Renata of Testado, Provado & Aprovado! is our Daring Cooks April 2011 hostess. Renata challenged us to think “outside the plate” and create our own edible containers! Prizes are being awarded to the most creative edible container and filling, so vote on your favorite from April 17th to May 16th at http://thedaringkitchen.com/!
This is a very special challenge indeed for both Renata and myself as we will be hosting a DUAL challenge since I am hosting the April Daring Bakers. We’re challenging the Daring Cooks and Bakers to make EDIBLE CONTAINERS. it is all very exciting as it is the first time both monthly challenges cooperate.
I decided to go with a Zucchini Ricotta Roll-up that was part of my mother’s Italian birthday feast. Now I went really loosely with my container idea. Some may debate if it is a container at all…but I say it is since the zucchini holds the ricotta mixture that you eat. Renata had fabulous ideas of her own as suggestions like a stew in a squash, breaded cups, and bread soup bowls. If you want to see the actual whole challenge you can download the printable .pdf file HERE. The only mandatory items was to make a SAVORY edible container and fill it with something appropriate. So I present to you my entry….
Zucchini Ricotta Roll-ups by CookItaly
Ingredients:
250g ricotta
2 medium zucchinis
2 sprigs fresh mint
4 sprigs fresh marjoram
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
Directions:
Clean the zucchini and slice thinly length wise. Heat a ridged grill pan or a regular frying pan with a bit of butter and cook the zucchini slices dry for about 2 minutes on each side. Let cool to handle.
Clean the herbs, strip the leaves from the stems and chop or snip with scissors. In a bowl mix the ricotta with the chopped herbs, salt and pepper to taste, and the olive oil.
Lay the zucchini slices out flat, place a walnut sized piece of the herb ricotta mix on each and roll up. Add a dab at the end to glue the roll together. If you have cherry tomatoes or radishes you can top with a little slice to add a touch of color. Cool in the fridge for 1 hour.
For presentation I served my rolls on a bed of pureed snow peas. I just cooked a handful of peas in a bit of vegetable stock until soft…adding a bit of garlic salt and pepper. I passed this through the blender and got an amazingly colorful shiny dark green puree.
I love your zucchini idea and I do think they perfectly qualify as containers! The combination of ingredients sound so delicious! Thank you so much for being part of this dual challenge. I’m so glad that the fun has only begun and we still have your DB challenge to have so much more!!
I love your idea with the zucchini! I am crazy about zucchini and will have it any way that you want to serve it to me… and this looks like the perfect way to eat it! I love your recipe! Thanks for sharing!!
Molto buono…Ricotta held in a container of tender zucchini…sounds delizioso ;o)
This dish certainly calls in Spring time. Challenge well succeeded Evelyne.
Have a great weekend,
Claudia
That looks so colourful and delicious. And healthy too! I’d probably top it off with a cream puff…
🙂
Ev..I saw these in the DK forum on a brief skim, and loved them – not even realizing it was yours!! Yes, definitely containers and definitely something I want to make. I love Eggplant Rollatine, and never even thought of doing it with zucchini. they look so mouth-watering..amazing idea!
What a fun challenge! Of course yours count as containers – if you can pick it up and eat it, contents and all – then it’s a container. Yum!
What a beautiful, fresh and flavorful dish! Nice job on your challenge 🙂
Lol, I also wondered if rolls (and tarts, and stuffed veggies) counted as edible containers. I’m still not sure! I personally took this challenge as an invitation to make weird stuff. But what matters is for everything to taste good, and this looks delicious!
Beautiful! And I *love* the colour of the pureed snow peas. Brilliant!
Beautiful roll ups! I can’t wait to give this a try with some fresh zucchini 🙂
Nice idea! I’m still thinking over my Daring bakers challenge… Such a neat challenge!
Lovely – May summer come soon in our neck of the woods!
I love the idea of the puréed snow peas so tasty and so green, and the zucchini rollups are brilliant I was thinking of them also. Yes there are containers for sure.
Well done on this challenge.
Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.
Lovely! I made some zucchini roll up thingies last year for football grand final snacks but they weren’t so colourful as these 🙂
The rollups look terrific and I love that you served them atop the pureed snow peas, gorgeous!
These are beautiful! So spring like and pretty. An inspired entry to this challenge!