Crostini With Fresh Ricotta And Grilled Radicchio Recipes

FIVE QUICK RICOTTA CROSTINI RECIPES

Steps:

• Cut bread into slices and toast
• Spread about 2 tbsp of ricotta on each slice
• Top with your topping of choice see suggestions in the notes

GRILLED EGGPLANT AND RICOTTA CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat grill or broiler.
• Brush each eggplant slice generously with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt.
• Place the slices on the preheated grill. Cook on both sides until the eggplant is soft and pliable and has a nice char. Remove from grill and let cool. When the eggplant is cool enough to handle, coarsely chop and reserve in a large mixing bowl. Add the ricotta, vinegar, oregano, Parmigiano and crushed red pepper and stir to combine. Season with salt and reserve.
• While the grill is still hot, grill the slices of bread on each side. When the bread comes off the grill rub each piece with a raw garlic clove and brush lightly with olive oil.
• Top each piece of bread with the grilled eggplant mixture.

CROSTINI WITH FRESH RICOTTA AND GRILLED RADICCHIO

Steps:

• Slice the top and bottom of orange with a paring knife. Set one of the flat sides on your work surface. From top to bottom, following the curve of the fruit, cut away peel and white pith. Trim off any remaining pith. Holding the orange over a bowl, cut along both sides of each segment, staying close to the membrane, to release; set aside.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush radicchio wedges with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; grill, turning, until softened and slightly charred, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from grill and set aside.
• Brush both sides of bread with olive oil. Grill, turning once, until toasted and grill marks appear, about 2 minutes per side.
• Spread 1 tablespoon ricotta on each slice of baguette. Top with grilled radicchio and drizzle with honey; garnish each with an orange segment. Season with Maldon sea salt and pepper; serve.

FRESH RICOTTA CROSTINI

Steps:

• Lay three layers of cheesecloth over a colander.
• Add the milk to a large heavy pot and place over medium-high heat. Stir in the lemon juice and salt and heat until an instant-read thermometer reaches 175 degrees F. The milk will begin to just bubble and start to steam. At this temperature you'll begin to see the curds separate from the whey. Be mindful of over stirring the ricotta while the curds are forming, you don't want to make your ricotta stiff. Let it sit for 5 minutes undisturbed and you will be left with a very creamy and pleasant finished result.
• Gently remove the curds from the pot to the colander. Use the side of the cheesecloth to very gently release some of the liquid. Tie up the curds using butcher's twine and let drain for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the cheesecloth and place in a bowl. Serve warm on toasted bread with lemon zest and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.

GRILLED ROAST CHICKEN WITH SPINACH-RICOTTA CROSTINI

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, chile powder and lemon zest. Rub the chicken inside and out with salt mixture. Place chicken on a rack set over a baking pan to catch any drips, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Heat a gas grill, or light a charcoal grill for indirect heat (meaning pile the coals on one side of the gill, leaving the other side empty).
• Place a cast-iron skillet on the grate directly over the coals. Cover the grill, and let the pan heat up for 10 minutes.
• Remove chicken from the refrigerator. Use a sharp knife to cut the skin connecting the legs to the rest of the body. Use your hands to splay the thighs open until you feel the joint pop.
• Rub chicken with oil and place it breast side down in the hot skillet. Cover grill and cook 5 to 7 minutes, until the breast is seared and golden and easily releases from the pan.
• Using tongs and a spatula for balance, carefully flip chicken and cover the grill again. Continue cooking until the underside of the chicken is starting to brown, 10 to 20 minutes. Make sure the skin doesn't get too dark; it will continue to brown even as it cooks over indirect heat. You're looking for a medium golden color here, a shade or two lighter than what you ultimately want it to look like.
• Move the skillet over to the unlit side of the charcoal grill, or turn off the burners on your gas grill that are underneath the pan. Cover grill and continue to cook until the bird is cooked through, 10 to 25 minutes longer. An instant-read thermometer should register 155 degrees in the breast. You'll need to keep your eye on the grill heat as you cook. If you've got a thermometer on your grill cover, you're looking for it to be at about 450 degrees. If it falls below 400 degrees or seems as if it's not hot enough (i.e., your chicken is cooking too slowly), add more coals or turn up your burners. Use your intuition here.
• Transfer chicken from the skillet to a cutting board, and tent with foil to rest.
• Throw garlic, anchovies (if desired) and red pepper flakes into the skillet and cook, uncovered, until the garlic starts to sizzle and turn golden, about 20 seconds. Toss in spinach and dill and cook, stirring with your tongs, until just wilted, 2 minutes longer. If the spinach isn't wilting quickly, push the pan back over the flame to direct heat. Season with salt.
• Place bread slices on grill and cook until lightly charred, about 1 minute per side.
• To serve, drizzle toasts with oil and slather with ricotta. Top with spinach mix and a little lemon juice. Serve alongside sliced chicken.