Grana Padano baskets (or Parmesan cheese bowls) are a creative and tasty way to serve appetizers in a unique and inviting way. These delicious cheese cups are the perfect base for a variety of fillings. In the photo accompanying this recipe, they are presented with a delicate and flavorful ham mousse, making them even more irresistible and elegant.
Another very tasty recipe you can make with Grana Padano is cheese lollipops. You can find the recipe here
Use a few drops of extra virgin olive oil to grease a non-stick pan with your fingers. Heat the pan over medium-high heat until it is quite hot.
Once the pan is hot, place two tablespoons of grated cheese in the center. Use the back of the spoon to spread the cheese into a circular disk, about the size of a small espresso saucer.
Let it cook for a few minutes until the cheese melts and turns golden brown. Remove from heat and let it cool for about 30 seconds. Use a fork or a knife to gently lift one edge of the disk so you can grasp it with your fingers.
Lift the cheese disk and drape it over the bottom of an upside-down glass. The soft edges will naturally slide down the sides of the glass, creating a bowl shape.
Let the bowls cool in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Once hardened, you can carefully remove the basket from the glass. It is now ready to be filled with your favorite appetizers.
Did you know that these crispy cheese bowls are more than just an elegant edible container? They are a clever way to repurpose the harder parts of Grana Padano or Parmesan cheese. Traditionally, these scraps were melted down in a pan to create a crunchy wafer. When shaped over an inverted bowl, they transformed into a savory basket with an intense, unmistakable flavor, perfect for salads or risottos.
