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Movie dishes , Aglio e Olio. (Scarlett’s pasta)

17 Apr

With the world in lockdown due to covid19. Times are unpredictable but to keep my mind sane whilst staying in isolation, I’ve decided to do a series of recipes from foodie films starting with something easy but just mouthwatering from the movie “Chef”

Mollys ( Scarlettt Johansson) Pasta

“Aglio e Olio “ made with just a few ingredients it’s just sex on a plate!

Chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner (Dustin Hoffman), he is left to figure out what’s next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up with his ex-wife (Sofia Vergara), his friend (John Leguizamo) and his son to launch a food truck. Taking to the road, Chef Carl goes back to his roots to reignite his passion for the kitchen — and zest for life and love.

Serves 2

PREP TIME 15Mins

COOK TIME 15 Mins

TOTAL TIME 30 Mins

INGREDIENTS

• 350g dried spaghetti

• 250ml extra virgin olive oil

• 12 large garlic cloves, thin slivers

• 1 tbl crushed red pepper flakes

• 1 handful fresh parsley, minced

• 1 handful Parmesan cheese, grated

• sea salt

• ground black pepper

• 2 lemons

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add the spaghetti, cooking until al dente 8-10 minutes.

2. Reserve some pasta water, then drain pasta.

3. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.

4. Add garlic and stir frequently until the garlic is golden brown.

5. Add red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.

6. Add the drained spaghetti directly to the pan.

7. Toss until spaghetti is thoroughly coated with the

garlic oil (add reserved pasta water if necessary).

8. Remove pan from heat. Add the parsley, Parmesan and toss well.

9. Check for flavor and adjust the salt if necessary.

10. Squeeze lemons to taste, garnish with more Parmesan, and enjoy

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Pan-roasted cod loin with pea and asparagus risotto

12 Jul

Risotto is a traditional Italian rice dish made from a short-grained, starchy variety of rice called arborio rice. The technique for making it is called the risotto method, which involves stirring small amounts of hot stock or broth into the rice a little at a time, allowing the liquid to be absorbed as you go.

While the rice cooks, it releases its starch, which is essential to giving the risotto a rich, creamy consistency. The more starch in your rice, the creamier the risotto. This is why cooking your rice slowly is essential; cooking risotto low and slow gives super-starchy arborio rice the time it needs to release the starch and achieve the sought-after creaminess.

Like pasta, risotto is cooked al dente, which means that it should be slightly firm to the bite—a degree of doneness that might seem underdone in ordinary white rice. It should not be crunchy though.

Ingredients

• COD LOIN

• 4 portions of cod loin, thick, skin-on

• 2 tbsp of olive oil

• 30g of unsalted butter

•salt

•freshly ground black pepper

• PEA AND ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

• 150g of asparagus spears, fine

• 1l vegetable or chicken stock, fresh

• 2 shallots, peeled and finely chopped

• 1 small fennel bulb finely chopped

• Zest and juice of 1 lemon

• 1 Handful of chopped mint

• 1 handful of chopped oregano and dill

• 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed

• 25g of unsalted butter, diced

• 250g of carnaroli risotto rice

• 250ml of dry white wine

• 50g fresh or frozen peas

• 30g of Parmesan, finely grated

• 1 tbsp of olive oil

•salt

•freshly ground black pepper

• Sprigs of dill for serving

Method

1

To begin, place the vegetable stock in a small pan, bring to the boil then keep warm over a low heat

2

Prepare the asparagus by snapping of the woody ends (add the woody ends to the pan with vegetable stock). Cut an inch off the tips of the spears and finely slice the remaining middle section into discs, setting both aside

3

Make the risotto by adding the olive oil to a wide, heavy-based frying pan over a low heat. Sweat the shallot, fennel and crushed garlic until soft and translucent, this will take around 8–10 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper

4

Add the diced butter to the pan along with the rice and stir for a couple of minutes until the rice becomes hot and sticky. Turn up the heat and add the white wine, stirring until the wine has evaporated

