Bocconcini Recipes

Steps:

• Make the dressing: Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil; add the garlic and cook 2 minutes. Remove the garlic and place in a blender with the cherry tomatoes, vinegar and basil; puree until smooth. With the motor running, add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Make the salad: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (about 2 minutes less than the label directs). Drain and rinse under cool water; shake off the excess. Transfer the pasta to a bowl and toss with the dressing.
• Shave the zucchini into strips with a vegetable peeler or mandoline; halve the strips crosswise and add to the pasta. Add the tomatoes, bocconcini, pine nuts and basil and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, up to 6 hours. (Bring to room temperature before serving.)

Steps:

• Fill a large skillet with 1 to 2 inches of water and bring to a boil; add broccolini and cook until bright green, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer broccolini to a strainer and drain water from skillet.
• Heat olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir garlic in the hot oil until golden and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Return broccolini to frying pan using tongs; cook and stir until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice over broccoli and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Steps:

• To each mason jar add 3 basil leaves, 3 thyme sprigs, 1 sprig fresh rosemary, 1 clove garlic, a pinch red pepper flakes and salt, to taste. Fill the jar half way up with extra-virgin olive oil and add 10 to 12 drained boccocini balls. Top off with more extra-virgin olive oil. Cover and seal the jar. Repeat with the other 3 jars. Turn the jars over several times to incorporate the flavors. Refrigerate for 3 at least days before serving. Lasts for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Arrange the mozzarella balls on a sheet tray. Remove any excess liquid by patting them dry with paper towels.
• In three separate shallow baking dishes, first add the flour to one and season with salt and pepper. Next, whisk together the milk and eggs in the second. Finally, add the breadcrumbs and Parmesan in the last shallow baking dish.
• Roll each mozzarella ball in the flour, followed by the egg mixture and finally the breadcrumb mixture. Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients.
• In a large high-sided saute pan, add 3 inches of oil. Heat the oil until it reaches 350 degrees F on a frying thermometer.
• Working with 4 or 5 mozzarella balls at a time, fry until golden brown, about 1 minute. Remove with slotted spoon on to paper towel-lined plate and season immediately with salt.
• To hold before serving, keep mozzarella balls on a wire rack over sheet tray in a 200 F degree oven.
• Serve with Simple Tomato Sauce (link to Kelsey's existing recipe on cctv.com)

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine bocconcini, olive oil and red-pepper flakes; season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Marinate at room temperature at least 1 hour (or up to 4 hours). Top with basil and serve with crackers or crostini.

Steps:

• Whisk together three tablespoons of the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar in a bowl.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Stir in the cheese, tomatoes and basil leaves.
• Set aside.
• Grill the bread on both sides until lightly browned and crisp.
• Rub one side of each slice of bread with the garlic, then sprinkle with olive oil.
• Cover each slice of bread with several arugula leaves.
• Spoon the tomato and cheese mixture over the arugula.
• Sprinkle each bruschetta with additional olive oil, then top with basil leaves.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• In a large salad bowl, combine the mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, celery, endive and arugula.
• Whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil; pour over the salad. Toss until all the ingredients are thoroughly coated with the dressing. Transfer salad to individual serving plates, if desired. Sprinkle the basil over the salad, season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.