Whipped Ricotta With Crudite And Garlic Toasts Recipes

WHIPPED RICOTTA TOAST WITH ROASTED GARLIC, TOMATOES AND SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut just the top of the head of garlic off, leaving cloves intact and exposed. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil, wrap tightly in aluminum foil, place on medium sheet pan and roast for 25 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, shallots, remaining 2 teaspoons oil, ½ teaspoon salt and pepper, to taste. Toss to coat. Transfer to a sheet pan lined with parchment.
• After garlic has roasted for 25 minutes, leave it in the oven then add the sheet pan with the tomatoes and shallots and roast for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut bread into 20 (½-inch) slices.
• Remove both sheet pans from the oven. Turn the oven off, take wrapped garlic off sheet pan and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
• Lay bread slices in an even layer on the sheet pan, spray lightly with olive oil and place the sheet pan in the oven to allow bread to toast while you whip the ricotta.
• Unwrap the garlic and carefully squeeze or scoop cloves into a food processor fitted with metal blade. Add the ricotta, ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper, to taste then process for 30 seconds. Scrap sides with a spatula and pulse 2-3 times to thoroughly combine.
• Remove bread from oven and assemble toast.

WHIPPED RICOTTA SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC-PARMESAN BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Prepare the breadcrumbs: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Immediately add the breadcrumbs and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until toasted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool for 5 minutes. Add the lemon zest, Parmesan and parsley. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package instructions, until al dente.
• While the pasta cooks, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, cream and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor. Process until super creamy, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
• Drain the spaghetti, leaving behind 1/2 cup of the cooking water in the pot. Add the butter to the pot and bring to a simmer. Add the spaghetti and the ricotta mixture. Remove from the heat and stir vigorously with a pair of tongs until the ricotta and pasta water combine to make a smooth, velvety sauce. Season with a good amount of black pepper.
• Divide the pasta among serving bowls and top each with a hearty sprinkle of the breadcrumbs.

WHIPPED RICOTTA WITH CRUDITE AND GARLIC TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler to high.
• Combine the ricotta, lemon zest and juice in a food processor; season with salt and pepper and process until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl and drizzle with the 1 tablespoon olive oil. Set aside.
• Place the sliced bread on a baking sheet. Drizzle each slice with olive oil. Broil until golden, flipping once and watching closely, about 3 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately rub each slice with the garlic and sprinkle with salt.
• Arrange the garlic toasts and crudite on a serving platter and serve with the whipped ricotta.