Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Italian Ricotta Cheese, is easy and a flexible recipe which anyone can make at home. Ricotta is a fabulous component of many Italian dessert's, such as cheese cake, cannoli etc.. It is also used in pasta's, pizza's, lasagna, ravioli and so on. Well In India this is very expensive to buy and making it at home is so easy and delicious. I love to have this as a filling for pancakes.

Makes around 350 Grams
Ingredients
2 Liters Full Fat Milk
1 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Cup Full Fat Yogurt
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons White Vinegar - mixed in ¼ cup water

Method 

In a large pan, heat the milk, heavy cream, till it comes the temperature comes to 90°C. Then add in the full fat yogurt, salt, vinegar mixed in water,  gently stir on a low flame and let is heat for 3 -4 minutes, stirring lightly until milk curdles up. Meanwhile take a strainer and cover it with a muslin cloth and place it on top of a deep bowl. 

Once milk curdles up and comes to boil, stir and put off the flame. Strain curdled milk with a strainer having muslin cloth. Do not throw away its water also known as whey (You can use this in soups or to knead dough for making bread), let it drain for 15-20 minutes. Gather muslin cloth and squeeze properly to remove excess water or whey out of it.

Once done keep cheese covered with the cloth and keep a heavy object on top to give it shape of your choice.
Refrigerate and use this within 3-4 days. 

Homemade Ricotta Cheese is ready for which we would pay a hefty sum to buy it.
Labels: Cheese, Homemade, Ricotta, Italian, International Cuisine, Keto, Low Carb

Gluten Free Gnudi (Naked Ravioli) In Butter Garlic Sauce#Foodieextravaganza

Gnudi are little balls which are more or less like a kind of gnocchi; balls are made of spinach and ricotta without any pasta covering them. So, hence the name Naked Ravioli.
These rustic, naked ravioli have a long history, going back to Roman times, and perhaps even much earlier.

For this gnudi, I did not add the whole egg, more the dough is loose the more flour will be required. So use only the yolk, so that the gnudi is soft and succulent (and not hard) after it's cooked. These are very delicate so while adding them to the boiling water, use a slotted spoon to drop each into the pan of boiling water.

Ingredients
For The Gnudi

200 Grams Homemade Ricotta Cheese
1 Large Egg Yolk - only
100 Grams Chopped Spinach
1 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Roasted Garlic
½ Teaspoon Dried Parsley
½ Teaspoon Dried Basil
¼ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper powder
2 Tablespoons Heaped Tapioca Flour/ Starch
¼ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 Tablespoon Heaped Tapioca Flour/ Starch - for coating
For The Butter Garlic Sauce
2 Tablespoons Salted Butter
1 Tablespoons Olive Oil
4 Cloves Garlic - finely chopped
1 Wild Garlic - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Chopped Scallion Greens - for garnishing
½ Teaspoon Salt

Method

Blanch the spinach for a minute in the microwave. Immediately dump it in cold water. Take a muslin cloth and squeeze the spinach of all moisture. In same cloth squeeze the ricotta cheese. 

In a large bowl combine ricotta cheese, spinach, egg yolk, dried parsley, dried basil, black pepper powder, salt, parmesan cheese, garlic mash them all well till well combined. Add the tapioca flour a tablespoon at a time and mash till well combined. Make a nice ball. Leave it aside covered for 5 to 10  minutes.
Take a small pinch and form into a ball.

To Test whether the ball will not disintegrated in water while boiling. 

Heat water in a pan when it comes to a boil add this tiny ball let it cook it it floats to the surface. If it does not break or disintegrated in water then the dough is perfect.

Now that the dough is perfect cover and keep aside for 5 to 10 minutes. Make 9 - 10 equal size balls. Roll them in tapioca flour, shake of any excess flour by rolling it in your hand. Keep all aside.

In the meantime heat a tall pan will water add a ¼ teaspoon salt. When the water comes to a rolling boil, place each gnudi with a slotted spoon gently into the water. Cover the pan with a lid and on medium high flame let them cook till they start to float on top. Once they float to the surface they are done. Remove each gently with slotted spoon and keep them in large plate to come to room temperature.

For The Butter Garlic Sauce

In a pan heat oil and butter, add the chopped garlic and wild garlic, when the garlic starts to brown add in the gnudi and sauté gently turning the sides.

Remove and serve hot garnish with chopped scallion greens.
These were so...ooo delicious. A must try recipe.

Labels: Keto, Low Carb, Gnudi, Ravoili, Pasta & Noodles, Ricotta, Tapioca Flour, Garlic, Spinach, Butter, Gluten free, International Cuisine, Italia, Foodie Extravaganza Party

• Easy Ravioli Lasagna from Food Lust People Love
• Garden Greens-Stuffed Ravioli from Culinary Cam
• Gluten Free Gnudi (Naked Ravioli) In Butter Garlic Sauce from Sneha’s Recipe
• Homemade Spinach and Cheese Ravioli with Tomato Sauce from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Seafood Ravioli from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Toasted Ravioli from Palatable Pastime

Stuffed Chicken Drumsticks In Saucy Tomato Gravy

Stuffed Chicken Drumsticks In Saucy Tomato Gravy is so yummy can be served, as a side dish or as a main course meal. Can be had with Garlic Rice or Rotis. These are simply yum... delicious. Try it and you'll love these.

De boning the drumsticks is the only tricky task rest all it so easy to make.

