Rollatini Robiola Recipes

ROLLATINI ROBIOLA

Steps:

• **I used Bosina Robiola, which is a lightly aged sheep’s milk cheese from the south Piedmont region of Italy, that comes in about 3/4”x4"x4" squares.
• Other varieties, all from northern Italy, may be made from cow, sheep or goat milk and may have a thicker round shape like a small Brie or a cube shape.
• All of the aged Robiola cheeses tend to have a creamy yellow interior and have a white, yellowish, or pinkish rind.
• If you can’t find Robiola, feel free to use an aged Brie or Camembert cheese, including part of the crust, or Stracchino (ripened version of Taleggio) or Bel Paese or Fontina.
• The flavors are fairly similar.
• The main thing is that you want a fairly pungent cheese.
• Pound each pieces of meat between pieces of plastic wrap until about 1/8” thick, being careful not to tear it any more than necessary.
• It helps to sprinkle the meat with a little water before placing between plastic sheets.
• Season meat fairly generously on both sides with granulated garlic, seasoned salt, black pepper, and oregano.
• Sprinkle generously with balsamic vinegar, rub in spice, and marinate at room temperature for 1/2 hour or in the refrigerator for several hours.
• When ready to stuff meat rolls, cut chilled cheese into batons about 3/4” square and 3" long, making sure you get some of the rind with each piece, reserving any leftover cheese for the sauce.
• Wrap each piece of cheese with sage leaves, and with optional prosciuto, if desired, to minimize leaks later on.
• Place a wrapped piece of cheese on each piece of meat, and roll the meat around the cheese bundles, folding in the ends as you go.
• Tie each meat roll with kitchen string, or pin them shut with toothpicks, and dredge them lightly in seasoned flour, coating all over, and shaking off excess flour.
• Refrigerate meat rolls until ready to cook.
• Chop remaining sage leaves, and set aside.
• Coarsely chop sage stems.
• Place cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and add sage stems, half of the chopped garlic, and a couple tablespoons of the chopped onion.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for about 20 minutes to infuse flavors.
• Add remaining Robiola cheese scraps, including rind, and simmer about 5 minutes longer or until cheese has melted, strain cream mixture, pressing on solids to get out as much liquid and soft solids as possible, and set aside.
• Heat about 1/4 cup of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, saute meat rolls until well browned on all sides, and set them aside.
• Discard oil, except for about 2 Tbsp, and saute remaining onions and garlic until onions are just beginning to brown around the edges.
• Add mushrooms, increase heat to high, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Saute until mushroom have given up their moisture, and most of the moisture has evaporated.
• Add seasoned cream, and 1/2 cup Stravecchio or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and stir until cheese is melted.
• If desired, add flour-water mixture and bring to a boil to thicken.
• Remove string or toothpicks from meat rolls and bury them in the mushroom sauce mixture.
• Cover, and simmer until heated through.
• To serve, slice each meat roll in 4-5 pieces, and serve alongside hot noodles or rice.
• Spoon mushrooms and sauce over meat and noodles.
• Serve with a nice vinaigrette salad and hot crusty French bread with cold butter.

FRESH PASTA ROLLATINI WITH SPINACH AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• For the pasta: In a food processor, pulse together the cake flour, all-purpose flour, egg yolks, olive oil, and salt. With the food processor running, gradually add the water in a steady stream until the mixture forms a ball, adding extra water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed. Place the dough on a floured work surface and knead for 2 minutes until smooth. Cut the dough in half and shape into discs. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• For the filling: Place the drained spinach in the middle of a clean kitchen towel. Fold the towel in half and squeeze out any excess moisture. Place the spinach in a medium bowl. Add the prosciutto, ricotta cheese, Parmesan, egg yolk, olive oil, butter, salt, and pepper. Using a fork, mix until combined.
• On a floured work surface, roll out the chilled dough into 2 (8-inch diameter) circles. Place the filling in the center of each circle and, using a spatula, spread evenly over the dough leaving a 1/2 to 3/4-inch border of uncovered dough. In a small bowl, beat the egg and water together until smooth. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the edges of the dough with the egg mixture. Roll the dough into logs, jellyroll style, and pinch the edges together to seal. Roll each log in the prepared cheesecloth and secure the ends with kitchen twine.
• Oil a baking sheet. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Lower the logs into the water and cook for 15 minutes. Using 2 pairs of tongs to hold the twine, remove the logs, one at a time, and place on the prepared baking sheet until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.
• Preheat the broiler. Butter an 8 by 8-inch flameproof baking dish.
• Remove the kitchen twine and cheesecloth. Using a sharp knife, cut each log into 12 (1/2-inch thick) slices. Fan the slices in 3 overlapping rows in the prepared baking dish. Using a pastry brush, brush the top of the slices with the melted butter and sprinkle with Parmesan. Broil until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with warm marinara sauce.

EGGPLANT ROLLATINI

Steps:

• Peel and slice eggplant lengthwise into fifteen 1/8-in.-thick slices. Place in a colander over a plate; sprinkle with salt and toss. Let stand 30 minutes., Meanwhile, for sauce, in a large saucepan, saute onion in oil. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in remaining sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until flavors are blended, stirring occasionally, 20-25 minutes. Rinse and drain eggplant., In a large bowl, combine filling ingredients; set aside., Place eggs in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. Dip eggplant in eggs, then bread crumb mixture., In an electric skillet or deep skillet, heat 1/2 in. of oil to 375°. Fry eggplant in batches until golden brown, 2-3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels., Preheat oven to 375°. Spoon 1 cup sauce into an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Spread 2 rounded tablespoons filling over each eggplant slice. Carefully roll up and place seam side down in baking dish. Spoon remaining sauce over roll-ups. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Cover and bake until bubbly, 30-35 minutes.

EGGPLANT ROLLATINI

Steps:

• Preheat the grill pan and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place a rack over a large baking sheet. Cut the 2 ends off the eggplant. Cut the eggplants lengthwise, into 1/2-inch thick slices. Arrange eggplant slices onto rack. Sprinkle with sea salt to help remove excess moisture and any bitterness from the eggplants. Set aside for about 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off the salt from the eggplants and pat dry with a towel. Spray hot grill pan liberally with vegetable spray and then place eggplant slices on the grill until lightly browned on each side and tender, about 4 minutes per side. Remove slices from the grill pan and allow to cool.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs until lightly scrambled. Mix the ricotta in with the egg. Add mozzarella, 3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts and gently combine. Fold in basil just to combine. Do not overmix.
• Place a tablespoon of the cheese mixture on 1 end of the eggplant and roll up tightly. Place the eggplant rollatini into a greased (with olive oil) 13 by 9-inch baking dish, seam side down. Continue with remaining eggplant. Evenly distribute the tomato sauce on top of the eggplant rollatini. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining 5 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and bake for 15 minutes. When cooked, drizzle the top with extra-virgin olive oil.
• In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.