Zucchini Flutes Piped with Basil-Ricotta Mousse

Cut stem tips of zucchinis off and discard. Slice them lengthwise into two pieces. Take a teaspoon and hollow out each half… scraping away seeds and core until smooth. Be sure to leave about 1/4 inch of flesh or the flute will be too weak. Set on baking tray.

Mousse:
Put the ricotta, basil, garlic, and half of the shredded Parmesan cheese into a food processor and blend until creamy. Add a small pinch of salt to taste. If too thick… add just a dab of olive oil. But not too much as you need the mousse to stand firm in the zucchini flutes. Once you reach the desired consistency – scoop the mousse out of processor into a zip lock baggie or pastry bag. If using a baggie, snip off about 1/4″ of the corner and squeeze the baggie to pipe out mousse into the hollowed section of the zucchini. Stop short of the end by about 1/2″, as the ricotta will expand when baking. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese along the top of flutes.

Ready To Cook?
Put the tray of mousse-filled flutes on middle rack of oven, baking for 20 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove the pans when the zucchini is fork-tender and the cheese has browned slightly. Once the flutes are removed from the oven, sprinkle a few ricotta crumbles across the top and lightly drizzle with some extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately.