Monday, 1 April 2013

Let's Cook: Recipes from Easter Lunch


As promised, here are the recipes from my Easter lunch! First up, the entrée:


Caramelised Onion, Tomato and Basil Tart


Prep time 10 mins
Cook time 15 mins
Total time 25 mins

Makes 4 large tarts or 8 smaller tarts
Serves: 4 or 8

Ingredients
2 sheets of ready rolled, frozen puff pastry, partially thawed
3 large onions, peeled and chopped
4 large tomatoes, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons of basil, chopped
1 small clove of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 egg, beaten
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
·         Combine the tomato slices, basil, garlic and salt and pepper in a bowl and set aside to marinate.
·         Place a large frying pan over a medium heat and add the olive oil. When the pan has come up to heat add the onion and reduce heat to low. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. When caramelised, remove the onions from the pan and set aside to cool.
·         Preheat the oven to 210 degrees celsius (410 Farenheit) and line a baking tray with baking paper.
·        Cut the sheets of pastry in half and trim 2cm from the borders of the pastry. Place the trimmed edges on top of the edges of the pastry to form a border and prick the centre of the pastry with a fork 6 times being careful not to go all the way through.
·         Brush the edges of the pastry with the beaten egg and bake in the oven for 5 minutes, or until lightly golden.
·         Remove from the oven and press down the centre of the pastry before topping with the caramelised onions and then the marinated tomato slices.
·         Return to the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until pastry is golden.


Moroccan Spiced Lamb with Quinoa Salad

                                                                  
150g (1 cup) quinoa
250ml (1 cup) water
1 cup Moroccan seasoning
1 leg of lamb
2 tbs olive oil
110g (2/3 cup) pitted kalamata olives, halved
140g (2/3 cup) sun-dried tomatoes, halved
400g can cannellini beans, rinsed, drained
1 red onion, thinly sliced
2 tbs drained baby capers
2/3 cup chopped fresh continental parsley
80ml (1/3 cup) olive oil
2 tbs Woolworths Select Red Wine Vinegar
2 anchovy fillets, finely chopped
2 tsp crushed garlic
Greek yoghurt, to serve

Step 1
Preheat oven to 180°C. Place the quinoa in a fine sieve. Rinse under cold water. Bring quinoa and water to the boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low. Cover and gently simmer for 10 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Separate with a fork and set aside to cool.

Step 2
Rub the Moroccan seasoning over the lamb and leave to marinate for 4 hours or more, removing from the fridge for the last half an hour to warm up. Put some oil in the base of a tray, and roast the lamb for 20minutes per pound

Step 3
Meanwhile, combine the quinoa, olives, tomato, beans, onion, capers and parsley in a large bowl. Season with pepper. Combine the oil, vinegar, anchovy and garlic in a small bowl. Add the oil mixture to the quinoa mixture and toss to combine.

Step 4
Slice the lamb into cutlets. Divide the quinoa mixture among plates. Top with lamb and serve with Greek yoghurt.

Nutella Gelato


2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar, plus 1/4 cup
4 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (recommended: Nutella)
1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts, crushed, for garnish

Directions
In a saucepan combine the milk, cream, and 1/2 cup sugar over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl whip the egg yolks with the remaining sugar using an electric mixer until the eggs have become thick and pale yellow, about 4 minutes. Pour 1/2 cup of the warm milk and cream mixture into the egg mixture and stir. Add this mixture back into the saucepan. Cook over very low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, about 7 to 10 minutes.

Place a strainer over a medium bowl and pour the warm custard mixture through the strainer. Stir in the vanilla and hazelnut spread until it dissolves. Chill mixture completely before pouring into an ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions to freeze. To serve, scoop gelato into serving bowls and top with hazelnuts.




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