Asparagus Pea Ricotta Flatbreads Recipes

ASPARAGUS, PEA & RICOTTA FLATBREADS

Steps:

• To make the flatbreads, put the yeast, sugar and 220ml lukewarm water in a jug and stir thoroughly. Leave to sit for a few mins while you measure out your ingredients.
• Sift the flours and 1 tsp salt into a bowl, then slowly incorporate the yeast mix, stirring with a wooden spoon. Stir in the oil and turn the dough out onto a clean, lightly floured surface and knead for 5 mins until smooth. Return to the bowl, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to sit for 30 mins to 1 hr until doubled in size.
• Return the dough to your work surface, adding more flour if needed, and knead for a few more mins to knock it back, then divide into four and roll each piece into a ball. Wrap two in cling film and freeze for another time.
• Heat oven to 230C/210 fan/gas 8. Flatten one of the balls with the palm of your hand and, using a floured rolling pin, roll out into a wide, flat base about 10-12 inches long. Place on an oiled baking sheet, then brush with oil and bake for 5-8 mins, turning halfway, until the bread is puffed and golden. Remove from the oven and repeat with the other dough ball.
• Snap the woody bases off the asparagus. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and gently blanch the asparagus for 2-3 mins until tender. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate to cool. Blanch the peas in the same water for a couple of mins or until tender, and drain.
• Chop 4 mint leaves and put in a bowl with the cheeses, 1 tbsp olive oil, the garlic, lemon zest, a pinch of salt and good grating of nutmeg and black pepper, and stir to combine. Cut the tips from the asparagus - about 4cm - then finely slice the stalks. Put all the asparagus in a bowl with the peas, remaining mint leaves, lemon juice and a good drizzle of olive oil. Season well and toss to combine.
• Spread the flatbread with the ricotta mix, then top with the asparagus and pea mix. Garnish with extra parmesan, olive oil, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper before serving.

RICOTTA DUMPLINGS WITH BUTTERED PEAS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Combine ricotta and eggs in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using a large wooden or metal spoon, gently mix in the flour, taking care not to overmix (which could result in tough dumplings).
• Meanwhile, heat butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add leeks and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks have softened completely and are starting to pick up some color, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add asparagus and peas to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until asparagus is just tender and bright green, 2 to 4 minutes, depending on its thickness. Remove from heat while you cook the dumplings.
• When the water is at a nice steady boil, drop the ricotta mixture into the pot by the heaping spoonful. (The dumplings will expand in the water, so make them slightly smaller than you'd like them to end up.) Be careful not to crowd the pot; cook the dumplings in batches if need be.
• Once the dumplings rise to the top, let them boil until cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. (You can always pull one out and cut it in half to test its doneness; the texture will go from dense and doughy to light and pillowy.)
• As the dumplings finish cooking, use a slotted spoon to transfer them to the skillet with the peas and asparagus. Once they're all in there, give everything a quick toss over medium heat just to evenly coat the dumplings in the buttery sauce. Add pea shoots and toss just to wilt slightly.
• Transfer to a large serving bowl or platter and top with parsley, cheese and more olive oil, if you like.

FLATBREAD WITH ARUGULA, ASPARAGUS, AND FRIED EGGS

Steps:

• Place spinach in microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle with water. Microwave until wilted, about 20 seconds. Drain, pressing on spinach to release liquid. Place spinach, 1 cup arugula, 1/2 cup oil, and garlic in blender. Blend until coarse puree forms. Transfer pesto to small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Stir 1/4 cup warm water and honey in small bowl. Stir in yeast. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Place flour and coarse salt in stand mixer fitted with dough hook attachment. Add 3/4 cup warm water and yeast mixture. Mix on medium speed until dough comes together and pulls away from sides of bowl, adding more water by tablespoonfuls if too dry, about 2 to 3 minutes. Brush large bowl with oil. Form dough into ball. Place in bowl; turn to coat. Cover with plastic; place in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Place pizza stone or baking sheet in oven (if using rimmed baking sheet, invert sheet, rim side down). Preheat oven to 500°F. Knead dough in bowl. Cover and let rise again until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes. Divide dough into 4 equal portions. Form each portion into ball. Place on floured work surface; cover with plastic wrap and let rest 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle rimless baking sheet with cornmeal. Working with 1 ball at a time, roll out dough on floured surface to 12x7-inch oval. Transfer to sheet. Spread 2 tablespoons pesto over dough, leaving 1/2- inch plain border. Sprinkle 1/4 of potatoes, 1/4 of asparagus, 1/4 of corn, and 1/4 of peas over pesto. Spoon three 1-tablespoon dollops ricotta over vegetables. Slide pizza onto stone; bake until crust is golden brown on bottom and around edges, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, brush nonstick skillet with oil; heat over medium heat. Crack 2 eggs into skillet; cook just until whites are set but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer pizza to work surface. Place 2 fried eggs atop pizza. Scatter shaved Parmesan and arugula leaves over. Cut pizza into wedges and serve. Repeat with remaining dough, pesto, potatoes, asparagus, corn, peas, ricotta, and eggs.

FLATBREAD WITH PANCETTA AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• To make dough:.
• Combine warm water(100 - 110 degrees) with yeast in a medium sized bowl; let stand 5 minutes.
• After it has proofed for 5 minutes, add 1 cup flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt to yeast. Stir to blend.
• Turn out onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and elastic.(about 8 minutes) Add additional 1/4 cup flour as needed to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands. This is a slightly sticky dough when finished.
• You can also knead in a stand mixer until smooth and it climbs up the dough hook.
• Place in a bowl that has been coated with cooking spray. Turn dough to coat top with spray. Cover and let rise about 45 minutes until doubled in size.
• To make topping:.
• Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Finely chop pancetta. Mince garlic clove. Add pancetta, garlic and thyme to skillet. Saute about 5 minutes or until pancetta is crisp. Stir in 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Wash and trim asparagus. Unless you have extremely thin asparagus, slice in half or quarters lengthwise to make very thin pieces.
• preheat oven to 475 degrees.
• Punch dough down; cover and let it rest 5 minutes.
• Roll out onto a floured surface into a 10 inch circle. (mine ended up looking rather oblong but it still tasted great!).
• Place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
• Spread pancetta mixture evenly over the top. Place asparagus pieces over top. Sprinkle with mozzarella.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes until dough is golden brown on bottom. (the top doesn't get as brown).
• While it is baking, make shaves of parmesan cheese using a vegetable peeler.
• When flatbread is done, remove from oven and top with parmesan.
• Enjoy!

ONE-POT PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Combine the pasta, onions, garlic, asparagus, broth and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture boils, 7 to 10 minutes. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the frozen peas and continue to cook until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 2 minutes. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the pasta to serving bowls and top with dollops of ricotta and a sprinkling of Parmesan. Garnish with basil leaves and serve.