Crescents Of Melon On Fresh Ricotta Recipes

CRESCENTS OF MELON ON FRESH RICOTTA

Steps:

• To make the syrups, puree the blueberries in a food processor or blender and put them in a small pot. Add half the sugar and cup water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 2 minutes. Let cool before running the syrup through a fine- mesh strainer. Discard the solids. Then repeat the same process with the raspberries.
• To make the ricotta, line a mesh sieve with a double-layered square of cheesecloth, with plenty to overlap the sieve. Meanwhile, combine the milk, cream and yogurt in a pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the mixture begins to curdle, about 2 minutes.
• When the milk is curdled, pour it into the cheesecloth and allow it to drain about 5 minutes. Gather up the four corners of the cheesecloth, tie a stick into it as if for a satchel and prop the stick on the edges of a bowl and allow it to drain until firm, about 1 hour.
• When ready to serve, assemble 8 plates. Paint half of each plate with the blueberry syrup and half with the raspberry syrup. Mound 1/4 cup of the ricotta on the center of each plate. Stack 6 alternating slices of melon together and place on the plate so that the inside of their crescent shape faces the cheese; then fan them slightly. Garnish with an edible blossom. Repeat with the remaining 7 servings.

RICOTTA CRESCENT PUFFS

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 375. Spray 24 mini muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray.
• 2. In small bowl, combine all sauce ingredients and whisk together with a fork. Set aside and allow to warm to room temperature.
• 3. On floured work surface, unroll 1 dough sheet; cut into 24 (2-inch) squares. Place 1 dough square in bottom and up sides of each of 24 muffin cups, letting points of dough extend over edge of cup.
• 4. In medium bowl, mix remaining ingredients. Spoon about 1 tbsp cheese mixture into each cup
• 5. Bake 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans 3 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Repeat with remaining dough and filling, cooling pans between batches. Serve warm with dipping sauce.

COMMANDER'S PALACE DUCK, WILD MUSHROOM AND ANDOUILLE FILé GUMBO

Steps:

• Combine 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 cup flour. Heat oil in a large, dry Dutch oven over high heat until smoking, about 5 minutes. Dust duck with flour mixture, shake off excess and sear in the oil 5 minutes until brown on all sides. Remove from pan.
• In the same pan over medium heat, slowly add the 1 cup of sifted flour. Stir constantly, to prevent burning, until mixture is a light-brown color, about 6 to 7 minutes. (If the roux has black flecks in it, it is burned and must be remade.)
• Remove from heat, add the onions and stir well. Lower heat to medium, return the pot to heat and add the celery, stirring for 30 seconds, then the bell peppers, and stir, scraping the sides and bottom of the pot. Add garlic, then all remaining seasoning except file powder. Slowly add the veal stock, continuing to stir.
• Add the duck, sausage and mushrooms. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and simmer 2 1/2 hours. Skim off excess fat. Remove duck pieces from the pot and when cool, remove and discard bones and return duck meat to the pot. Return gumbo to boil and vigorously stir in the file powder until dissolved. Add Louisiana-style hot sauce to taste and serve over white rice.

MEDITERRANEAN LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottom saucepan. Add the shanks and sear over medium heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
• Add the onion, garlic, celery root, carrots, olives and ginger. Lower the heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove vegetables from pot and set aside.
• Add the wine, increase the heat to high and simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 5 minutes.
• Add the remaining ingredients, except coriander leaves and parsley leaves. Stir to combine. Return the shanks and vegetables to the saucepan. Cover partly and simmer gently over medium-low heat until the meat begins to fall off the bone, about 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, combine the coriander and the parsley in a bowl. Set aside. Remove the bay leaf from the saucepan and discard. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide the shanks among 4 plates. Ladle the sauce over each shank. Garnish with the coriander-parsley mixture and serve immediately. Serve with white bean puree (recipe below).

RICOTTA TOASTS WITH MELON, CORN AND SALAMI

Steps:

• Use the blunt edge of a knife to scrape any corn milk off the cobs into a medium bowl. Add the ricotta to the corn milk, season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
• In a large bowl, stir together the corn kernels, cantaloupe, salami, cilantro, almonds and vinegar. Season generously with salt and pepper, then taste and adjust salt, pepper and vinegar until the flavors pop. (The salad will keep covered and refrigerated for up to 5 hours. Add the cilantro and almonds just before serving.)
• When ready to eat, cut or rip the baguette into 4 pieces crosswise, then cut or rip in half lengthwise through the middle (as if you're making a sandwich). Toast if you'd like. Spoon the ricotta onto the cut sides of the baguette, then top with the salad.

FRESH RICOTTA

Steps:

• Line a colander with a quadruple layer of cheesecloth and set it over a bowl.
• In a large pot over medium-high heat, whisk together all ingredients until smooth. Bring to a simmer and heat until the mixture just begins to curdle. Pour mixture into colander. (For a drier ricotta with bigger curds, continue to simmer 1 to 2 minutes longer until mixture completely separates.)
• Stop draining when mixture begins to look like ricotta, 5 to 15 minutes, depending on how dry you like it. Transfer to an airtight container and store for up to two weeks.

TOMATO BROTH

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and remove immediately. Pass through a fine mesh strainer, whisking occasionally to help the liquid pass through. The broth will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. It will separate and need only be stirred. It can be frozen for up to 2 months.