Today we prepare together the stuffed parmesan baskets, an easy and spectacular appetizer, perfect to impress! When I think of the upcoming holidays, a nice tray of parmesan baskets will leave everyone speechless!
Whether it’s Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or New Year’s. For a simple aperitif with friends, during a buffet, at Easter, for a birthday or a Sunday lunch.
Parmesan baskets can be prepared all year round, for any holiday, event, or special occasion, but also during a regular day to satisfy the craving for something good!
To make these beautiful and tasty baskets, you need one non-replaceable ingredient: Parmigiano Reggiano DOP or Grana Padano DOP.
Making them is easy and quick, but you need some small and simple tips to make perfect parmesan baskets.
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If you wondered how to fill the parmesan baskets, at the end, you’ll find a series of delicious variations suitable for everyone! But now, let’s see how to prepare them with step-by-step photos!
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- Cost: Medium
- Rest time: 10 Minutes
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 6 baskets
- Cooking methods: Stovetop, Microwave, Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All Seasons
Ingredients
- 5.3 oz Parmigiano Reggiano DOP (or Grana Padano Dop)
- 14 oz spreadable cheese
- canned tuna in oil (1 can, 2.8 oz)
- 20 Taggiasca olives (about ten per basket. If you don't like Taggiasca, black or green olives are fine, preferably pitted)
- 1.4 oz cooked ham (diced)
- 2 tsps chopped parsley
- 1.1 oz mushrooms in oil (about)
- 2 slices prosciutto
- 1 slice cheese (to taste)
Tools
- Bowl
- Spatula
- Pan
- Parchment paper
- Glass
- Colander
- Piping bag
Steps
Preparing parmesan baskets is easy and quick, but a few small tips are needed to make them truly perfect.
The first thing I recommend is to take a small plate and place a glass on top, upside down.
You will need to place the melted cheese on the glass to give it a precise shape, so it’s good to organize beforehand!
Now take a sheet of parchment paper and cut it into small squares, I got six to make 6 baskets.
If you need more or fewer pieces, adjust accordingly.
If you prefer, you can also make just one square of parchment paper where you will cook the baskets, one at a time. Just be careful not to get dirty because obviously the sheet will get greasy!
Take a pan that isn’t too large, the important thing is that it isn’t smaller than the piece of parchment paper you have!
Place the sheet at the bottom of the pan and in the center, place 3 teaspoons of grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano.
Use the back of the teaspoon to shape the cheese into a round shape and press lightly to compact.
Place the pan on the stove over the LOWEST flame and let the cheese melt completely (it will take about a minute, at most two).
If you prefer, you can use the microwave at maximum power for about 25 seconds (the time varies based on the microwave’s power). Or in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes or in an air fryer at 330°F for about 5-8 minutes; again, times may vary depending on your appliances.
When the cheese has melted, remove the pan from the heat and use a spatula to lift the parchment paper without burning yourself.
Place the melted cheese on the upside-down glass and, using your hands, press the parchment paper well to adhere to the sides of the glass.
Even if the parchment paper is hot, this operation must be done immediately; otherwise, you won’t be able to give your basket a well-defined shape.
At most, to avoid burning yourself (the heat is minimal and very tolerable), use kitchen gloves.
Let the basket rest for five minutes, still wrapped with the parchment paper, and then, very gently, remove the sheet.
What a marvel! Your parmesan basket is ready, beautiful and perfect for being filled in countless ways!
Just as you did, take a new piece of parchment paper, place it on the pan, put the grated parmesan in the center, press with a teaspoon, and let it melt on a low flame.
Turn it over onto the glass, press well for about a minute, let it rest for 5 minutes, then remove the paper and gently detach the basket from the bottom of the glass.
As the parmesan baskets are ready, leave them to rest on a tray, at room temperature.
Repeat the operation until the parmesan is finished and then move on to filling.
I chose to fill my cheese baskets with three different fillings, all customizable according to your needs.
At the end of the article, you will find other delicious ideas.
In a bowl, put the spreadable cheese, add two teaspoons of finely chopped fresh parsley, and mix well.
If you want to be more precise, take a piping bag and put the spreadable cheese cream inside.
If you don’t have one, don’t worry because you can fill the baskets with a simple spoon 😉
Make three or four rounds of cream with the piping bag on the bottom of all the baskets and then move on to decorating.
With the indicated doses, I got 6 baskets; two filled with tuna and olives, two with diced cooked ham and mushrooms in oil, and the last with two prosciutto roses and two cheese rolls for each basket.
To make two prosciutto roses, you need just one slice rolled onto itself and then cut in half.
While to make two cheese rolls, you need half a slice of cheese (Provola, Edamer, Fontina, Gouda, etc.), roll it up, and again cut the roll obtained in half to make two.
Make sure to drain the tuna and mushrooms in oil well.
Once filled, add, if you like, a pinch of pepper or a sprinkle of chives, and you’re done!
Your parmesan baskets are ready to leave everyone amazed!
Beautiful, spectacular, tasty, and fragrant! Perfect for any occasion!
I hope you liked this tasty proposal, read at the bottom all my tips on how to store them and other possible fillings!
Article protected by copyright © – Gabriella Geroni © All Rights Reserved
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
How to fill the cheese baskets in a vegetarian version?
For a vegetarian version, you can fill your parmesan baskets with vegetables in oil or pickled (artichokes, olives, mushrooms, eggplants, peppers, onions, zucchini, cucumbers, etc.). For a vegan version, instead of the spreadable cheese mousse, you can prepare a nice mashed potato to fill it with mushrooms or other vegetables.
How can I replace spreadable cheese?
Instead, you can use ricotta, robiola, or mascarpone. If you use ricotta and you notice it’s not dry enough, let it drain and if it’s too “lumpy” pass it through a sieve; otherwise, you’ll have difficulty passing it through the piping bag.
Other ideas for filling?
Try with mortadella, pistachios, and smoked provola diced; or arugula, bresaola, and parmesan flakes to stay on theme! Or lettuce, tuna, and cherry tomatoes, or salad and shrimp, avocado cherry tomatoes, and shrimp, etc.
Can I prepare parmesan baskets the day before?
Ideally, it would be better to prepare this appetizer at the moment to prevent the baskets from losing their crunchiness, which is why they should be stored at room temperature. But if you prefer, you can prepare them the night before and store them in the fridge, this way they will become softer but still very tasty!
