Gorgonzola Fritters Recipes

GORGONZOLA FRITTERS

Steps:

• Trim off rim of cheese if it has one. Cut cheese into small cubes.
• Melt the 4 tablespoons butter in a skillet and add 3/4 cup flour, stirring with wire whisk. Add milk, stirring rapidly with whisk. The mixture will be quite thick.
• Add cheese and stir and mash to blend well. Remove from heat. Add egg yolk, mustard and pepper, and stir to blend.
• Line a rimmed baking dish measuring about 7 1/2 by 7 1/2 inches with parchment paper or foil. Pour in batter and smooth over. Let cool and refrigerate an hour or longer, until solidified.
• Put macadamia nuts and bread crumbs into container of a food processor or electric blender. Do not process constantly, but pulse on and off until nuts are coarse-fine and blended with crumbs.
• Unmold Gorgonzola mixture and cut into 12 equal squares.
• Dip each square into remaining flour to coat all over. Dip squares in the eggs to coat and then in the crumb mixture. Continue until all pieces are well coated.
• Heat clarified butter or oil in a skillet and add about half the squares. Cook about a minute and turn squares; cook on second side about 45 seconds. Cook squares on edges as well as top and bottom; the total cooking time is about 2 1/2 minutes. Add squares to skillet until all have been cooked. As squares are cooked, drain on absorbent paper towels.

GREEN SALAD WITH GORGONZOLA FRITTERS

Steps:

• Put arugula, lamb's lettuce, endive and radicchio in a salad bowl.
• Put mustard in a small mixing bowl. Add shallots, basil and red-wine vinegar. Stir with a whisk while adding oil gradually. Add salt and pepper.
• Pour salad dressing over the greens and toss.
• Divide greens into 6 equal portions and serve on salad plates. Arrange two Gorgonzola fritters on each.

GORGONZOLA, FIG AND PECAN CHEESE TERRINE

Steps:

• Put the 1/2 cup quartered figs into a small saucepan along with the red wine and thyme. Let the mixture simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Drain the figs, discard the thyme and wine and set the figs aside to cool.
• Put the cream cheese and butter into the bowl of a standing mixer and, using the paddle attachment, cream the mixture on medium until well blended, about 1 minute. Add the Gorgonzola, brandy and salt and beat 1 more minute. Take care not to overbeat or it won't set properly.
• Spray a 1 quart loaf pan with cooking spray and line the inside with plastic wrap. Spoon half of the cheese mixture into the pan and spread it evenly, making sure to get into the corners. Scatter the figs, pecans and chopped parsley on top evenly and cover with the remaining cheese. Give the pan a few sharp raps on a flat surface to settle the terrine, cover the top with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.
• To remove the terrine from the pan, turn upside down on a flat surface and pull 1 end of the plastic wrap down. The terrine will slip out of the pan onto the top piece of plastic wrap. Slice and fan out on a platter garnished with greens. Garnish with the remaining 1/2 cup of figs, pecans and thyme. Serve with crackers.

PEAR GORGONZOLA TART

Steps:

• Bake the pie shell in a square or round tart pan according to package instructions. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, combine the cream cheese, Gorgonzola, thyme, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Using a hand blender, whip the cheeses together.
• In a large, heavy skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the pears and cook until golden on both sides, about 5 minutes.
• When the tart crust has cooled slightly, gently spread the whipped cheese mixture evenly over the bottom of the tart. Place the pear slices in a decorative pattern over the cheese mixture. Sprinkle the thin strips of prosciutto over the pears.
• Cut into squares or wedges and serve.