Ingredients5 Chicken Drumsticks - These drumstick should be large
For the filling
200 Grams Cottage Cheese or Ricotta Cheese
1 Teaspoon Red Chilly powder
1 Teaspoon Finely Chopped Ginger
2 Green chilies - finely chopped
1 Teaspoon Finely Chopped Garlic
3 Tablespoons Coriander Leaves - finely chopped
½ Teaspoon Salt or to taste
Dry Roast these ingredients and pound them coarsely  
½ Teaspoon Cumin seeds
½ Teaspoon Heaped Coriander seeds
¼ Teaspoon Ajwain / Carom Seeds
For the Sauce 
2 Tablespoons Oil
1 Green chilies - slit and de seeded
1/2 Teaspoon Red chilly powder
A Juice of half a Lemon
3 Big loves Garlic - finely chopped
½ Cup Tomato Puree
½ Teaspoon Salt or to taste
Method

De bone chicken from the drumsticks like you make for wings

then cut the bone( keep only the bottom part of the bone)

Make a pocket

Now lightly roast the carom seeds, cumin, coriander seeds together and coarsely pound them. 

In another bowl mix cottage cheese, pounded spices ,chilly powder ,green chilies, coriander leaves , garlic, ginger and salt very well. 

Stuffing is ready.

Fill this cheese mixture inside chicken drumsticks by pressing it right till the bottom 

seal them with two tooth picks or stitch them ( I stitched them). 

Heat oil in a pan and fry garlic till it starts to turn pink, add the slit green chilly,  stuffed chicken and saute on high flame for 3 minutes 

turning them till they turn pink to white. 

Add the 1 cup water, tomato puree,  chilly powder, salt and lemon juice, cover, cook for on high flame for 5 minutes. Open and turn the sides, cover again and cook for 10 to 12 minutes on medium low flame till the drumsticks are cooked. 

The gravy should be saucy and thick.

To serve  

Snip of the thread of the drumsticks. Arrange the drumsticks on a platter and pour the sauce over it.

Enjoy!! this is super delicious.. 

My Notes 

I cooked only 3 drumsticks the other two, freezed to make them at a later date.

Labels: Chicken, Chicken Drumsticks, Paneer, Ricotta, Stuffed, Tomato, Main course, Side Dish

Cherry Ricotta Muffins #BreadBakers

This post was just lying in drafts for more than a year,  had forgotten about it, till the theme was decided for this month's event.  These were made for one of my friend's son birthday party and all the guest loved these muffins.  They loved the cherry , it gives a unique taste to the  muffins. I made three batches of these muffins.

Sending these to Bread Bakers event- theme - stone fruit , Host blog: The Schizo Chef http://www.theschizochef.com/, thank you dear for hosting this event.

Recipe Source- Joy of Baking

Makes 12  muffins 

Ingredients
1 Cup Ricotta cheese
2  Eggs
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 Teaspoon Vanilla essence
1 Tablespoon Lemon juice
4 Tablespoons Butter -  melted and cooled
2 Cups All Purpose flour
3/4 Cup Sugar
1.1/2 Teaspoons Baking powder
1/8 Teaspoon Baking soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt - Since I used salted butter did  not add
1 Tablespoon Lemon zest
1.1/2 Cup Fresh Cherries -  pitted and sliced

Method

Melt the butter in a pan and keep aside to cool.
In a bowl, whisk the ricotta cheese and then add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the buttermilk, vanilla essence, lemon juice and  melted butter, mixing well.  Keep aside.

In another bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and lemon zest. Add the ricotta mixture to the flour. Mix it just until combined and then fold in the chopped cherries. Do not over mix this mixture or use the electric whisk,  else the muffins will be tough when baked.

Divide the batter in the muffin cups using  an ice cream scoop.

Place in the oven and bake in a preheat oven at 180 degrees for about 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

Labels : Cakes, Bread Bakers, Cherry, Ricotta

Let's take a look at the other baker's..

• Apricot and Cherry Focaccia by Herbivore Cucina
• Apricot & Pistachio Buns by Baking Sense
• Apricot & Stilton Soda Bread by Baking in Pyjamas
• Apricot Bread by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Apricot Cranberry Walnut Quick Bread by Spill the Spices
• Apricot Kolaches by Food Lust People Love
• Apricot Oat Casserole Bread with Sweet Vanilla Glaze by A Salad For All Seasons
• Big Batch Bran Muffins by What Smells So Good?
• Brown Sugar and Plum Pull-Apart Bread by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Cherry Bread with Streusel Topping by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
• Cherry Ricotta Muffins by Sneha's Recipe
• Cinnamon Swirl Peach Bread by Kylee Cooks
• Dried Apricot Bread with Walnuts by The Bread She Bakes
• Eggless Mango Cardamom Walnut Quick Bread by Sizzling Tastebuds
• Eggless Mini Mango Bread by Sara's Tasty Buds
• Mango and Passionfruit Yeast Bread by Mayuri's Jikoni
• Mango Challah by Passion Kneaded
• Mango Jam Rolls with Cremé, Fresh Mangoes and Jam Filling by G'Gina's Kitchenette
• Mango Pull Apart Bread by Gayathri's Cook Spot
• Nectarine-Blueberry Muffins by A Baker's House
• Peach & Nutmeg Sweet Focaccia by The Schizo Chef
• Peach Yogurt Muffins by Magnolia Days
• Plum & Pecan Bread by I Camp in my Kitchen
• Scones with Apricot, Ginger and Brie by Palatable Pastime
• Semolina Bread with Apricots and Sage by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Spicy Peach Oatmeal Bread by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
• Whole Wheat Nectarine Bread by A Shaggy Dough Story
• Wholewheat Sweet Rolls with Mango Filling by Cook's Hideout

Here’s the html for the logo:

Here’s the html for the wording: #BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.

If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.