This unusual souffle tempts you with sauteed vegetables mixed with ricotta cheese and a topping of breadcrumbs. It only takes 20 minutes to make. Spreading the mixture in a thin layer in a baking dish cuts down the cooking time. The zucchini and carrots are chopped and the mushrooms and onions sliced to give variety of texture.
Using your food processor, you can prepare all of the vegetables in 5 minutes. Use the chopping blade first for the zucchini and carrots. Transfer vegetables to a bowl. Add the basil and chop. Remove to another bowl.
Helpful hints:
■Any variety of vegetables can be substituted in this recipe. Simply make sure they are cooked through before adding the cheese.
■Diced fresh onions can be found in the produce section of the supermarket.
■Chop zucchini and carrots in a food processor.
■If the oven proof dish doesn’t fit in your microwave, cook the vegetables in a bowl and transfer them to the oven-proof dish.
1 cup chopped zucchini
1 cup chopped carrots
2½ cups sliced button mushrooms
½ cup fresh diced onion
2 teaspoons olive oil
¾ cup chopped fresh basil, divided use
½ cup plain bread crumbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup non-fat ricotta cheese
2 whole eggs
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, and onion to an oven proof dish or lasagna dish about 8 by 10 inches. Drizzle oil over vegetables. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high 3 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix ½ cup basil with bread crumbs and add salt and pepper to taste. Remove vegetables from microwave. Mix the ricotta cheese and eggs together and add to the vegetables. Spread the vegetables evenly throughout the dish. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture on top. Bake 15 minutes. Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup chopped basil over the top and serve.
¼ whole wheat baguette (2 slices)
1 medium clove garlic
¼ cup cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half and coarsely chop
2 teaspoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Line a baking tray with foil. Place bread on tray and toast in toaster oven or under a broiler until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from oven. Cut garlic clove in half and rub cut halves over bread. Toss diced tomato and olive oil together. Spoon over bread and serve. Pour any excess oil left from mixing with tomatoes over bread. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.