Our Antipasto Christmas Wreath is made of numerous cocktail sticks, offering tasty little morsels, which are then formed into a circle. All very festive looking, we hope ….
FLAMICHE AUX POIREAUX
KABOCHA-STUFFED ZUCCHINI FLOWERS
I have fallen deeply in love with kabocha, the sweet, nutty Japanese pumpkin that’s called Kuri Kabocha in Japan, which means ‘nutty flavour.’ For a pumpkin it’s a revelation. (Are you starting to worry about me?) Add garlic, pepper, chilli and parmesan and you have a delicious stuffing for the seasonal delight that is zucchini flowers ….
SWEET CHILLI PRAWNS WITH COCONUT RICE
As always, the very best produce needs to be used in our Sweet Chilli Prawns and Coconut Rice dish. (We know you know this but we like to press the point!) A good prawn is a thing of beauty. An old prawn is not! Similarly with the herbs and leaves. If they look good enough to stick in a vase then you have chosen the right bunches. No wilting greens here ….
SAKE PRAWNS WITH NOODLES
CLAMS, ARTICHOKES AND RED PEPPER AIOLI
I’ve sometimes found clams problematic to serve due to the pesky and persistent grains of sand that no one likes to crunch upon, but now that I can buy them already de-sanded they’re regularly on my shopping list. This recipe of Braised Clams and Artichokes with Red Pepper Aioli is Iberian in origin and delicious as a light meal. As good quality, preserved or marinated artichokes and red peppers are now also available in good delis, it’s a quick and easy dish to make ….
SILKEN TOFU AND CAULIFLOWER SOUP
Silken tofu is the star of today’s recipe, and what an intriguing ingredient it is, particularly given that it’s almost flavourless! Its appeal, apart from as an excellent vegetable-based form of protein, lies in its capacity to pick up and enhance the ingredients that accompany it and, of course, in its unusual texture ….
ASPARAGUS AND PEA RISOTTO WITH STUFFED ZUCCHINI FLOWERS
It might seem strange but we’ve only posted one other recipe for risotto on our blog. There are so many out there we’ve wondered if the world really needs another … until now. Our Asparagus and Pea Risotto with Stuffed Zucchini Flowers is a celebration of the spring vegetables that are abundant (and cheap) in our markets right now …
CEVAPCICI - SKINLESS SAUSAGES
There are many versions of these Cevapi or Cevapcici - Skinless Sausages made throughout the Balkan countries although, since my only connection to these culinary traditions comes from the long-gone waitressing days, there’s no particular claim to authenticity here. What this recipe does promise, though, is very tasty meat, lots of flavour and super-simple preparation ….
GRAPE AND ONION TART
PORK AND TURKEY TERRINE
SNAPPER CEVICHE ON CORN CHIPS
Ceviche is a traditional Latin American fish dish and is full of tongue tingling aromatics such as lime and coriander. We’ve tweaked the regular recipe to include ginger and preserved lemon, but our Snapper Ceviche on Corn Chips is only gently spiced, so as to not overpower the subtle flavour of the snapper ….
TOMATO AND BASIL STACKS WITH TOMATO ESSENCE
CARAMELISED ONION AND GRUYERE TART
If you don’t mind chopping the odd onion in a good cause, this Caramelised Onion and Gruyere Tart recipe is an exceptionally handy one to have in your repertoire, not just because it fits right in as an entrée, light lunch, late supper, or even picnic fare.
Better still, it’s a fabulously flexible affair.
For a start you can use your own favourite pastry or follow the recipe for our Gluten-free Cream Cheese Pastry.
For a vegetarian version, just leave out the speck or bacon.
No crème fraiche on hand? Fresh cream will do just as well.
Or you have cheddar in the fridge but no gruyere? Cheddar is good.
Go on, give it a go ….. no excuse now.
Rosie
CARAMELISED ONION AND GRUYERE TART
Serves 4-6
½ quantity Gluten-Free Cream Cheese Pastry
White rice flour for dusting
60 ml extra virgin olive oil
30 gm unsalted butter
100 speck or bacon, cubed
800 gm brown onions, peeled and finely sliced
Pinch dried chilli flakes, or to taste
1 tablespoon good quality balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons thyme leaves, chopped, plus extra sprigs for garnish
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon honey
60 gm Gruyere cheese, grated
2 large eggs
200 gm crème fraiche
Salt and pepper
Roll out pastry in between two sheets of baking paper, dusting with a little white rice flour, if necessary. Line a 28cm loose-bottomed flan tin with pastry. Allow to firm up in the fridge for half an hour before blind baking. See here for blind baking instructions.
In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil and butter over a medium heat. Add the onions and speck or bacon and cook over a low heat, stirring often, until very well cooked and a rich, golden colour.
Add the balsamic vinegar and thyme, turn up the heat and cook, stirring constantly until evaporated 1-2 minutes. Add the honey and stir well. Turn off the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Allow to cool.
Preheat oven to 200°C.
Spread the onion mixture evenly over the base of the blind baked tart case. Sprinkle half the grated Gruyere cheese over. Whisk the egg and crème fraiche until well combined and season with salt and pepper. Pour over the onion mixture. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
Place the filled tart in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the crème fraiche mixture is just set.
Garnish with sprigs of thyme and serve with a crisp green salad.
RICOTTA CAKES WITH PEAS AND MINT
Fresh ricotta is a fabulous ingredient to have on hand when you’re baking cakes – we have various old favourites, including our much-loved Ricotta Souffle Cake, on The Coeliac’s Revenge website. But ricotta can be just as good when you’re after something savoury - as these Ricotta Cakes with Peas and Mint will attest …