5

Remove the woody asparagus ends from the stock with a slotted spoon and discard them. Lower the heat to moderate and start adding the stock to the rice, one ladleful at a time. Stir and allow the rice to absorb the liquid before adding another ladleful. After 10 minutes, add the asparagus tips and sliced middles along with the peas, chopped herbs, lemon zest and juice. Continue adding the stock until the rice is cooked with a slight bite, approximately another 5–8 minutes

6

While the risotto is cooking, prepare the cod, seasoning it with salt and pepper. Heat a large non stick frying pan over a medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the fish to the pan, skin-side down. Turn the heat down and cook for 5 minutes. Add the butter to the pan and turn the fish over, cook for a further 4–6 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish, basting occasionally with butter

7

Finish the risotto by stirring in the Parmesan and seasoning to taste. Divide between four plates or bowls and top with the fish and sprigs of dill . Serve immediately.

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Baked lemon sole and risotto terrine with a cream prosecco sauce.

27 Feb

Baked lemon sole and risotto terrine with a cream prosecco sauce,

Suola al limone e terrina di risotto con salsa di crema di proseccopWhen you want an impressive crowd-pleaser, turn to this creamy risotto, encased in sole fillets and baked with a boozy sauce, just perfect for dinner parties.

Preparation time

30 mins to 1 hour

Cooking time

30 mins to 1 hour

Serves

Serves 6

Ingredients

 

For the stock

• 1 carrot, roughly chopped

• 1 celery stick, trimmed and roughly chopped

• 1 large onion, halved

• handful curly parsly leaves

• Reserved fish bones from the lemon sole fillets

 

For the terrine

 

• olive oil for greasing

• 100g/3½oz unsalted butter

• 1 shallot, finely sliced

• 700g/1lb 9oz carnaroli or arborio risotto rice

• 200g/7oz Parmesan , grated

• ½ tsp white pepper

• 100g/3½oz plain flour

• 1 tsp ground nutmeg

• 300ml/10fl oz single cream

• 700ml/18fl oz Prosecco

• 7 x 100g lemon sole fillets, deboned and skinned, bones reserved

• 1 orange, zest pared and cut into matchsticks

• 1 lemon, zest pared and cut into matchsticks

• salt and freshly ground black pepperh

Method

 

 

1. To make the stock, pour 3 litres/5¼ pints water into a large saucepan and add the carrot, celery, onion and parsley along with the reserved fish bones. Season generously with salt and simmer over a medium heat for 30 minutes, or until the volume of liquid has reduced by a third. Keep warm over a low heat.

2. Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.

3. To make the terrine, grease a non-stick 25cm/10 inch terrine form or a cake tin with a drizzle of olive oil.

4. Melt a knob of the butter in a heavy-based saucepan, add the shallot and cook over a medium heat until soft. Add the rice and cook, stirring, for 2–3 minutes, or until translucent then add 200ml prosecco, cook until absorbed.

5. Add a ladleful of hot stock and continue to cook over a medium heat, stirring until all the stock has been absorbed. Keep adding ladlefuls of stock, stirring constantly, allowing each ladleful to be absorbed before adding the next, until the rice no longer has a pale core and is soft but retains slight bite (approximately 15 minutes). Remove the pan from the heat and add the Parmesan, pepper and a knob of butter. Set aside.

6. In a small saucepan, melt the remaining butter and whisk in the flour to form a roux. Whilst stirring, slowly add the nutmeg, cream, remaining Prosecco and enough stock to make a smooth, pale gravy. Simmer gently for five minutes over a low heat to thicken slightly, then remove from the heat and set aside.

7. Press the sole fillets against the bottom and sides of the prepared cake tin to line it, leaving the fillets overhanging slightly at top. Season well.

8. Spoon the risotto into the mould, pressing it down with the back of a spoon to pack as tightly as possible, then pour over half of the Prosecco gravy. Set aside the rest of the gravy.

