Dessert - by Scarlett

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Mozzarella - Dessert

Mozzarella Parcels with Cranberry Relish

August 3rd 2006 10:27

Mozzarella Parcels with Cranberry Relish

About Italian Buffalo Mozzarella

Mozzarella is a generic term for the several kinds of Italian fresh cheese that are made using spinning and then cutting because in the southern Italian dialects, the diminutive form of ‘mozza’ means “to cut”, and the verb ‘mozzare’ actually means “to cut off”, are derived from the method of working. It is made from buffalo milk, a semi-soft creamy white malleable and stringy white cheese with a mild flavour. It melts best when it is sliced or shredded. An interesting note about mozzarella is its ability to be frozen and stored for up to six months and then thawed and used, with little loss in flavour.

When mozzarella cheese is accompanied with juice and olive oil, its cut-side absorbs the sauce rapidly. It has exactly the right ‘goaty’ taste and an ‘elastic’ texture that is just beginning to melt when the frying time is up.

INGREDIENTS
Serves 6

125 gm mozzarella cheese
8 slices of thin white bread

2 medium eggs, beaten
salt and freshly ground black pepper
300 ml olive oil

For the relish
125 gm cranberries
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
grated rind of 1 small orange
50 gm soft light brown sugar
1 tablespoon port

1. Slice the mozzarella thinly, remove the crusts from the bread and make sandwiches with the bread and cheese. Cut into 5cm/2in squares and squash them quite flat. Season the eggs with salt and pepper, then soak the bread in the seasoned egg for 1 minute on each side until well coated.

2. Heat the oil to 190 degrees Celsius and deep-fry the bread squares for 1-2 minutes, or until they are crisp and golden brown. Drain on absorbent kitchen paper and keep warm while the cranberry relish is prepared.

3. Place the cranberries, orange juice, rind, sugar and port into a small saucepan and add 5 tablespoons of water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes, or until the cranberries have ‘popped’. Sweeten with a little more sugar if necessary.

4. Arrange the mozzarella parcels on individual serving plates. Serve with a little of the cranberry relish.

Tips:

To test the oil temperature, drop a cube of bread into the frying pan. It should brown in 30 seconds.

**From “Quick and Simple Italian Recipes”, “The Cheese Wizard” and “Mozzarellaonline.it”**