Meals Matter

Ricotta with Vanilla-Sugar Croutons and Berries

Contributed By: lchin1978
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis, 2008

Ingredients

Croutons:

1/4 (4 ounces ) ciabatta loaf, cut into 1-inch cubes

3 tablespoons Unsalted butter, melted

1 1/2 tablespoons Vanilla sugar, recipe follows

Syrup:

1/2 cup Orange juice (from 1 medium orange)

1/4 cup Fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)

1/2 cup Sugar

1 cup Blueberries

8 Strawberries, hulled and quartered

Ricotta:

1 1/2 cups Whole milk ricotta cheese

3 teaspoons Orange zest (from 1 medium orange)

1 teaspoon Lemon zest (from 1 lemon)

1 tablespoon Vanilla sugar, recipe follows

1 tablespoon Thinly sliced fresh mint leaves

Preparation

For the Croutons:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium bowl, toss together the bread cubes and melted butter. Add the vanilla sugar and toss until the bread cubes are coated in sugar. Arrange the bread cubes in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely.

For the Syrup:

In a small saucepan, bring the orange juice, lemon juice, and sugar to a simmer, over medium-low heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the blueberries and strawberries and simmer until the fruit softens, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cool the syrup to room temperature.

For the Ricotta:

Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well.

To serve: Divide the ricotta mixture between 4 decorative dessert bowls. Spoon the fruit syrup over the ricotta and top with the croutons. Garnish with the sliced mint.

Cook's Notes

I left the bread bigger for large croutons, with a spoonful of ricotta on top, drizzled with the berry syrup and a few berries

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Recipe Details

Total Preparation Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients: Egg & Cheese
Actual Cooking Time: Less than 15 minutes
Number of Servings: 4
Origin: Italian
Meal Type: Dessert