Microwave Ricotta Recipes

Steps:

• Moisten 4 layers of cheesecloth or two layers of food-safe paper towels and lay into a colander set over a bowl.
• Combine milk, salt and vinegar or lemon juice in a 4-cup glass bowl or measuring cup. Microwave on high until bubbles form around the edge, 2-4 minutes. (An instant read thermometer should read 165-170°F). Remove from microwave and stir gently for 5 seconds; solid white curds should separate from translucent whey. If not, microwave up to 30 seconds more (if using lemon juice, add an extra 1-2 tsp before reheating).
• Transfer curds to lined colander using a slotted spoon or wire-mesh skimmer. Cover exposed curds with a layer of plastic wrap and refrigerate until desired texture is achieved (see next step). The whey may be used for bread-making or for enriching a garden.
• 5 minutes drain time will give a soft, almost cream-cheese-like consistency, great for immediate consumption drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper as a snack or appetizer, or with honey and berries as dessert. 15-20 minutes of draining will give you a cottage-cheese-like consistency good for moist savory applications like lasagna, manicotti, ravioli or spinach dip, for moist sweet things like cheesecake, or for uncooked pastry applications like cannoli filling. 2-24 hours will result in a dry, firm, crumbly curd best for pastries like ricotta pancakes, ricotta gnochi, or tortas.

Steps:

• Stir together the dried porcini and 1 cup of the chicken broth in a microwave-safe 2-cup or larger measuring cup. Microwave, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) until the broth is hot but not boiling, 1 1/2 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 2 1/2 minutes in a 700-watt oven. Let sit for 5 minutes. Remove the porcini pieces from the liquid with a slotted spoon, squeezing out excess moisture in the process. Chop the porcini coarsely. Reserve the chopped porcini and the porcini broth separately.
• Place the shallots, garlic, cremini and shiitake mushrooms, 2 tablespoons of the butter and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a microwave-safe 8-by-8-by-2-inch baking dish. Cover tightly with 2 pieces of plastic wrap; make a small slit in the center with the tip of a paring knife to vent excess steam. Microwave on high (at 100 percent power) until all the vegetables have softened, 5 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 9 minutes in a 700-watt oven. (When removing the plastic, be careful to avoid the hot steam.) If some of the vegetables still seem a little raw, stir and microwave again, covered, in 30-second increments.
• Add the rice to the baking dish, and stir to coat the grains. Add the white wine, 1 1/2 cups of the remaining chicken broth, reserved porcini broth (leaving the sediment at the bottom of the cup) and chopped porcini, thyme and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and microwave on high (at 100 percent power) for 8 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 10 minutes in a 700-watt oven. Stir the risotto, and add the remaining 1 cup chicken broth. Cover and microwave on high (at 100 percent power) until the rice is cooked but with the faintest bite in the center, 9 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 15 minutes in a 700-watt oven. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, Parmesan and parsley, and stir vigorously until creamy. At this stage, the risotto should be thick but pourable from a spoon; if it's too stiff, splash in more broth. Let sit, covered, for 2 minutes to rest and come together. Serve with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan on top.

Steps:

• Place butter in a microwave-safe 9-in. pie plate. Cover and microwave on high for 20-30 seconds or until melted. Add ham, onion and green pepper. Cover and cook on high for 1 minute. Stir in eggs, salt and pepper. , Cover and cook on high for 1-2 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 3 minutes or until completely set. Cut into wedges.

Steps:

• Spray a large coffee mug with cooking spray.
• Whisk eggs, pesto, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and pepper together in a small bowl. Pour frittata mixture into coffee mug.
• Cook the frittata in a microwave oven for 1 minute and 30 seconds, stirring at thirty-second intervals (you will stir twice). Invert cooked frittata onto a plate or eat it right out of the coffee mug. Garnish with green onions.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the ricotta, spinach, parsley, one tablespoon of Parmesan, salt, and pepper until combined.
• In the glass container, spread a layer of tomato sauce. Top the tomato sauce with the lasagna noodles.
• Cover the noodles with a layer of the ricotta mixture, then mozzarella.
• Continue with another layer of noodles, ricotta, tomato sauce, then mozzarella. Repeat.
• Cover the top layer of lasagna noodles with more tomato sauce and a layer of mozzarella and Parmesan.
• Place the lid on the glass container, without sealing it closed.
• Microwave for 7 minutes or until the cheese is melted through.
• Remove from the microwave carefully, the container will be hot!
• Allow to cool and refrigerate, or serve immediately.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Brown ground beef in a microwave safe dish (6-7 min on high).
• Add sauce and water to beef and stir.
• Cook 5-6 min on high.
• Put a thin layer of sauce/beef mixture on bottom of a microwave safe 9x13 baking dish.
• Butter dry uncooked noodles with ricotta cheese and place cheese side up on top of sauce.
• Sprinkle mozzarella on top of Ricotta.
• Repeat steps 4-6 using more generous layers of sauce until done.
• Cover with wax paper and place in microwave.
• Cook 10 min on high.
• Rotate dish.
• Cook 10 min on high.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Cook 15 min on high.
• Let stand at least 5 min before slicing.

Steps:

• Measure the rice into a large microwaveable bowl, then pour in the wine and a third of the stock. Cover with cling film, then microwave on High for 10 mins. Stir the rice, then add another third of the stock, re-cover and microwave again for 3 mins.
• Stir the rice again, then add the frozen veg, asparagus and the rest of the stock. Re-cover and microwave for 7 mins. Stir in the cheese and mint, then leave the risotto to stand for 2 mins before serving.