Fried Ravioli

Ingredients:

• 1 LB  Ravioli (i prefer to make my own cheese ravioli, but use your favorite)
  
• 2       Eggs (whisked well)
• 2 TB  Lucini Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
  
• Salt
  
• Black Pepper (fresh, ground)
• 2 C    Bread crumbs
• 1 jar   Lucini 100% Natural Tomato Sauce
  

Preparation:

Heat oil 300F in a fryer or deep-sided pot. Beat the eggs with the olive oil; season with salt and pepper.  Dip each ravioli into the egg mixture and then coat with bread crumbs.  Fry 5 to 7 ravioli at a time, leaving plenty of room for the ravioli in the pot.  Drain the ravioli on paper towels. Serve with the tomato sauce (heated if you like).

Fig Marmalade (Marmellata di Fichi)

Ingredients:

• 1 LB       fresh Figs (chopped coarsely)
• 1/4 LB  Sugar
• 2 TB       Lucini Lemon-Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3 TB       Lucini Fig-Infused Balsamic Vinegar
  

Preparation:

Wash the figs well then chop them and combine with the sugar in a bowl.  Cover them and let them rest overnight.  The next morning transfer them to a pot and cook over medium heat them over a moderate flame, stirring often until they come to a boil.  Reduce the heat and simmer, skimming away the foam occasionally, until thick (a drop of liquid on an inclined plate doesn’t run).  Add the olive oil and vinegar and simmer for 5 more minutes.  Transfer the marmalade to sterile jars, seal them, sterilize them, and when they have cooled transfer them to your pantry.

Caramelized Pears with Parmigiano

Ingredients:

• 2           Pears (ripe, peeled, cored,  Bosc or Anjou)
• 1/4 C  Sugar
• 2 TB    Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/4 C  Lucini Cherry-Infused Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 tsp   Orange Zest (fresh, grated fine)
• 1/8 tsp  Salt
• 1/4 C  Lucini Organic Parmigiano Reggiano (cut into thin slices or 1/4 inch chunks)
• 1 TB     Mint (fresh leaves, chopped fine, optional)

Preparation:

Cut each pear into 8 equal pieces.  Toss the pears and sugar together gently in a bowl.

Pour the olive oil into a large sauté pan over medium heat.  Add the pears and cook over medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar just begins to caramelize (turns to an amber color). Do not let the sugar turn brown.  Add the cherry balsamic, salt and orange zest.  Cook 2 to 3 minutes longer or until the sauce starts to reduce.

Transfer the pears to serving dishes and top with the sauce, parmigiano and chopped mint.

Parmesan Encrusted Chicken Breasts Puttanesca

Ingredients:

• 4         Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless)
• 2 TB   Lucini Extra Vrigin Olive Oil
• 4         Garlic cloves (sliced thin)
• 2 C     Parmesan (shredded)
• 1 tsp  Black Pepper (fresh, ground)
• 1 tsp  Smoked Paprika
• 1 C     Lucini Sicilian Eggplant & Olive Sauce

Preparation:

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat.  Mix the shredded cheese, paprika and black pepper.  Coat the breasts with the cheese mixture, pressing the cheese in to adhere.   Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet.  Set breasts into the skillet and cook for minutes per side, until cheese forms an even, golden casing around the tender chicken breasts.  Top the breasts with the tomato sauce for the final minute.

Ravioli with Fig Balsamic Reduction, Pumpkin Seeds and Brown Butter

Ingredients:

• 16-24 oz  Ravioli (homemade or purchased, best with cheese or vegetarian ravioli)
• 6 TB          Butter (unsalted, high quality)
• 3 TB          Lucini Fig Infused Balsamic Vinegar
• 1/2 tsp    Salt
• 1/4 tsp    Black Pepper (fresh, ground)
• 1/3 C        Pumpkin Seeds (roasted – pine nuts, walnuts and even pecans work well)
• 1/4 C        Lucini Parmigiano Reggiano (fresh, grated)

Preparation:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.  Add the ravioli and cook 4 to 5 minutes, until tender but still firm, stirring occasionally.  Drain ravioli onto a large serving platter.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan cook the butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the foam subsides, and the butter begins to turn a golden brown, about 3 minutes, turn off the heat and allow to cool for about 1 minute.  Stir in the salt and pepper.

Reduce the fig balsamic in a skillet over medium heat.  Do not let the balsamic bubble wildly, as it will reduce too quickly and lose its liquidity.  Remove when it thickens by half.

Transfer the ravioli to the pan saucepan with the brown butter, sprinkle with the pumpkin seeds and Parmesan and toss.  Add to serving bowls, then finish with the reduced fig balsamic.

Caponata – Eggplant recipe

This is a simple recipe that takes great advantage of fresh eggplant.  It has complex flavor and will be sure to wow any party or get together!

