SWEET RICOTTA PUDDING WITH ROASTED GRAPES

Created by Melissa Roberts for Gourmet

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided
1 tablespoon plain fine dry bread crumbs
1 2/3 cups whole-milk ricotta
2 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 1/2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
2 cups NK grapes halved
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F with racks in middle and lower third.
2. Butter a 9-inch glass or ceramic pie plate with some of butter, then spread bread crumbs in a plate to coat.
3. Blend ricotta, eggs, cinnamon, salt, and 3 tablespoons sugar in a blender until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour batter into pie plate and sprinkle with nuts. Bake in middle of oven until puffed, golden, and just set, about 25 minutes. Cool pudding on a rack.
4. While pudding bakes, toss grapes with remaining butter, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and vinegar in a small shallow baking pan and let macerate.
5. Increase oven temperature to 425°F.
6. Roast grapes in lower third of oven, shaking pan occasionally, until tender but not falling apart, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool grapes until just warm and serve alongside pudding.