Chocolate And Ricotta Turnovers Recipes

HONEY-RICOTTA TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine ricotta, sugar, vanilla, zest (if using), egg, and pinch of salt. Mix well to combine. In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave butter and honey on high until butter melts, 30 to 45 seconds. Stir well to combine.
• Lay 1 sheet phyllo on a work surface (cover other sheets with a lightly damp towel). Using a pastry brush, gently brush with honey mixture. Lay 2 more sheets phyllo on top, brushing each with honey mixture. Cut crosswise into 4 rectangles. Place 2 tablespoons ricotta mixture at one end of each rectangle; gently fold phyllo around ricotta like a flag. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining 3 sheets phyllo. Bake until golden brown and shiny, 30 to 35 minutes. Serve warm, drizzled with more honey.

ITALIAN RICOTTA CHOCOLATE TART RECIPE

Steps:

• Cut ½ cup of cold unsalted butter into 18 small pieces and place it in the freezer for about 10 minutes.
• In a food processor combine the dry ingredients and pulse a few times.
• Add the cut-up butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse ground meal.
• Add the slightly beaten eggs and the vanilla extract and pulse until the dough comes together.
• Turn out the dough on a lightly floured wooden board and form it into a smooth disc by pressing the dough together.
• Shape the dough into a flat disc, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimal 30 minutes before using it.
• Break (or chop) both the dark and semi-sweet chocolate into little pieces and place it in a heatproof bowl.
• Bring a pot of water to a simmer.
• Set bowl of chocolate over a pot of water. Ensure water does not touch the bottom of the bowl.
• When the chocolate is almost completely melted, remove it from heat and stir to finish melting.
• Set aside to cool completely.
• In a large mixing bowl (of a stand mixer) beat the ricotta and orange zest at low speed with the paddle attachment until smooth (about 2 minutes). Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Gradually add the sugar, whipping cream, rum and melted and cooled chocolate. Combine this whole mixture together. Set aside while we roll out the pastry dough.
• Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C.
• Prepare a 9-inch tart pan by buttering and flouring, or use non-stick spray and set aside.
• Cut off one-third of the dough, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it. We will be using this dough to create the strips for the lattice top.
• Place two-thirds of the dough on a sheet of lightly floured parchment paper. Roll out the dough into a circle that is roughly 2 inches larger in diameter than the tart pan, about ⅜- ¼ inch (approx. ½ cm) thick.
• Transfer the dough to the pan, and gently press it into the sides and bottom. Trim the excess overhang of dough with a knife. Place it in the refrigerator.
• Lightly flour the same sheet of parchment paper. Use the rolling pin to roll out the reserved one-third dough in a 9-10 inch circle. Using a pastry cutter, cut into 10 (¾-inch) strips. Place in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes.
• Remove the pasta frolla tart shell from the refrigerator and spoon in the chocolate ricotta filling.
• Spread the filling evenly over the base of the crust with the help of an offset spatula.
• To create a lattice top, remove the pastry strips from the refrigerator and brush each strip with egg wash. Brush the rim of the dough in the tart pan as well.
• Place five strips of dough first in one direction, then in the other. Remove any excess dough with a knife. Refer to the photo in the article for more details.
• Bake for approximately 40 minutes or until the center filling is set.
• Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Optional: Dust with icing sugar and/or serve with sweet ricotta.

CHOCOLATE AND RICOTTA TURNOVERS

Steps:

• 1. preheat the oven to 400°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. For filling, process ricotta in a food processor fitted with a steel blade for a few seconds until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla. Mix the flour and cocoa and fold into the mixture. Stir in the raisins and chocolate. Cover and chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• 2. Place the pastry on floured work surface. Dust the top with flour and roll out into a 20 x 15" rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Trim the edges to straighten. Cut the pastry into 12 squares each 5 inches.
• 3. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the filling onto the center of each pastry square. Brush the egg around the edges of the pastry and fold one corner diagonally over to meet in the opposite corner. Press down on the pastry, joining the two layers. Place on the prepared baking sheets 1 inch apart. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Brush the tops with egg and sprinkle with Demerara sugar. Bake until Golden Brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Makes 12 turnovers

WHIPPED CHOCOLATE RICOTTA

Steps:

• Combine the ricotta cheese, cocoa powder, and sweetner (to taste) in a bowl. Beat or stir together for about 2-4 minutes. Stir in the chocolate chips or other add-ins. Eat!

CHOCOLATE TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Place the puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface. Sprinkle the pastry with a little flour and roll out to form a 12inch square. Brush away any excess flour and trim the edges to make a perfect square.
• Cut the puff pastry into nine 3 1/2inch squares. Transfer them to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and heavy cream. Neatly brush a little of the egg wash along 2 of the edges of each square. Place the chocolate, divided equally, and 1/4 teaspoon of the almonds on each square. Fold down the unwashed edges to enclose the chocolate, forming a triangle. Using your fingers, gently but firmly press the puff pastry edges together to seal them.
• Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 20 minutes, or until the pastry is thoroughly chilled. Remove from the freezer and brush the tops of the turnovers with the remaining egg wash.
• Place in the oven and bake until the turnovers are puffed and golden, about 15 minutes.

SICILIAN CASSATELLE WITH RICOTTA

Steps:

• Mix flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the cubed butter. Using your fingers, crumble the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles a course meal.
• Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the Marsala, eggs and orange zest. Beat the eggs with a fork gradually incorporating the flour to make a dough. Turn the dough onto counter and knead for about 5 minutes until smooth. If the dough is dry, add a tbsp of water at a time, just enough for the dough to come together.
• Flatten into a disc, wrap in a sheet of plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to an hour.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling. In a bowl combine the ricotta, sugar and cinnamon and stir until smooth. Set aside in the refrigerator.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cut the refrigerated dough into 4 pieces. Using a pasta roller, roll the dough until the second to last setting. Alternately, use a rolling pin to roll the dough until very thin, about 2 mm.
• Using a 12 cm cookie cutter, cut circles of dough. Keep covered until ready to fill to prevent from drying. Place about 2 heaping teaspoonfuls of filling in the bottom third of each circle of dough. Fold over the edges to form a half moon shape and use the tines of a fork to seal the edges well.
• Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Continue with the remaining dough. Brush each cassatelle with the egg yolk/milk mixture.
• Bake for 20 minutes until golden in colour and lightly browned underneath. Let cool before dusting with powdered sugar.

CHOCOLATE RICOTTA CHEESECAKE (HEALTHY, BAKED)

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 23 cm (9 inches) spring-form pan and line with parchment paper. (I like to line the bottom of the pan and grease the ring and sprinkle with a little flour-see post for more detail). Set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 F/ 180 C/170 C fan/ gas mark 4.
• Melt the chocolate by placing it in a heat proof bowl over a pot of gently simmering water (the water must not touch the bowl). Stir as the chocolate is melting. Remove from the heat when the chocolate has melted almost completely (it will continue melting away from the heat). Set aside.
• In a large bowl gently whip the ricotta, cream cheese and half the sugar until smooth. Gradually add the flour, cocoa and egg yolks and beat until smooth. Gradually pour in the melted chocolate (once cooled) and continue beating until just combined.
• In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until soft peaks start forming. Gradually add the remaining sugar and continue beating until glossy, fluffy and thick.
• Add the egg whites mixture (in 4 goes) into the batter gently folding in using a spatula until just combined. Pour the cheesecake batter into the pan, smooth out the top and bake in the centre of the oven for 1 hour. After 35-40 minutes cover loosely with baking paper or foil to prevent the cheesecake browning too quickly and cracking.
• Turn off the oven, remove the foil covering the cake and leave the oven door slightly open (6-7 inches). After 15 minutes open the door a little more. After 30-40 minutes remove the cheesecake from the oven and set aside to cool completely.
• Run a spatula around the cake and remove the ring (see post for tips on how to safely remove the cheesecake from the pan). Decorate with chocolate shavings (I used a vegetable peeler to make the shavings). Serve with whipped cream or fruit compote. Keep refrigerated. Best served at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE RICOTTA PUDDING

Steps:

• This is a serious childhood throwback for me. I have a memory of my mother taking this out of the oven and I could smell the chocolate and the almonds more than anything else. So delicious.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Use the butter to thoroughly grease the bottom and sides of a 1 quart loaf pan.
• Add the 2 whole eggs to a small pot and cover them with cold water. Bring the water to a gentle boil over medium heat. When the water boils, lower the heat to a simmer and cook the eggs for 6 minutes. Remove the eggs from the pot and run them under cold water to stop them from overcooking.
• In a medium bowl add the ricotta and whisk until free of lumps. Add the sugar, rum, chocolate and almonds and stir to blend. Set aside.
• Peel the hard-boiled eggs and put the yolks through a small strainer to break them into small bits. Add the egg yolks to the ricotta mixture.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, add the 2 egg whites and beat until stiff peaks form, about 3 to 5 minutes. Gently fold the egg whites into the ricotta mixture with a rubber spatula, retaining as much fluffiness as possible. Transfer the mixture to the loaf pan. Put the pan into a shallow water bath and bake, undisturbed, for 50 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and the water bath. Allow to cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with a touch of lemon zest and some chocolate over each individual portion.