Ingredients:

• 1           Eggplant (medium, cut into 1/2-inch cubes – 2 C)
• 1/4 C  Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1           Onion (small,  chopped in 1/2-inch dice – 1/2 C)
• 2 TB     Pine nuts
• 1 TB     Raisins
• 1 tsp    Hot Pepper (crushed)
• 1/2 tsp  Cinnamon
• 1/4 C   Lucini Rustic Tomatao Basil Sauce
• 1 TB     Lucini Cherry Infused Balsamic Vinegar
• 2 tsp    Lucini Chili Infused Olive Oil
• Salt
• Ground pepper

Preparation:

Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan (medium heat).  Saute the onions, pine nuts, raisins and hot pepper for 4 to 5 minutes until the onions have softened, but have not turned dark gold.  Add the eggplant and cinnamon and cook for 5 minutes.  Add the tomato sauce and bring to a boil, then turn heat down to low and simmer until the tomatoes are broken down, about 6-8 minutes.  Remove from the heat and add the chili infused oil and cherry balsamic.  Taste the caponata and adjust flavor with salt, pepper, cherry vinegar and chili infused oil.  Allow to cool to room temperature.

• 1/2 cup virgin olive oil
• 1 large Spanish onion, chopped in 1/2-inch dice
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts
• 3 tablespoons currants
• 1 tablespoon hot chili flakes, plus extra for garnish
• 2 medium eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (to yield 4 cups)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon
• 1/4 cup basic tomato sauce, recipe follows
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

Squash Blossoms stuffed with Ricotta

I have seen beautiful zucchini flowers at my local farmers market recently, so I am sharing this tasty preparation.  Just be sure to be careful with the flowers as you add the filing.

Beautiful Zucchini Blossoms

Ingredients:

• 12-20       Zucchini Blossoms (medium to large, stems and pistils removed)
• 2 TB           Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
• 1/2 tsp     Sea Salt
• 1/3 C        Pine Nuts
• 1/2 LB      Escarole (remove core, chop fine)
• 1/4 tsp     Black Pepper (fresh ground)
• 2 C             Ricotta Cheese (high quality makes a huge difference)
• 1/3 C        Raisins (golden are best for color contrast)
• 2 TB          Lucini Basil Infused Olive Oil

Preparation:

Reconstitute the raisins in hot water –  allow to sit for 10 minutes.  Drain.

Heat the pine nuts in 1 TB olive oil a large pan over medium-low heat, stirring for even color, until lightly golden – about 5 to 7 minutes.  Transfer to a plate to cool.

Heat remaining tablespoon oil in skillet over medium-high heat.  Add escarole, 1/4 tsp salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender – about 5 to 7 minutes.  Transfer to a plate to cool.

Mix the pine nuts, escarole, ricotta and raisins well.  Transfer to pastry bag (or make your own with a plastic bag).   Snip a 1/3-inch opening and pipe filling into blossoms.  Using your fingers, very carefully press petals around filling.

Bring a few inches of water to boil in pot so that bottom of steamer insert sits above water.  Arrange blossoms, about  1/2 inch apart, in insert (steam in batches, if necessary – do not crowd).  Steam, covered, over gently simmering water until filling is just set, 3 to 4 minutes.

Best served at room temperature.

Pesto

Why flax seeds?  I have been reading a lot about omega 3 lately and trying to work it into my diet more often (rather than relying solely on supplements).  One of the best sources of omega 3 is ground flax seeds and thinking about the groundness of the seeds led me to pesto – the root of the word is the same as pestle and both derive from the Latin “pestâ” (to pound or crush).  It seems that many people have negative connotations for flax seeds – that the texture is weird or flavor will be unpleasant.  But, i’ve tested this recipe on some discerning palates and everyone thought that the nuts used were either 100% walnuts or a mixture of walnuts and pine nuts.  Be sure to taste before and after adding the salt – I usually avoid salt in pesto recipes, but because the Lucini Stravecchio Parmigiano Reggiano is so rich and flavorful and has less of a salty profile than generic Parmigiano Reggiano, I do add salt to this preparation.  As always find it better to start with a little less – you can add more, but if you start with too much, fixing the taste is difficult.

Ingredients:

• 1 C           Basil leaves
• 1 TB        Garlic, chopped (add more if so desired)
• 2 TB        Walnuts
• 2 TB        Flax Seeds, ground
• 1/8 tsp  Salt
• 1/2 C      Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/4 C      Lucini Stravecchio Parmigiano Reggiano (if using another cheese, be careful with the salt!)

Preparation:

Grind the flax seeds.  Combine the garlic, flax seeds, walnuts and salt in a food processor (or a mortar and pestle, for a more ‘authentic’ consistency) and blend until the mixture forms a paste.  Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, blending slowly.  Add the Parmigiano 1 tablespoon at a time, blending for short beats until the mixture forms a thick paste.  The pesto can be put in a container, topped with a thin layer of extra-virgin olive oil and then stored for several weeks in the refrigerator.  Without this preservation layer, the pesto discolors very quickly and the garlic flavor will turn bitter in a matter of days.