Crispy Fried Cheese Squares Recipes

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and stir in 1/2 cup flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the milk, and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens.
• Bring to a boil, then add the cheeses and stir until melted and smooth. Add cayenne, salt and pepper to taste.
• Remove from the heat and pour into a 9-inch (23-centimeter) square pan. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours.
• Remove the plastic wrap and invert the cheese mixture onto a work surface. Cut into 6 large or 12 medium squares.
• Put the remaining 1/2 cup flour, the eggs and breadcrumbs in 3 separate bowls.
• Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• Dredge each cheese square in the flour, then dip in the eggs and finally coat with the breadcrumbs. Fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• To serve, place 1 large or 2 medium fried cheese squares on each plate. Toss the arugula with lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Top the fried cheese with pickled vegetables and the arugula.
• Cook's Note:.
• You can substitute any of the cheeses in this recipe with your favorites. The cheese squares can be frozen before frying to make them easier to work with.

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, bring the water, tomatoes, salt, onion and garlic to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle boil; slowly whisk in cornmeal. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon for 15-20 minutes or until polenta is thickened and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the pan. Stir in cheese and oregano. Spread into a 9-in. square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes., Cut polenta into nine squares. In a shallow bowl, whisk egg and milk. In another shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs and cilantro. Dip polenta in the egg mixture, then bread crumb mixture. , In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook polenta in oil in batches for 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Serve with sour cream.

Steps:

• For polenta:
• Generously butter 13x9x1- inch baking sheet. Bring milk, broth, and bay leaf to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove saucepan from heat; cover and let steep 20 minutes to allow flavors to develop. Discard bay leaf. Bring liquid to boil. Gradually add polenta, whisking constantly until smooth. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until polenta is very thick, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Stir in Comté cheese and butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer polenta to prepared 13x9x1-inch baking sheet. Using wet hands, press polenta evenly over sheet to edges. Chill until firm, at least 3 hours. Cut polenta into 20 squares. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• For mushroom ragout:
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons oil in large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add all mushrooms and sauté until tender and browned, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add shallots and balsamic vinegar; sauté until tender, about 2 minutes. Season lightly to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Rewarm mushrooms in large skillet over medium-high heat until heated through. Add broth and simmer 1 minute. Stir in crème fraîche and half of parsley. Season mushroom ragout to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 300°F. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add polenta squares to skillet and cook until browned, about 2 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in oven while cooking remaining polenta squares.
• Arrange 2 polenta squares on each plate. Top each with warm mushroom ragout; sprinkle with grated Comté cheese and remaining parsley and serve.
• MORE INFO:
• Comté is a semi-firm, Gruyère-style cow's-milk cheese made primarily in France's Franche-Comté region. It adds great flavor to this recipe and would also be delicious on a cheese platter. Comté is available at some supermarkets, cheese shops, and specialty foods stores.
• *Polenta can be found at some supermarkets, as well as at natural foods stores and Italian markets. If polenta is unavailable, substitute an equal amount of regular yellow cornmeal and cook it about half as long.