Parmesan Basket

Soup Fly *'s Note:

I got this great idea from a magazine my friend got. She told me the basics, I went home and gave it a try. It worked out beautifully. I can only imagine how beautiful the presentation would be using these as salad shells. They have a lacy, delicate look to them.

• Total Time: 24 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 24 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 cup inexpensive shredded parmesan cheese (more or less, depending on how many baskets you want to make)
• 1 drinking glass

Directions:

1. Heat a 10" skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Sprinkle cheese (I just used what seemed to look right, didn't really measure) into a disk shape in pan, using less cheese around the edges (helps produce the lacy look).
3. Allow cheese to get slightly golden underneath, then carefully remove it using a spatula.
4. Quickly drape cheese disk, golden side up, over an upside-down glass and form into a bowl.
5. Allow to cool completely.
6. This produces one basket.
7. Repeat instructions until you have the number of baskets needed.

Reviews

[GaylaJ]

I love simple ways to create pretty presentations, and this is certainly one. I think I need a little practice, though, as mine could have been a little thinner, which would have made them more "lacy". I had to let the cheese cool in the skillet for a few seconds off the heat before I could slide a spatula under it without messing it up, then I turned it over a ramekin (rather than a drinking glass). I ran across a recipe since I made this one that calls for baking the cheese on a piece of parchment paper in the oven--after letting it cool for a few seconds, you just pick up the parchment, flip it over whatever you are using to mold the baskets, then carefully remove the paper and form the cheese. I may try it that way next time, as I think it could possibly be easier to transfer a thinner layer of cheese. In any case, this is a fun recipe--thanks for posting!

[Riverlivin']

This recipe is great! I'm going to try it next as a presentation for sauteed veggies. BTW, the magazine it came from was Cuisine At Home. I just got it recently and it is really informative and the recipes look so good.

[Krsi Sue]

Delicious and pretty as well. Everyone had fun eating the basket as well!