Microwavericotta 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:

• Place ground beef in 1 1/2-quart casserole. Cook on full power 4 to 5 minutes, or until beef is no longer pink. Stir halfway through cooking time. Drain.
• Add spaghetti sauce, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt to meat. Set aside.
• Combine eggs, ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese, parsley flakes, onion, salt and pepper. Stuff each cooked manicotti shell with egg-cheese mixture.
• Place half of meat mixture into 2-quart utility dish. Overlap stuffed manicotti shells on top of meat mixture and then top with remaining meat mixture. Cover loosely with heavy-duty plastic wrap. Cook, covered, on full power for 13 to 16 minutes, or until heated through. Sprinkle remaining Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over top during last minute of cooking time.

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.