Vine Leaf-Wrapped Sheep'S-Milk Ricotta With Fennel And Olives

Serves: 2

Lelia Marks

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

53

Spice

60

Sweetness

46

Sourness

39

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.6

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Pine Nut

1 cup

Kalamata

3 tsp

Salt

Directions:

1

Trim fennel stalks flush with bulb, discarding stalks, and remove core

2

With a mandoline or other hand-held manual slicer cut bulb into very thin slices and coarsely chop

3

In a large skillet cook fennel in oil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes

4

In a dry small skillet toast pine nuts over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, about 5 minutes

5

Coarsely chop pine nuts and raisins

6

Pit and chop olives

7

In a bowl combine fennel, pine nuts, raisins, olives, salt, and pepper to taste

8

Add ricotta and gently toss together

9

Drain grapevine leaves and pat dry

10

Line bottom and side of a 9-inch pie plate with a layer of overlapping leaves, leaving a 2-inch overhang

11

Spread ricotta mixture over leaves and fold overhang in toward center

12

Use more leaves to cover exposed ricotta

13

Chill spread at least 1 hour and up to 3 days

14

Invert a platter over pie plate and invert leaf-covered spread onto platter

15

Peel back center leaves and serve spread chilled or at room temperature with toasts and olives

16

Trim fennel stalks flush with bulb, discarding stalks, and remove core

17

With a mandoline or other hand-held manual slicer cut bulb into very thin slices and coarsely chop

18

In a large skillet cook fennel in oil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes

19

In a dry small skillet toast pine nuts over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, about 5 minutes

20

Coarsely chop pine nuts and raisins

21

Pit and chop olives

22

In a bowl combine fennel, pine nuts, raisins, olives, salt, and pepper to taste

23

Add ricotta and gently toss together

24

Drain grapevine leaves and pat dry

25

Line bottom and side of a 9-inch pie plate with a layer of overlapping leaves, leaving a 2-inch overhang

26

Spread ricotta mixture over leaves and fold overhang in toward center

27

Use more leaves to cover exposed ricotta

28

Chill spread at least 1 hour and up to 3 days

29

Invert a platter over pie plate and invert leaf-covered spread onto platter

30

Peel back center leaves and serve spread chilled or at room temperature with toasts and olives