Category: Cheese

Pumpkin, Cheese and Rosemary Scones

Recipe courtesy of Psychologies Magazine and taken from Soup Broth Bread by Rachel Allen of Ballymaloe Cookery School.

Makes : 9

Deliciously savoury and gorgeously light in texture, these scones are great served with a hearty bowl of soup. You can use any squash instead of pumpkin and, if you fancy, add lardons of crispy bacon or diced chorizo to the mix.

Ingredients :

175g peeled and deseeded pumpkin (weight when peeled and deseeded)
1 tbsp olive oil
200g plain flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper
2 tsp finely chopped rosemary
1/2 tsp salt
50g finely grated cheese (Cheddar or a hard cheese such as Parmesan)
1 egg
100ml milk, plus 1 tbsp extra for brushing over the top

Method :

  1. Preheat the oven to 200oC, 180oC fan, gas mark 6. Cut the pumpkin into 1-2 cm chunks and place on a roasting tray. Drizzle with the olive oil and roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, until tender. tip the pumpkin into a bowl (leaving the oven on) and mash very well with a fork, or blend in a food processor, then allow to cool. If using canned pumpkin puree, you’ll need 125g.
  2. Sift the flour, baking powder and cayenne pepper into a bowl and add the rosemary, salt and all but 2 tbsp of the grated cheese, reserving the remaining cheese for scattering over the scones before they go into the oven.
  3. Whisk the egg and mix with the pumpkin puree and milk. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients add the wet ingredients then, with your hand in a claw shape, mix the two, making sure you don’t knead but simply mix until it comes together.
  4. Tip the mixture out on to a floured surface the tidy the sides, working it into a rough square and patting the dough out to 2 cm thick. Brush a little milk over the top and scatter with the remaining cheese, then cut the dough into 3 x 3 portions to make 9 scones.
  5. Place the scones on a baking tray and bake in a preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. They should sound hollow when tapped on the base. Cool on a wire rack.

Aubergine Parmigiana

Recipe courtesy of Psychologies Magazine (Spring 2021) and taken from The Shortcut Cook by Rosie Reynolds.

This easy recipe uses a combination of oil and butter, along with a Parmesan and breadcrumb topping for a quick and delicious meal. Serve with a green salad.

Serves : 4

Ingredients :

4 medium aubergines
Olive oil, for brushing and cooking
Large knob of butter, softened
2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
2 garlic cloves, grated
1 tsp dried oregano
2 x 125g balls mozzarella, cubed
30g Parmesan, finely grated
Large handful fresh breadcrumbs
Handful basil leaves
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • Preheat the oven to 200 C / 180 C fan / gas mark 6. Make deep slits, 1 cm apart, across the aubergines. Don’t cut all the way through. Use a pastry brush to coat the inside of the cuts with oil. Dot the butter over each of the aubergines and season inside and out.
  • Mix together the tomatoes, garlic, oregano and some seasoning – this can be done in the tomato tins. Pour the mixture into a 20 x 30 cm baking dish and sit the aubergines on top. Cover with foil and cook in the oven for 50 minutes, or until the aubergines start to get soft.
  • Remove the dish from the oven and remove the foil. Use the back of a spoon to open up the aubergine cuts and stuff with cubes of mozzarella and some of the tomato sauce.
  • Sprinkle over the Parmesan and breadcrumbs, then return the dish to the oven and cook, uncovered, for a final 10 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are golden. Leave to stand for 5 minutes, then scatter with basil leaves before serving.

Make ahead : Prepare the whole dish in advance and reheat in a hot oven until piping hot.

The shortcut : This meal has all the textural expectations of parmigiana, with none of the factory line-style crumbing – no salting, no dipping in egg, no frying in oil. This is one-pan, no-hassle cooking.

Mozzarella di Bufala con Radicchio Grigliato

Recipe courtesy of Hello Magazine – many years ago !

Buffalo Mozzarella with grilled radicchio and fresh herb dressing)

Some true Italian flavours – the creamy mozzarella contrasts beautifully with the bitter radicchio leaves, which have been lightly grilled.  Caffe Calesi’s chef, Flavio Tosolini, says the best mozzarella in the world comes from Naples, which just happens to be his home town.

