Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini Recipes

RICOTTA STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
• Scoop out the seeds of each zucchini half with a spoon. Season the hollowed-out halves with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper.
• Mix together the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper in a bowl. Divide cheese mixture between four zucchini halves. Arrange stuffed zucchini on greased baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until zucchini is tender and filling is beginning to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI WITH RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven 400°F (200°C). Have ready one or two baking trays that will fit the zucchini halves snugly.
• Cut the zucchini half. Using a teaspoon or melon baller remove the pulp from the centre. Be sure to keep the skin intact. Sprinkle the zucchini shells with a little salt. Finely chop the zucchini pulp.
• Heat 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is soft but not brown about 5 minutes.
• Add the zucchini pulp and cook until tender.
• Add breadcrumbs and mix well. Remove from heat.
• In a bowl mix together basil, ricotta, pecorino, lemon rind and egg. Add onion/zucchini mixture. Mix well and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To make the tomato sauce return the frying pan to the heat. Into the frying pan add oil and garlic for the sauce. Fry gently until fragrant. Add the pureed tomatoes and allow to simmer for a few minutes.
• Pour tomato sauce into baking tray/s.
• Using a small spoon filling the zucchini shells with the ricotta mixture and nestle into the tomato sauce.
• Sprinkle over extra grated pecorino.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until zucchini are tender and tops are nicely browned.

RICOTTA-STUFFED ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS WITH PANZANELLA

Steps:

• For the panzanella: Combine the vinegar, 1 cup water, the salt, sugar and garlic in a large jar or other container with a tight-fitting lid and shake, shake, shake to combine. Add the onions and cucumbers, shake again, and let sit for at least 1 hour. (You're making pickles here, and this step can totally be done ahead of time-like yesterday!)
• Put the bread in a large bowl with 1/2 to 1 cup water to soften. Squeeze and knead the bread with your hands, and then let it sit for 30 minutes.
• Squeeze out any excess water from the bread again, put the bread back in the bowl, and crumble it through your fingers. Toss in the tomatoes, add the pickled onions and cucumbers (strain these out and reserve the liquid), and stir to combine. Add the basil and some finishing oil; taste it to make sure it's delicious. Sprinkle in a few drops of the pickling liquid or a bit more oil if needed. Reserve.
• For the blossoms: Wiggle your finger into the blossom down to the base, where the flower meets the stem, and carefully break off and remove the stamen (be gentle, you don't want to rip through the blossom while doing this). Repeat with all the blossoms.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmigiano and parsley and season with salt. Taste and re-season if needed. Put the ricotta mix into a pastry bag, carefully insert the tip of the bag into the flower and fill. Then gently close your hand around the flower to secure it. Place the stuffed blossom on a baking sheet and repeat with the remaining flowers.
• Pour peanut oil into a large saucepan over medium-high heat; the oil should come 1 1/2 to 2 inches up the sides of the pan. While the oil heats, set up your drying situation next to the stove by putting a couple layers of paper towels on a baking sheet. To see if the oil is hot enough, drop a bit of flour into it. If it sizzles, you're good to go. If the oil begins to smoke, it's too hot, so reduce the heat.
• Combine the flour and wine in a large bowl to make a very loose batter. Start with 3/4 cup of the wine and add more if needed.
• Working in batches, dip each blossom in the batter to coat it, and then gently put each blossom in the oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Let the blossoms cook until they turn color but stay nice and crispy on the outside, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the blossoms from the oil with a slotted spoon or fish spatula, put them on the paper towels and immediately sprinkle with salt.
• Divide the reserved panzanella among serving plates and top each with 2 crispy blossoms.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI BITES WITH SPINACH AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Using a melon baller, carefully scoop out a little spot in the center of each zucchini round for the filling to sit, making sure to leave about a 1/2-inch "floor" at the bottom. Put the scooped zucchini centers on a cutting board, season with salt and pepper and chop.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the scallions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and chopped zucchini centers and cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms release their liquid and the zucchini start to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain off any excess liquid. Stir in the ricotta and season with salt and pepper.
• Stuff the zucchini cups with the filling and bake on a rimmed baking sheet until the zucchini is cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes.

ZUCCHINI STUFFED WITH RICOTTA (ZUCCHINE RIPIENE CON RICOTTA)

Steps:

• Using a small spoon, scoop out and discard pulp from each zucchini half, leaving a 1/4" rim around the edges.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 10" skillet over medium heat.
• Add garlic and onions; cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 6 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 4 minutes more.
• Remove from the heat and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the ricotta, 1/4 cup of the pecorino, 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs, the parsley, mint, oregano, and egg yolks.
• Fold in the onion mixture and season with salt and pepper;& a pinch or two of crushed red pepper flakes; set the filling aside.
• Arrange an oven rack about 7" from the broiler element and heat.
• Rub the insides of the zucchini with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and season lightly with salt.
• Place zucchini cut side up on a foil-lined baking sheet and broil for 5 minutes.
• Remove baking sheet from oven and fill each zucchini half with enough of the ricotta mixture that it mounds slightly but doesn't spill over the edges of the zucchini.
• Sprinkle each stuffed zucchini with the remaining pecorino and bread crumbs and drizzle with the remaining olive oil.
• Broil until the zucchini are soft and the tops are lightly browned, 10-15 minutes.
• Serve with other (vegetarian) dishes & some nice Italian wine and enjoy!