9. Transfer the tin to the oven and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until lightly golden-brown and set. Remove from the oven and leave to rest for 30 minutes.

10. To serve, reheat the sauce, turn out the timbale onto a large serving dish. Scatter over the zest strips and serve with the remaining gravy.

 

Just enjoy and party hard🍾

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Spaghetti Carbonara my way

13 Nov

Spaghetti Carbonara my wayimage
Carbonara is an Italian pasta dish from Rome based on eggs, cheese, bacon, and black pepper. Spaghetti is usually used as the pasta; however, fettuccine, rigatoni, linguine or bucatini can also be used. I like to use mushrooms, thyme and oregano to lift the flavour to another hight , very quick and easy to use make as a midweek dinner or perfect if you have unexpected guests.image

Ingredients
* 400g/14oz dried spaghetti


* 175g/6¼oz piece smoked pancetta, rind removed

* 150g sliced mushrooms

* 1 medium onion diced


* 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil


* 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

* 2 tbsp fresh thyme

* 2 tbsp fresh oregano


* handful flatleaf parsley leaves, finely chopped


* 3 large free-range eggs, beaten


* 50g/1¾oz pecorino sardo maturo (mature Sardinian pecorino), finely grated


* salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation method

* Bring 4.5 litres/8 pints water to the boil in a large saucepan with eight teaspoons salt. Add the spaghetti and cook for nine minutes, or until al dente.


* Meanwhile, cut the pancetta into lardons (short little strips), about 6mm/1¼in wide. 


* Heat a large, deep frying pan over a medium-high heat, add the oil and the pancetta and onion fry until lightly golden. Add the mushrooms, thyme, oregano, garlic and parsley and cook for a few minutes more, then remove from the heat and set aside.


* Drain the spaghetti well, tip into the frying pan with the pancetta, garlic and parsley, add the beaten eggs and half the grated pecorino cheese and toss together well.


* Season to taste with a little salt and black pepper. The heat from the spaghetti will be sufficient to partly cook the egg, but still leave it moist and creamy. Take to the table and serve in warmed pasta bowls, sprinkled with the rest of the cheese.image

For more info please mail or call; simon.bingham@simons-sauces.com , 0031(0)642297107image

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One-Pan Spinach and Cheese Gnocchi with Roasted Garlic Tomato Cream Sauce.

15 Oct

One-Pan Spinach and Cheese Gnocchi with Roasted Garlic Tomato Cream Sauce.image
Yes Autumn is here and I have another comforting dish! I’ve taken it from Halfbakedharvest.com I’ve added my own touch! truly simple and deliciously warming for the changing of seasons all cooked on one panimage
Ingredients
Serves 4-6

* 6 tablespoons fresh pesto
* 1 bulb roasted garlic *To roast the garlic, preheat the oven to 200 degrees C. Chop off the top portion of the garlic head to reveal cloves. Place the bulb onto a piece of tin foil and pour about a teaspoon of olive oil on top. Place in the oven and roast for 45 minutes, or until the garlic is golden brown and soft. Remove from the oven and allow to cool five minutes. Squeeze the garlic out of the paper skin into a bowl and mash well with a forked knife imageimageimage* 1 400g can tomatoes
* 6 tablespoons spicy shop bought taco sauce
* 3tbs balsamic vinegar
* 120ml cream
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 300g fresh spinach cooked and drained and
* Handful fresh basil, chopped
* 10 fresh sage leaves chopped
* salt + pepper, to taste
* 200g cherry tomatoes
* 1 tablespoons capers
* 3 tablespoons green and black olives roughy chopped
* 500g shop bought gnocchi ( homemade is too soft to use for this dish)
* 175g ricotta cheese
* 120g gorgonzola cheese (may use goat cheese or feta cheese), crumbled
* 50g grated parmesan + more for serving
* fresh basil + sage, for serving