Mozzarella con radicchioServes : 4

Ingredients :
8 slices of mozzarella di bufala cheese
6 tblsp Italian extra virgin olive oil
1 tblsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp chopped fresh oregano
2 tsp chopped fresh board leaf parsley
1 head of radicchio, cut into 8 wedges
Parsley sprigs, to garnish

 

 

Step One : Divide the mozzarella slices between four serving plates.  Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, oregano and parsley and drizzle over the cheese.

Step Two : Grill the radicchio wedges for 1 minute on each side and arrange on the plates alongside the mozzarella.  Garnish with parsley sprigs and serve at once.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Cheese and Broccoli

Serves : 4 – Prep time : 10 mins – Cook time : 18 minutes

Ingredients :
1 tbsp olive oil; 8oz (225g) tricolore penne pasta

For the sauce :
8oz (225g) broccoli florets; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 ½ oz (40g) whole blanched almonds; 1 onion, peeled and chopped; ¼ pt (150ml) dry white wine; 4 tbsp double cream; 6oz (175g) Dolcelatte cheese

Method:

  1. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil. Add oil and cook pasta for 10 mins, or until al dente.
  2. Meanwhile, make the sauce: Cook broccoli for 4 mins. Drain and refresh under cold running water. Reserve.
  3. Heat oil and add almonds. Cook for 2 mins, then remove and reserve.
  4. Add onion to pan and sauté for 4 mins. Stir in wine and cream, and bring to the boil. Boil until reduced by half.
  5. Break cheese into pan, then add broccoli and almonds. Cook for a further 2 mins. Drain pasta an spoon sauce over. Serve.

Baked Ricotta on Toast

Recipe courtesy of Easy Living Magazine

Baked ricotta on toastServes: 4  –  Prep time: 12 mins   –   Cook time: 10 mins
Cals per serving : 336   –   Fat: 20g

Ingredients:  175g (6oz) ricotta; 1 egg, beaten; 1 egg yolk; 4 tbsp cream; 50g (1 ¾ oz) Parmesan, freshly grated; 4 slices rustic white bread or ciabatta, split; 2 tbsp baby basil leaves; ready-prepared grilled peppers or sun-blush tomatoes, to serve.  Rocket leaves, to serve.

  1. Heat the oven to 190oC (gas mark 5). Combine the ricotta, egg, yolk, cream and Parmesan in a small bowl. Season with a little salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  2. Spread this mixture on the slices of bread.
  3. Transfer to a baking tray and bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the cheese has puffed and is golden.
  4. Scatter with the basil and serve alongside the grilled peppers or tomatoes. Serve with rocket leaves.

Tip: The topping mixture can be made and chilled for up to 1 hour before cooking if desired.

Baked Rice with Fontina and Pancetta

This recipe courtesy of Easy Living Magazine

baked rice with fontina and pancettaComfort Food – Italian Style

Serves : 4  –  Prep time : 20 mins  –  Cook time : 25 mins  –
Cals per serving : 901  – Fat : 45.8g

Ingredients:  400g (13oz) Arborio rice; 2 tsp finely grated lemon zest; 1 tblsp roughly chopped basil; 100ml (3 ½ fl oz) double cream; 100ml (3 ½ fl oz) boiling vegetable stock; 140g (4 ½ oz) pancetta, cubed; 250g (8oz) fontina cheese, thinly sliced; 125g (4oz) grated Parmesan; Butter; 1 tblsp chopped flat leaf parsley

  1. Heat the oven to 180oC (gas mark 4).
  2. Cook the rice in boiling salted water until just al dente. Drain well.  Stir the lemon zest, basil, cream and stock through the rice. Meanwhile, sauté the pancetta in a large frying pan over a medium heat until starting to crisp.
  3. Spread half the rice in a greased 1.5l (48 fl oz) baking dish.  Top with half the pancetta, half the fontina, half the Parmesan and a knob or two of butter.  Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Repeat and make another layer, finishing with the Parmesan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden.  Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Tip: Be careful not to overcook the rice.  Give it just 11 minutes, as it cooks for a further 25 minutes in the oven.

Greek Salad Served on Skewers

Ideal accompaniment to a whole barbecued fish.

Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:
8 cherry tomatoes; 6 whole black olives, stoned; 225g / 8oz feta cheese, cubed; 1-2 tbsp chopped, fresh oregano; a little extra virgin olive oil
To serve: shredded salad leaves and crusty French bread

Method:

  • Divide the tomatoes, olives and feta cheese between 8 small wooden skewers. If using metal skewers, you may need to heat them first or the cheese may crumble.
  • Place on a nest of salad leaves, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with chopped oregano. Serve with crusty French bread.
  • If liked, add chunks of cucumber and wedges of red onion to the skewers, too.

Bacon, Cheese and Onion Slice

Serves: 4

Ingredients: 1 tblsp cooking oil; 2 onions, finely chopped; 8oz (225g) puff pastry; English or Dijon mustard; 4oz (100g) smoked bacon, chopped; 4oz (100g) cheddar cheese, grated; sesame seeds, to garnish

  • This slice makes great canapés, finger snacks or an accompaniment to soup.
  • Most people buy ready-made puff pastry but if you want to make your own, here’s how. Melt 2oz (50g) butter, cool. Leave 5oz (150g) butter to soften. Sift 7oz (200g) plain flour and pinch of salt into a bowl. Make well in centre, pour in about 4 fl oz (120ml) cold water, a few drops lemon juice and the melt butter. Knead lightly, then leave to rest for 20 mins. On a floured board, roll pastry from 4 sides, leaving a lump in centre – dough should look like a crossroads. Sit remaining butter on the centre lump of the dough and fold over each pastry flap. Pat into a rectangle measuring about 6 x 12in (15 x 30cm), refrigerate for 10-15 mins. Roll pastry lengthways until double in length. Fold both ends into centre, then fold once more. This is called a double turn. Complete process a further 3 times. Always roll with folded edge on left and leave to rest for 20-30 mins in fridge before each turn. Leave pastry in fridge for a further 30 mins before using. This makes roughly 1 lb (450g) of pastry but you can freeze the excess.
  • In a large frying pan, heat oil and fry onions for a few minutes until softened. Make sure onions do not brown. Allow to cool.
  • Roll out puff pastry very thinly into a 12in (30cm) square. Cut square in half and on one half only, spread a little mustard, according to your taste. Then spread with the onions, bacon and cheese and cover with the remaining pastry half. Roll up pastry parcel like a Swiss roll, then leave to rest in fridge for 1-2 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 220oC/425oF/Gas Mark 7. Remove roll from fridge, cut into ¾ in (18mm) slices, place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and bake for 12-15 mins until golden.

Asparagus, Red Pepper and Halloumi Salad

Serves: 4; Takes: 25 mins plus marinating; Calories/Fat: 304 cals /22g; Sodium/Added sugar: 1.2g/0.4g

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil; 1 garlic clove, crushed; 2 sprigs of fresh thyme; 3 red peppers, deseeded and quartered; 400g (14oz) asparagus, trimmed; 1 x 250g Halloumi cheese, thickly sliced; 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce; Salt

Method:

  • Mix the oil, garlic and thyme and marinade the vegetables and cheese, reserving a little, for at least 15 mins or in the fridge overnight.
  • Barbecue the peppers first (they can take up to 10 mins), turning occasionally. When the peppers are almost ready, add the asparagus for one min and then the Halloumi for 30 seconds on each side.
  • Skin the peppers and mix with the cheese and asparagus. Season with salt. Stir the chilli sauce into the remaining marinade and drizzle over the warm salad.

Mozzarella and Tomato Bruschetta

Serves: 6; Prep: 10 mins; Cost: £5.35; Cals per portion: 250

Ingredients: 3 beef tomatoes, sliced; 3 x 100g pkts mozzarella di bufala; extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle over ingredients; salt and freshly ground black pepper; 18 fresh basil leaves; 6 slices olive Ciabatta bread; 2 cloves of garlic, peeled

  • Arrange the tomatoes and sliced mozzarella on a platter then drizzle with olive oil. Season and scatter over the basil leaves and olives. Set aside in a cool place until ready to serve.
  • Just before you are ready to eat, toast the slices of Ciabatta until golden, then rub the surface of each with the garlic. Drizzle a little olive oil over the bread and serve warm with the salad.

Menu idea: Chicken with sage and prosciutto; Garlic and herb roast potatoes; Peppers with fennel; Mascarpone and chocolate cassata