Tag Archives: parmesan cheese recipes

Spring Wild Ramp Pesto

 One of the first vegetable treats in early Spring is wild ramps! I grab a bunch as soon as I see it available and quickly make ramp pesto! the recipe is simple and much like the basil pesto you make during the summer with a few changes. No need to add garlic since ramps are a member of the Allium family tasting like a cross between garlic and onions. Once you have the pesto you have many ways to enjoy your wild ramps. Here are a few ideas:

  1. top your favorite pasta with pesto along with a little more grated parmesan cheese
  2. top a piece of grilled chicken, fish or beef with pesto
  3. top grilled bread with some fresh ricotta cheese and pesto
  4. add a spoonful of pesto to your salad vinaigrette
  5. add a spoonful to 1/2 a cup of good quality mayonnaise to use for sandwiches
  6. put a little pesto in an omelette
  7. add a spoonful to a favorite soup such as minestrone

Get creative and enjoy!

From by the bay wishing you wild ramp filled food memories!

Maryann

ramp

noun

  1. Allium tricoccum is a North American species of wild onion widely known as ramps and/or wild leeks. An early spring perennial, ramps have smooth light green leaves, that might have touches of burgundy or purple on the lower stem. They resemble scallion stalks and bulbs.

Ramps, like onions and garlic are an excellent source of vitamin A and C and some of their health benefits include healthy skin, teeth and bones, as well as promote healthy eyesight.

Spring Wild Ramp Pesto

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch of ramps
  • 1/2 cup walnuts (toasted)
  • 1/2 cup, you kind of have to eyeball it)
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Directions

 

Boil salted water in a medium saute pan. Wash and cut off the bottom roots of the ramps. Blanche the ramp in boiling water until the leaves turn bright green, 10 to 20 seconds. Place in cold water to cool. Remove from water and pat dry. Add chopped walnuts, cheese, lemon juice, salt and 1/4 cup olive and process until well combined. Slowly pour remaining olive oil to combine. Place in a covered glass jar. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Serve at room temperature.

 

Farro Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Mushrooms

Farro, an ancient grain that is gaining in popularity. It has a nice nutty taste and chewy texture.  I think of using farro the same way I might use rice or couscous. It’s perfect in soups and salads. It’s a delicious side dish, along with any of your favorite proteins. I love it with a great roast chicken.  I love incorporating farro into my meals. This salad is easy and delicious using some of my favorite vegetables and flavors. Enjoy!

From by the bay, wishing you farro memories!!

Maryann

far-ro

noun

  1. is a type of ancient wheat grain. Triticum dicoccum or emmer wheat produces what is referred to as “true” Farro, Two other wheat species are also considered farro: spelt (Triticum spelto) and einkorn (Triticum monococcum). All three are whole grains husked from whole wheat.

Farro has several health benefits. Farro is considered a high fiber food and an excellent source of protein, fiber and nutrients like magnesium and iron. As an unprocessed whole grain farro added to your diet can assist in reducing risk of stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and asthma. Farro is best used as you would other grains in salads or soups. It can often be used in in place of barley in recipes.

Farro Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Mushrooms

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup pearled farro
  • 8 ounces mixed mushrooms, chopped
  • 8 ounces butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped in 1/2 inch cubes
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • pinch red chili flakes
  • 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon sherry wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons roasted and salted pumpkin seeds
  • fine sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • parsley to garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Toss mushrooms and butternut squash with 2 tablespoons olive oil and red chili flakes.  Season with salt and pepper. Place on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Roast the vegetables in the oven until golden and tender, approximately 30 minutes. Let cool slightly. Place in a bowl. Meanwhile in a medium saucepan bring salted water to a boil. Cook the farro until al dente, approximately 20 minutes. Drain well and add the farro to the bowl with the vegetables.  To the bowl add the remaining olive oil, vinegar, cheese and pumpkin seeds and mix well. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with parsley. Serve at room temperature.

 

Ricotta Stuffed Pattypan Squash

blog pattypan

 

I love how cute pattypan squash looks. I can’t resist food this pretty and cute. So I found myself faced with a bag of pattypan squash along with the question, how should I prepare this sweet little vegetable.  My answer was no further than preparing my favorite filling for zucchini flowers and adding an egg and some cheese to make it firmer. A quick bake in the oven and you have the perfect little appetizer. If you find tiny ones the stuffing will fill more than 12 , think of this as a summer version of a stuffed mushroom. Or you can serve slightly larger pattypans on a bed of lightly dressed greens as a first course, or a light summer lunch or dinner. Enjoy!

From by the bay , wishing you cute pattypan food memories!

Maryann

blog pattypan veg

Ricotta Stuffed Pattypan Squash

Serves Six

Ingredients

12 small patty squash

2 tablespoons olive oil

Ingredients for filling

1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

1 tablespoon mint, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon thai red chili, minced

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 egg

Optional: Dress with additional olive oil and flake sea salt such as Maldon

blog pattypan scoop

Directions

To prepare squash rinse and cut off the tops with stem leaving approximately 3/4 of the squash remaining on the bottom. Use a teaspoon and gently scoop the flesh and seeds making a small circular hole. Make sure not to break the remaining outside of the squash. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. In a small bowl mix the ingredients for filling until blended.  Brush each squash with olive oil. Place on the foil lined baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Use a teaspoon to fill each squash with cheese filling. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for approximately 5 minutes longer to brown the tops of the filled squash. Remove from oven. Serve warm or room temperature on a bed of you favorite lightly dressed greens, such as arugula.  Once the pattypans are assembled on the lettuce drizzle lightly with additional olive oil and sprinkle with flake sea salt.

 

Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Salad

Enjoying the fresh bounty of fresh juicy tomatoes and eggplant is this delicious salad . It’s a great side dish or toss on to some pasta with a little more olive oil and cheese and you have a yummy dinner. Mangia!!

From by the bay, wishing you tomato food memories!

Maryann

blog eggplant tomat salad

Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Salad

Ingredients

1 small eggplant, cubed with skin on

1 small onion, chopped

1 large heirloom tomato, chopped

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

fresh grated parmesan cheese

fresh basil leaves

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with aluminum foil. To one sheet at the eggplant and the second the onion. Drizzle 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil over each sheet and season with sea salt and fresh ground black pepper.  Toss eggplant and onions with the olive and place in the oven until onions start to brown and the eggplant is softened, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.  Place in a bowl the eggplant, onion and tomatoes. Drizzle with remaining two tablespoons of olive oil, vinegar and sea salt and pepper to taste. Place in a bowl or serving platter. Add fresh chopped basil and grated cheese and serve.