Ricotta Figs And Macadamia Nuts Recipes

MACADAMIA NUT "RICOTTA"

Steps:

• DO THIS:
• In a food processor or a high powered blender, purée the ingredients together until smooth.
• If necessary, scrape down the sides with a spatula and/or add a bit more water. The resulting texture should resemble-you guessed it!-ricotta cheese.
• KA-POW!
• Amplify the color and flavor by mixing in 1/4 teaspoon of smoked paprika. Or add minced sundried tomatoes and fresh basil.

FIG-RICOTTA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Beat ricotta cheese, sugar, and butter together in a bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, followed by almond extract. Beat in flour mixture on low speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl until combined; beat batter for about 30 seconds more.
• Place chopped figs into a bowl, sprinkle 1 tablespoon flour over, and stir to coat. Fold figs into the batter. Pour into the prepared loaf pan. Place fig slices on top of the batter, down the center.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Remove from the pan once the cake has cooled, 20 to 30 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

ROASTED FIGS WITH FRESH RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put the figs, cut side up, in a baking dish. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat, and whisk in the honey, cinnamon and salt. Drizzle the hot honey butter over the figs and roast in oven until very soft, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Divide the fresh ricotta or fat free yogurt among 4 serving dishes and top with the warm figs and sauce. Enjoy!
• Cook's Note: These hot figs are really great over mixed greens or even on a toasted baguette as a crostini!

RICOTTA FIGS AND MACADAMIA NUTS

Steps:

• Trim the fat end of each fig so that the fruit stands up-right. Cut the thin end with a cross to open up the figs but still keeping them in one piece. Mix the Oz Lemon into the ricotta, preferably at least 2 hours before serving as this allows the flavours to really penetrate the cheese. Place a tablespoonful of the prepared cheese in each cross cut fig. Grill until the figs are warm and the cheese just bubbles. Plate up the figs, drizzle with the grape nectar and garnish with the toasted macadamia nut pieces. Serve immediately with a strong coffee for that hint of bitterness to add to the complexity of taste.

FIGS WITH RICOTTA, PISTACHIO, AND HONEY

Steps:

• Toast the pistachios in a dry skillet over a medium-high heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Set aside to cool. Chop coarsely.
• Cut each fig in half crosswise and place the fig pieces on a serving dish, cut side up. Make a small indentation into the cut side of each fig half with a small spoon or your finger. Put 1/2 teaspoon of the ricotta cheese onto each piece of fig and top with a pistachio. Drizzle with honey and serve.

GRILLED FIGS WITH HONEY RICOTTA

Steps:

• Pre-heat the grill.
• Trim fig stems, if any, and cut figs in half length-ways.
• Lightly butter a shallow baking dish. Place the figs curved side down in the dish. Sprinkle each fig with a little brown sugar. Sprinkle nuts over figs, if using.
• Grill figs for about 3-4 minutes or until the sugar starts to bubble.
• Meanwhile, combine ricotta and honey in a bowl and stir until smooth and creamy.
• Remove figs from the oven and gently place on serving plates with a dollop of honey ricotta.
• Garnish with mint leaves and serve. Enjoy!

FIG AND RICOTTA CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place the baguette slices on an ungreased, foil-lined baking sheet.
• Bake the bread in the preheated oven until the bottoms are brown, about 5 minutes; flip and bake until crisp, 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven.
• Spread 1 tablespoon of ricotta on each slice of toasted bread. Place a few ribbons of basil on each, arrange a slice of fig on top, and drizzle the finished crostini with balsamic vinegar.