Sweet Shallot Ricotta Pasta Recipes

SWEET RICOTTA PASTRIES

Steps:

• Make filling:
• Bring milk and zest to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan, then remove from heat. Whisk together yolk, sugar, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Whisk in milk, then transfer mixture to saucepan.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, and boil 1 minute. Stir in vanilla, then transfer to a clean bowl and chill custard, its surface covered with parchment paper (to prevent a skin from forming), until cold, at least 1 hour. Discard zest.
• Pulse ricotta in a food processor until smooth. Whisk into custard. Stir in orange-flower water and citron. Chill until ready to use.
• Prepare pastry while custard chills:
• Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in cleaned food processor until combined. Add butter and zest and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal with some roughly pea-size butter lumps. Add yolks and water and pulse until just incorporated and dough begins to form large clumps.
• Turn out dough onto a work surface and divide into 4 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather dough together, using a pastry or bench scraper if you have one, and form into a ball.
• Generously butter muffin cups and top of pan. Press 2 tablespoon dough over bottom and up side of each muffin cup in an even layer with well-floured fingers. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, roll out remaining dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper into a 9-inch round (about 1/8 inch thick) and transfer to a baking sheet, discarding top sheet of paper. Cut 12 (1/2-inch-wide) strips, then cut in half crosswise to make 24 strips total. Chill until ready to use.
• Assemble and Bake pastries:
• Spoon a scant 2 tablespoons filling into each muffin cup and smooth, then crisscross 2 strips on top of filling, trimming to fit. Brush pastry cross with egg wash. Bake until filling is puffed and starting to crack and edges are golden, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Cool in pan on a rack 10 minutes. Invert a rack on top of pan, then flip pan and remove. Turn pastries right side up and cool completely.

ROASTED SQUASH, SHALLOT, SPINACH & RICOTTA PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the squash and shallots into a large roasting dish. Toss in the oil, season and roast for 40 mins, stirring once.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions, reserving a few tbsp of cooking water. Place the spinach in a large colander and pour over boiling water to wilt. Allow to cool a little, then squeeze out as much excess water as possible. Pop into a bowl with two-thirds of the ricotta, the sage, lemon juice and zest, nutmeg and seasoning, then stir.
• Next, tip the ricotta mixture into the hot drained pasta. Stir, adding a few tbsp of the cooking liquid. Mix most of the roasted veg with the pasta. Divide into bowls and dot with the remaining ricotta and scatter over any final bits of veg.

ROASTED GARLIC-RICOTTA PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and add the olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. Stir in the roasted garlic and shallots and cook until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Pour in the wine and cook until reduced and the pan is almost dry, about 3 to 5 minutes, to concentrate the flavors of the sauce. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Mix in the cornstarch mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.
• Place the ricotta cheese and about 1/3 of a cup of the garlic mixture into a blender. With the blender on, slowly pour the remaining sauce through the opening in the blender lid; the sauce will thicken.
• Transfer the sauce back into the saucepan and stir in the basil, oregano, salt and pepper.
• Use the sauce immediately, or cool quickly by setting in a bowl of ice and water. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator or freeze for about 1 month.

SWEET SHALLOT & RICOTTA PASTA

Steps:

• Halve the shallots and cook in a little oil for about 5 minutes.
• Add the brown sugar and thyme and keep cooking and stirring until the shallots are tender and caramelized.
• Cook the linguine to packet instructions then tip into the pan.
• Add the shallots, salt and pepper and toss.
• Divide into bowls then add ricotta in blobs and sprinkle on the parmesan.