Asparagus Ricotta Strudel Vegetarian Or Not Your Choice Recipes

HOW TO MAKE A SAVORY VEGGIE STRUDEL

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400F.
• Place parchment paper onto a half sheet pan with rimmed sides.
• Carefully place one sheet of phyllo onto the parchment, while making sure the others are covered with a damp kitchen towel.
• Spray phyllo sheet all over with olive oil spray then sprinkle with grated cheese and black pepper.
• Repeat above on each remaining phyllo sheets including the last one, the top.
• On the top layer spread out your veggies leaving an 1-1/2 inch border all around.
• Sprinkle lightly with granulated garlic on the veggies for added flavor.
• Spread the diced mozzarella all around, evenly distributing it.
• Add the small amount of the additional cheese of your choice.
• Looking at the sheet pan horizontally, fold the left and right sides of the phyllo where you made a border onto the veggie mixture.
• Then gently start at the bottom and slowly start to roll it up making sure the sides are still tucked in and covered.
• Place the rolled strudel seam side down.
• Spray the top with olive oil, black pepper, some Italian seasoning and some shredded cheese.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes or under golden and crispy.
• Let it rest before cutting then gently cut with a serrated knife.
• RED PEPPER DIPPING SAUCE;
• I whirled roasted red peppers and a little marinara in a food processor to make my sauce.

ASPARAGUS & RICOTTA STRUDEL (VEGETARIAN OR NOT YOUR CHOICE.)

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 375.
• Combine ricotta cheese, parmesan, dill, ham (if using), roasted pepper, green onion, egg white, salt, and pepper in a large bowl; set aside.
• Snap asparagus. Cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Cook, covered, in a small amount of water for about 5 minutes or just till crisp tender (don't overcook). Drain. Cool under cold water. Stir into ricotta mixture.
• Place one sheet of phyllo on a dry towel (keep remaining phyllo covered with a damp towel). Spray with Pam. Place another sheet of phyllo atop. Spray with Pam. Sprinkle with 1/4 of the bread crumbs. Repeat with remaining sheets and remaining bread crumbs. Spray last layer with Pam. Spoon cheese mixture lenghwise onto half of the top layer of phyllo, leaving about a 1 1/2 inch border on all sides. Fold in the shor sides over the filling. Starting from the longest side, roll up layers jelly roo style.
• Spray a large baking sheet with Pam. Place strudel, seam side down, on baking sheet. Spray with Pam. Using a sharp knife, score into 12 slices, cutting through top layer only. Bake in a 375 oven for 30 minutes or till light brown. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. To serve, cut into slices.

MUSHROOM AND ASPARAGUS STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Heat half the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Saute shallots and mushrooms until most of the moisture has evaporated.
• Mix in asparagus and saute until slightly tender.
• Cool slightly.
• Spinkle with parsley, lemon zest, lemon joice, pepper and 3 tbsp Parmesan cheese. Mix.
• Brush first sheet of phylio with olive oil and spinkle with 1/4 tsp tyme. Repeat with the remaining phylio sheets, stacking one on top of the other with the longer sides parallel to the counter's edge.
• Place filling along the longer edge o phylio and roll inot a log, ticking in the sides to prevent mixture from falling out.
• Brush strudel with olive oil and top with remaining cheese.
• Place on parchment-paper lined baking sheet with seam o the bottom and cut three slits widhwise into the top of the strudel.
• Bake for about 17 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool slightly.
• Slice whre strudel is slit to make four equal portions, then serve.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS, ARUGULA AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add a generous amount of salt. Add the asparagus. Cook pencil-thin asparagus for two minutes, three to four minutes if stems are medium-thick. Transfer to a bowl of ice-cold water. Drain and set aside.
• Place the ricotta in a large pasta bowl.
• Bring the water back to a boil, and add the pasta. Cook al dente, following the directions for timing on the package but checking a minute before the suggested cooking time. Stir 1/3 cup of the pasta cooking water into the ricotta. Drain the pasta and toss at once with the olive oil and ricotta, the arugula, asparagus and Parmesan. Serve hot.

ASPARAGUS STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400ºF
• Heat olive oil in skillet on medium-high heat.
• Add garlic and leeks and sauté until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in mint and orange rind, season with salt and pepper and cool.
• Combine leek mixture with goat cheese.
• Lay pastry on a floured surface and roll out to a 10 x 14-inch rectangle.
• Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Divide cheese mixture in half.
• Pile half of mixture along upper third of pastry lengthwise, leaving a 1-inch wide border on short sides and top.
• Lay asparagus spears evenly over top of filling.
• Cover with remaining cheese mixture.
• Brush all inside edges of pastry with beaten egg.
• Fold pastry over filling and tuck ends under.
• Slash top of strudel on the diagonal every 2-inches.
• Brush with egg.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH RICOTTA CROSTINI

Steps:

• Cut asparagus stalks into thirds, separating tips, middles and ends. In a medium pot, bring 2 cups salted water to a boil. Add tips and cook until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a bowl of ice water to cool. Drain and reserve for garnish.
• Separate dark green leek tops from bottoms. Thinly slice the white leek bottoms and set aside.
• In a saucepan, combine leek tops, stock, asparagus bottoms and bay leaf. Simmer for 10 to 20 minutes; strain, discarding the solids and saving the stock.
• Return empty pot to medium-low heat. Add oil, white leek slices and rice. Cook, stirring frequently, until leeks are golden, about 5 minutes. Pour in 1 cup of the stock. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add remaining stock and asparagus middles. Simmer, covered, over low heat, until asparagus is completely tender, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Press soup through a food mill (or purée in a blender, then strain through a coarse mesh sieve; nothing too fine, you want a little texture here). Return soup to pot. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Cover to keep warm.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread slices on a baking sheet and toast, turning halfway through, until bread is golden and dry to the touch, about 10 minutes.
• While bread toasts, season ricotta with tarragon, salt and pepper. Rub hot crostini with the cut side of the halved garlic cloves and slather with ricotta. Ladle soup into warm bowls and garnish with the asparagus tips. Serve with crostini.