| CATEGORY | CUISINE | TAG | YIELD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy | Vegetarian | R, E, G, Exports | 6 | Servings |
INGREDIENTS
| 8 | oz | Neufchatel cheese |
| 1 | c | Ricotta cheese |
| 2 | c | Fresh basil leaves |
| 1/4 | c | Olive oil |
| 3 | md | Garlic cloves |
| 2 | tb | Grated Parmesan cheese |
| 40 | Peppercorns,coarsely crushed | |
| Arugula leaves | ||
| Olives | ||
| Sprigs of fresh oregano and/or thyme | ||
| Slices of sun dried tomato | ||
| Strips of red bell pepper |
INSTRUCTIONS
PESTO GARNISHES Combine Neufchatel cheese and ricotta in a small mixing bowl. Beat until thoroughly combined. (An electric mixer at medium-high speed works very well.) Prepare a three-layer rectangle of cheesecloth, about 6x20 inches. For easier handling, place the cheesecloth on a tray or cookie sheet. Spread the cheese mixture onto the cheesecloth, making a retangle about 4x16 inches. (It is possible to make a neat retangle on the cheesecloth by cutting the edges of the cheese with a plain dinner knife.) Refrigerate, uncovered, for several hours before before filling. To make the pesto, combine basil, 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic, and parmesan in a food processor or blender. Puree to a paste. Salt to taste. Spread a layer of olive oil on the cheese rectangle. Then add the pesto, and spread it to within 1/2 inch of the edges. Sprinkle on the coarsely crushed peppercorns. Lifting the cheesecloth from one end, roll up the torta along the long edge as you would a jelly roll. You will end up with a cylinder shape. Wrap it in cheesecloth (use a fresh piece, double thickness) and place it on its side on a plate. Cover tightly with plastic wrap ad refrigerate 12 to 24 hours before serving. To serve, unwrap the torta and place it on a plate. Frane it lavishly with garnishes and serve with dark bread or the finest crackers, and raw vegetables. The torta will keep for up to a week (depending on how fresh the ricotta was to begin with). The pesto will seep more deeply into the cheese the longer it sits. The pesto can be made as much as two weeks ahead. REG shared by Kelly T. McNamara, Cleveland, OH, USA. Serving Ideas: Serve as part of a Vegetarian Thanksgiving menu. Per serving: 393 Calories; 25g Fat (53% calories from fat); 16g Protein; 36g Carbohydrate; 51mg Cholesterol; 240mg Sodium Recipe By: Still Life With Menu/Mollie Katzen Posted to EAT-L Digest 6 November 96 Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 12:09:26 -0500 From: "McNamara, Kelly" <kmcnamara@LIGGETT.COM>
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