Method

Preheat the oven to 190degrees C.
In a mixing bowl add the pesto, garlic, tomato sauce, enchilada sauce, balsamic vinegar, heavy cream and butter. Whisk everything together to combine.
Stir in the spinach, capers, olives, basil, sage, salt + pepper. Add the tomatoes and gnocchi. Toss to combine.image
Pour the mixture into a baking dish, Dollop the ricotta over top the dish do the same with the gorgonzola, sprinkle parmesan on next. Cover the dish with foil and place in the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes.image
remove the foil and continue baking another 10-15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly, the cheese is golden and the gnocchi is soft.image
Remove from the oven and top with the fresh basil and sage Serve with more parmesan and hot crusty bread. image
For more info contact me ; simon.bingham@simons-sauces.com 0031(0)642297107

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Braised pappardelle rabbit with chanterelles. Brasato di coniglio papadelle con finferli

17 Sep

Braised pappardelle rabbit with chanterelles. Brasato di coniglio papadelle con finferliimage
The autumn is here and the game season has started, so I had decided to make this delicious wild rabbit ragu, rich and creamy with a slight citrus hint. use homemade stock if you can and with the addition of wine it will keep the lean meat moist and tender

Ingredients
Serves 4

1 rabbit, jointed (ask your butcher to do this for you)
4 rashers smoked streaky bacon, chopped
1 small red onion, finely chopped
Handful sliced chanterelles
1 carrot, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 rosemary sprigs, leaves picked and chopped
1 tbsp tomato purée
150ml white or rosé wine
500ml chicken stock
500g pappardelle pasta
zest ½ orange
20g butter
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
100ml double cream
1 bay leaf
small bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped, plus a few leaves picked to serve
Salt and pepper to season
grated parmesan, to serve

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large pan. When hot, add the rabbit, brown on all sides, then remove from the pan and set aside.

2. Add the bacon, onion and carrot to the pan and cook for 10 mins until soft. Add the garlic, bay leaf, rosemary and tomato purée, stir for 1-2 mins, then pour in the wine and chicken stock.
Return the rabbit to the pan, season, cover with a lid and cook over a low heat for 1 hr until the rabbit is really tender.

4. Remove the rabbit from the pan and shred the meat using 2 forks. Be careful to remove all small bones. Meanwhile, increase the heat under the pan and boil the liquid for 5 mins until reduced by half. Add the shredded meat and reduce the heat to low. Cook the pasta in a large pan of salted water following pack instructions. Drain, reserving a little pasta water to thin the sauce if necessary.

5. Stir half the orange zest, mustard, cream and parsley into the rabbit sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the pan, toss everything well to coat and heat through for 1-2 mins, add salt and pepper to taste

6. Heat butter in a pan and fry the chanterelles until cooked season well.
7. Serve in bowls topped with the chanterelles, grated Parmesan, parsley leaves and the remaining orange zestimageimage

For more information don’t hesitate to contact me
Simon.bingham@simons-sauces.com
00 31(06)42297107imageimage

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Tortellini of asparagus with fonduta and black winter truffle /Tortellini di asparagi con fonduta e tartufo nero d’inverno

11 Mar

Tortellini of asparagus with fonduta and black winter truffle /Tortellini di asparagi con fonduta e tartufo nero d’invernoimage
With my love of Italian food and truffles I have to share this recipe with you, it comes from Jamie magazine that I’ve just adapted a little .
Fresh asparagus, pasta, parmesan and truffle this is just heaven!
If you can’t get fresh truffles truffle oil can be used, but use sparingly, just a few drops as it can over power and ruin this wonderful dish.image

Ingredients
Serves 4

For the rich pasta dough
•300g Tipo 00 flour, plus extra for dusting
•10 egg yolks

Filling
•A bunch of fresh asparagusimage
•100g crumbly ricotta
•A few sprigs of basil, leaves picked
.A pinch of ground nutmeg
•1 lemon

Sauce
•200ml crème fraiche
•2 egg yolks
•1 garlic clove, crushed
•100g parmesan, gratedimage
•Fresh black truffle, to serve

Preparation method
To make the rich pasta doughimage

1.Place the flour in a food processor and pulse it. Add the whole egg and egg yolk and keep whizzing until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs (it shouldn’t be dusty, nor should it be a big, gooey ball). This takes 2-3 minutes.

