the squashed tomatoes on top of the ricotta spread. Drizzle with extra oil and scatter with the remaining mint. Place in the centre of the table and let everyone dip in with the charred bruschetta.