Description
A deliciously elegant Savory Parmesan Waffle Sandwiches recipe: crisp, salty Parmesan wafers sandwiching a light, frozen basil ricotta mousse. A unique, make-ahead appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- Freshly cracked black pepper (optional)
- 1 cup ricotta (well-drained)
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- Salt, to taste
- Lemon zest (Optional Garnish)
- Microgreens (Optional Garnish)
Instructions
- Make the Parmesan Wafers: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). On a parchment-lined baking tray, place heaping teaspoons of Parmesan. Flatten each into a thin 2–3 inch round. Bake for 5–7 minutes until golden. Cool until crisp.
- Prepare the Basil Ricotta Mousse: Blanch basil leaves for 10 seconds, then transfer to ice water. Pat dry. Blend basil with olive oil until smooth. Mix ricotta, basil purée, cream, and salt until fluffy.
- Freeze the Mousse: Pipe or spoon the mixture into small domes or discs on parchment paper. Freeze until solid, about 2 hours.
- Assemble the Sandwiches: Once the mousse is frozen and Parmesan crisps are cooled, sandwich one disc of mousse between two Parmesan wafers.
- Garnish and Serve: Arrange on a chilled plate. Garnish with lemon zest, microgreens, or torn basil leaves. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Make-ahead: The mousse can be frozen up to 2 days in advance. Store Parmesan crisps in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Variation: Add crushed walnuts or chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the ricotta for extra texture and depth.
- Serving tip: Best enjoyed straight from the freezer once assembled for maximum contrast between cold mousse and crisp shell.
- Wafer Texture: Cooling the Parmesan wafers completely on a wire rack is essential for them to firm up and achieve maximum crispness.
- Basil Prep: Blanching the basil preserves its bright green color, preventing the mousse from turning brown.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- chill time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking, Blending, Freezing, Assembling
- Cuisine: Italian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ~¼ of recipe (about ½ cup or more depending on texture)
- Calories: ~275 kcal
- Sugar: ~1 g
- Sodium: ~470 mg
- Fat: ~22 g
- Saturated Fat: ~9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: ~3 g
- Fiber: ~0.5 g
- Protein: ~16 g
- Cholesterol: ~40 mg
Keywords: Parmesan Wafers, Ricotta Mousse, Frozen Appetizer, Savory Sandwich, Basil Ricotta, Elegant Appetizer, Make-Ahead Dip, Gourmet Bites, Italian Fusion, Low-Carb