Fried Ricotta Patties With Tomato Salad Recipes

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES WITH HERBED RICOTTA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, scallions, dill, chives, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside for up to 30 minutes.
• With a small serrated knife, cut the larger tomatoes in wedges through the stem and the smaller tomatoes in half through the stem. Place them in a medium bowl with the garlic, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside.
• When ready to serve, add the basil to the tomatoes and combine. Pile the ricotta in a large (12-inch) round shallow bowl or oval platter. Using a slotted spoon, place the tomatoes around the ricotta, discarding any liquid. Drizzle the tomatoes and ricotta with olive oil, sprinkle with the reserved basil and fleur de sel, and serve at room temperature.
• Set a fine-mesh sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 pieces of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with a double layer of the cheesecloth.
• Pour the milk and cream into a medium stainless-steel or enameled pot, such as Le Creuset, and stir in the salt. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and pour in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for one minute, until it curdles. It will separate into thick parts (the curds) and milky parts (the whey).
• Pour the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined sieve and allow it to drain into the bowl at room temperature for 20 minutes (for soft ricotta) to 25 minutes (for firmer ricotta), occasionally discarding the liquid that collects in the bowl. Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining liquid. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The ricotta will keep, refrigerated, for 4 to 5 days.

FRIED RICOTTA WITH A LITTLE TOMATO SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together ricotta with Parmesan, flour, pinch of salt, and egg. Season with pepper; refrigerate until ready to cook.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the tomatoes, basil, and chile. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and vinegar. Gently stir to combine.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Working in batches, drop the ricotta mixture a tablespoon at a time into the skillet, taking care not to crowd the fritters. Cook, turning once until browned, about 2 minutes per side.
• Transfer cooked fritters to a paper-towel-lined plate, sprinkle with salt and nutmeg. Serve immediately with tomato mixture.

FRIED GREEN TOMATO SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE DRESSING

Steps:

• For the fried green tomatoes: Preheat the frying oil to 350 degrees F in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium to medium-high heat.
• In a shallow dish, combine the cornmeal, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper and whisk together. In second shallow dish add the eggs, and in a third shallow dish add the flour. Dredge the slices of tomato into the flour, then the eggs and then the seasoned cornmeal. Add the breaded tomatoes to the oil, in batches if necessary, and fry until golden brown on each side, about 3 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the dressing: Whisk the vinegar, honey, mustard, salt and pepper in a bowl. Drizzle in the oil until emulsified.
• To assemble the salad: In a salad bowl, add the greens, feta cheese, almonds and peaches. Top with the balsamic vinaigrette dressing and mix together. Plate the salad and top with fried green tomatoes.

ONE-POT SPINACH, TOMATO, AND RICOTTA PASTA

Steps:

• Combine tomatoes, spinach, broth, water, and garlic in a large pot or Dutch oven. Cover and cook until the broth comes to a simmer, about 5 minutes.
• Uncover and add the pasta. Stir pasta until it softens and is submerged in the liquid. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in ricotta cheese and season with salt and pepper. Stir and allow ricotta cheese to heat through. Top with Parmesan cheese before serving.

SHIITAKE AND RICOTTA PATTIES

Steps:

• In a food processor pulse mushrooms until ground coarse. In a heavy skillet heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté mushrooms, stirring, until liquid they give off is evaporated, about 4 minutes. Cool mushrooms.
• In a heavy saucepan cook onion and garlic in remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until onion is softened. Add tomatoes, pepper, and salt to taste and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 20 minutes.
• While sauce is cooking, in a bowl stir together mushrooms, ricotta, Parmesan, basil, egg, and salt and pepper to taste until combined well (mixture will be very soft). With well-floured hands shape mixture into eight 2-inch patties, shaking off excess flour.
• In a medium non-stick skillet heat vegetable oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté patties in batches until deep golden, about 2 minutes on each side, transferring them to paper towels to drain.
• Serve patties with tomato sauce.

SLOW COOKER RICOTTA-SPINACH POLENTA WITH TOMATO SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the polenta with 6 1/2 cups water in a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker. Add the butter and 2 teaspoons salt. Cover and cook on LOW until the polenta is thick and tender, about 6 hours.
• With the slow cooker on LOW, stir the polenta well and then stir the spinach into the polenta in 2 batches, covering the cooker and letting the first batch wilt before adding the second, about 5 minutes per batch.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss together the tomatoes, oil, and vinegar. Season the tomato salad with salt and pepper.
• Optional: Pour a thin layer of oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat and crack 4 eggs into the pan. Season the eggs with salt and pepper and cook until the whites are golden brown, lacy on the edges, and just set in the middle, and the yolks are still a little jiggly, about 3 minutes.
• Fold the Parmesan and ricotta into the polenta. Taste and season the polenta with salt if necessary. Stir in warm water by the tablespoon if the polenta is looking too thick for your taste-keep in mind it will continue to thicken as it cools. Top bowls of the polenta with the tomato salad and, if you like, the fried eggs.