2.Tip out the dough and knead to form into a ball shape. Knead it briskly for 1 minute, it should be quite stiff and hard to knead. Wrap in cling film and leave to rest in a cool place for 1 hour before

3.Now cut the dough into 2 pieces. For each piece, flatten with a rolling pin to about 5mm/¼ in) thickness. Fold over the dough and pass it through the pasta machine at its widest setting, refolding and rolling 7 times (not changing the setting) until you have a rectangular shape 7.5x18cm/3×7 in. It is important to work the dough until it is nice and shiny, as this gives it the “al dente” texture. Repeat with the second piece of dough.

4.Now you are ready to roll out. Start with the pasta machine at its widest setting, pass the dough through the rollers. Do not fold but repeat this process, decreasing the roller setting down grade by grade with each pass. For most uses, I take the pasta down to the penultimate setting – especially for tortellini Cut into 7cm squares (this should make about 30). Set aside under a damp cloth or cling film until ready to use.

For the tortellini and sauce

1.Place a steamer basket on top of a pan of hot water and bring to the boil. Snap the woody stalks off the bottom of the asparagus spears and discard. Place the spears in the basket and cook for 5 minutes.

2.Remove and leave to cool, then chop roughly and place in the food processor with the ricotta and basil. Blitz until finely chopped and scoop into a mixing bowl. Season well with salt, pepper, ground nutmeg and a squeeze of lemon juice.

3. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag with a 1cm nozzle (or use a sandwich bag and snip 1cm off one corner). Pipe a teaspoon-sized blob onto each square of pasta, then brush the edge with a little water. Fold each parcel in half – corner to opposite corner – so you end up with a triangle of pasta with filling in the middle. Squeeze the air out, and press the sides to seal.

4.Place each pasta triangle in front of you, with the flat edge towards you and the tip of the triangle pointing away. Roll the bottom of the triangle up onto the top, almost like you are folding it in half, then bring the sides up and weave together. Sit the tortellini right way up and lightly press with your thumb to flatten out slightly. Repeat with all the tortellini, then set aside on a well-floured tray.

5.Whisk the crème fraîche, egg yolks, garlic clove and parmesan together in a small mixing bowl and sit it over a pan of simmering water. Make sure the base of the pan isn’t touching the water. Whisk the mixture and cook gently for 5–10 minutes until the egg yolks just cook and thicken the mixture. Take off the heat then grate in some of the truffle and fold into the mix.

6.Cook the tortellini for a couple of minutes in plenty of boiling salted water. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to 4 plates. Spoon over the fonduta, then top with a grating of parmesan and shavings of black truffle.image
For more info please mail or call: simon.bingham@simons-sauces.com 0031(0)642297107image

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Pollo alla Cacciatora servito con erbe e parmigiano polenta, hunters chicken served with a herb and parmesan polenta

18 Jan

Pollo alla Cacciatora servito con erbe e parmigiano polenta, hunters chicken served with a herb and parmesan polenta
image
Pollo alla Cacciatori (Hunter’s Chicken) is found across Northern Italy, with many variations. My version uses meaty bone-in chicken thighs, drumsticks and is full of onions, olives, garlic and tomatoes.
Ingredients
Serves 4

4 x free range chicken thighs and 4 x drumsticks skin on
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
8 bay leaves
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 large onion
6 cloves garlic, peeled (3crushed, 3sliced)
500 ml red wine
flour, for dustingimage
extra virgin olive oil
6 anchovy fillets
1 tbsp capers
I handful of chopped flat leaf parsley
1 handful green or black olives, stoned
1 x 400 g good-quality tinned plum tomatoes.

