Zucchini Al Formaggio Recipes

ZUCCHINI GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a very large (12-inch) saute pan and cook the onions over low heat for 20 minutes, or until tender but not browned. Add the zucchini and cook, covered, for 10 minutes, or until tender. Add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg and cook uncovered for 5 more minutes. Stir in the flour. Add the hot milk and cook over low heat for a few minutes, until it makes a sauce. Pour the mixture into an 8 by 10-inch baking dish.
• Combine the bread crumbs and Gruyere and sprinkle on top of the zucchini mixture. Dot with 1 tablespoon of butter cut into small bits and bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbly and browned.

PIZZA AL FORMAGGIO

Steps:

• Place yeast in a small bowl, add 1/2 cup warm water, mix well and add 1 cup flour. Mix briefly to make a rough dough. Cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise 1 hour, until doubled.
• Beat 2 eggs in a small bowl. Mix in 4 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano, all the pecorino and the pepper. Place remaining 2 cups flour in a large bowl, whisk in salt and make a well in the center. Add 2 tablespoons oil and work oil into flour with your fingertips until mixture is crumbly. Add risen yeast mixture, the egg mixture and 1/2 cup warm water. Knead briefly to make a sticky dough.
• Turn dough out onto floured work surface and knead about 2 minutes, adding flour sparingly as needed to make a soft dough. Cover with an inverted bowl for 15 minutes. Knead another 2 to 3 minutes until dough is soft and elastic. Stretch dough into a rectangle about 10 by 15 inches. Scatter diced cheeses evenly over surface. Fold one-third of dough, from the long side, over the cheese, then fold again to make a long, narrow envelope. Fold short ends over in thirds to make a square. Shape gently into a ball.
• Use a 7-inch-deep panettone mold, a 9-inch baking pan or an oven-proof paper panettone mold. Grease metal pan, but not paper mold, if using, with remaining oil. Fit ball of dough into pan, lightly pressing it to fill pan. Cover loosely with paper towel and set aside to rise until doubled and somewhat above edge of pan, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Beat egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water and brush on dough. Sprinkle with remaining grated cheese, placing it in a cross shape if desired. Bake 20 minutes (paper mold should be placed on a baking sheet). Lower heat to 350 degrees and bake 30 to 35 minutes more, until golden. Remove from pan, but not from paper mold, and let cool on a rack at least 30 minutes before cutting. Cheese flavor will become more pronounced if bread is kept wrapped for 6 or more hours or overnight.