Method

1. Season the chicken pieces with salt and freshly ground black pepper and put them into a bowl. Add the bay leaves and rosemary sprigs and the crushed cloves of garlic and cover with the wine. Leave to marinate for at least an hour, but preferably overnight in the fridge.

2. Preheat your oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Drain the chicken, reserving the marinade, and pat dry with kitchen paper.
3. Dust the chicken pieces with flour and shake off any excess. Heat an ovenproof pan, add a splash of olive oil, fry the chicken pieces until browned lightly all over and put to one side.

4. Place the pan back on the heat and add the sliced garlic and onions. Fry gently until golden brown, then add the anchovies, olives, capers, tomatoes (broken up with a wooden spoon) and the chicken pieces with their reserved marinade. Bring to the boil, cover with a lid and bake in the preheated oven for 1½ hours.

When cooked taste and add the chopped parsley and little salt and pepper if necessary, and serve with a salad, pasta, some cannellini beans or as I do with creamy herb and parmesan polenta , garnish with chopped parsley

Polenta image
An Italian storecupboard staple, polenta has its roots in the peasant cuisine of northern Italy. Where once it was just a humble peasant food, polenta has emerged as a versatile, fine-dining-style. It’s made by grinding corn into flour, or meal. It has a rich yellow, yolk-like colour, and has a slightly sweet flavourPolenta can be cooked to be creamy and thick, or allowed to set and then sliced. Serve it instead of pasta, rice or potatoes. Use in place of breadcrumbs to coat chicken or fish when frying.

Ingredients

Serves 4
150ml milk
½ tsp salt
150g coarse cornmeal
50g butter
25g grated parmesan (optional)
1tsp chopped flat leaf parsleyimage

1. Put the milk in a large, heavy-based pan along with 600ml water and the salt, and bring to the boil. Meanwhile, measure out the cornmeal and put it near the hob.

2. When the pan comes to the boil, add the cornmeal, letting it run in thin streams through your fingers, whisking continuously. Stir for a minute or two until it thickens.

3. Turn the heat right down and stir well, roughly every 4-5 minutes to prevent it sticking, for about 35-45 minutes, until the polenta begins to come away from the sides of the pan. Stir in the butter, parsley and cheese, if using, then put on a hot serving dish.
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For more info don’t hesitate to mail or call
: simon.bingham@simons-sauces.com 0031 (0)642297107
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Spaghetti with fennel and anchovy

23 Dec

This is a dish I’ve loved for so long! Simple and delicious easy and self seasoning. It can be as a mid week meal or jazzed up for a dinner party.

Ingredients
375gr spagettini, cooked according to the instruction and drained, al dente please!
1 fennel bulb sliced if you can’t get don’t worry
I large sliced onion
3 cloves garlic, chopped.
6 anchovies
Enough cherry tomatoes or normal tomatoes chopped ( a hand full per person )
olive oil
A spoon of capers
A spoon of black olives
A hand full of chopped basil
A hand full of chopped parsley
A handful of breadcrumbs
Grated Parmesan or other hard cheese to serve.

Method:
1,Heat a wide shallow saute pan, add a bit of olive oil and pan fry the breadcrumbs until golden then add the parsley and set aside until u serve

2, In a pan heat olive oil add onion and fennel cook until soft.

3, Add the garlic, tomatoes, olives, capers and the anchovies to the pan, add more olive oil if necessary.cook until just hot and the the anchovies have slightly melted.

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The Artichoke and my “tagliatelle with artichoke and black summer truffles”

21 Jul

20140721-152414-55454912.jpg
Artichoke facts.
Technically, an artichoke is a flower. In full growth, an artichoke plant can spread nine feet in diameter and stand five feet tall, and one plant can produce over 20 artichokes a year.

Artichokes are a significant source of vitamin C, folic acid and magnesium. Virtually fat-free, the artichoke weighs in at 25 calories (per medium artichoke) and is low in sodium.

Artichokes are one of the oldest foods known to humans

The artichoke is a perennial thistle that originated in the Mediterranean.

The artichoke is technically a flower bud that has not yet bloomed.20140721-152616-55576405.jpg
The first mention of artichokes in literature was around 40-70 AD in The Greek Herbal of Dioscorides, a book on the medicinal uses of plants.

The Greeks and Romans considered them to be an aphrodisiac.

Until the 16th century, women were prohibited from eating them in many countries because they were still considered to have aphrodisiac properties.

King Henry II’s wife, Catherine de Medici, introduced the artichoke to France in the 16th century . She said, “If one of us had eaten artichokes, we would have been pointed out on the street. Today young women are more forward than pages at the court.”

Artichokes were introduced to England by the Dutch in the 1500s.

They were brought to the United States in the 19th century by French and Spanish immigrants.

The top artichoke producers today are Spain, France, and Italy.

California produces 100% of the United States artichoke crop, with Castroville, California calling itself the “Artichoke Center of the World.”

In 1947 Marilyn Monroe, then still going by her given name Norma Jean, was crowned Castroville’s first Artichoke Queen.

Artichoke preparation.

1. Fill a bowl with cold water, then squeeze in the juice of a lemon and add some lemon slices. Have a halved lemon to hand to rub over the cut edges of the artichoke as you prepare it. The lemon juice will prevent the artichoke from oxidising and turning brown.

2. Pull off the tough, dark green outer leaves of the artichoke. Continue until you’re left with the light tender leaves in the centre, then rub all over with the halved lemon.

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3. Slice off the top 2cm of the remaining artichoke leaves. Trim the stalk, leaving about 2.5cm, and rub the cut surface with the lemon.

4. Use a small knife to trim the remaining dark green skin from around the base of the artichoke and the top of the stalk, rubbing with lemon as you go. Trim to give a neat shape and flat bottom.

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5. Halve the artichoke lengthways to expose the fibrous choke in the centre. Rub with lemon juice, then use a teaspoon (or a grapefruit spoon if you have one) to scoop out the choke from each half. Pull out the tough, spiky red leaves from the centre and rub again with lemon. Put the prepared artichoke hearts in the bowl of lemony water until you are ready to cook them.

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Tagliatelle with artichoke and black summer truffles. Tagliatelle con carciofi e tartufo nero estivo

Ingredients
Serves 2

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2 globe artichokes prepared and sliced ( see my tip for perpetration )
2 tbsp olive oil
I medium onion or banana shallot
1 garlic clove, finely sliced
1 tbsp chopped parsley
2 tbsp double cream
salt and pepper
250g tagliatelle pasta fresh or dried it’s up to you
75g parmesan half grated and the rest as shavings ( a potato peeler is fantastic for this )
25g toasted pine-nuts
50g/1¾oz fresh black truffle

20140721-154024-56424845.jpg
Slice the prepared artichokes in half and cut into fine slices.
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and gently cook the artichoke onion and garlic for two minutes.

Add four tablespoons of water, cover with a lid and cook for four minutes, or until the artichokes are tender.

When the artichokes are cooked, add the parsley and cream and season with salt and pepper.

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Meanwhile In a pan of boiling salted water, cook the tagliatelle until al dente. Using a pair of tongs, transfer the tagliarini to the frying pan containing the artichokes.

Add a couple of tablespoons of pasta water and half of the grated parmesan to the frying pan. Toss well and grate a little truffle into the pasta.

Check the seasoning and add salt and pepper as required. Toss again so the truffle is absorbed into the sauce.
Serve in hot bowls with more truffle slices, toasted pine-nuts and the remaining parmesan shavings on top.

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For more info don’t hesitate to mail or call
: simon.bingham@simons-sauces.com 0031 (0)642297107

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