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    Recipe Archive
    Friday
    Mar192010

    Carrot & Saffron Risotto

    The General Wine Company Petersfield

    Wine Match: Algareiro Albarino

    The moment you take a bite of this Spanish feeling, rich-tasting, aromatic risotto you'll forget how healthy and vegetarian it is. The secret to its incredibly appealing texture is the liquid-absorbing rice starch.  A must try!

    Serves 4

    Ingredients

    For the Risotto
    425g Premium Carnaroli Risotto rice
    1 1/2 pints of fresh, home-made vegetable stock (you will probably not need this much but it is always best to have too much, than too little)
    Butter
    4 large shallots
    Celery Hearts and leaves
    Vermouth
    White wine
    1 pint of young (preferably organic) fresh carrot juice
    Truffle Infused Olive Oil
    4 Large Garlic Cloves
    Saffron
    Large bunch of Parsley
    300 g Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
    Salt 
    Freshly ground pepper

    For the stock
    3 carrots
    1 small swede
    1 red onion
    1 white onion
    3 turnips
    1 broccoli crown
    Celery (The outside sticks)
    handful of spinach leaves
    sprinkle of fennel
    sprinkle of parsley
    lemon thyme
    Butternut squash cubes
    2 x bay leaves
    5 cloves garlic
    2 sprigs of saffron
    splash of vermouth
    1 tbl honey
    1x bouquet garnet
    1 handful of brussel sprouts
    2 Vegetarian herb and garlic stock cubes
    Pinch of salt and pepper to season
     
    Method
    1. Combine all the ingredients for the stock into a large saucepan and simmer for an hour. The first stage of the risotto will take approx. 30 mins before you need this stock, so allow enough time for the stock. I have tailored the stock ingredients above to bring out the best flavours for this particular risotto.
    2. Gently heat half the butter and a splash of the truffle infused olive oil in a medium nonstick saucepan over light heat. 
    3. Finely chop the shallots, garlic and celery hearts and leaves.  
    4. Add these to the saucepan, turn heat to medium and sauté until tender. You may need 10 mins or even more to soften the shallots and celery. Make sure they are soft before you move on to the next step!
    5. Add the rice, stirring to coat. Leave this to absorb the wonderful flavours going on in the sauce pan for about 4-5 minutes.
    6. Add a large splash of vermouth and a small amount of the Abarino. You should here the fantastic sizzling of the liquid when you add it! Cook this for approx 2 minutes, stirring occasionally or until it has evaporated by half.
    7. Warm the carrot juice to a moderate temperature (do not boil it) in a separate saucepan. 
    8. Add the warmed carrot juice to the risotto, a ladleful at a time, to the rice and cook, stirring. Wait until each addition of liquid has been absorbed before adding the next.
    9. Once the carrot juice has been absorbed, add a few strands of the saffron to the risotto.
    10. Heat the vegetable stock in a separate saucepan.
    11. Add a pinch of salt at this stage. This will help the rice achieve an al dente result. 
    12. Next, careful attention is needed. Add the vegetable stock, a ladleful at a time, to the rice and cook, stirring. Wait until each addition of liquid has been absorbed before adding the next. In this stage add only enough vegetable stock until the rice becomes al dente i.e not too soft but retaining a slight firmness. You may only need around 100-200 ml of stock to get the rice to this stage. These measurements can vary so judge the rice and amount of stock needed after every ladle or so, at this step. 
    13. Finely chop the parsley
    14. Once the rice reaches the al dente stage, stir in the remainder of the butter to give the risotto a glossy shine!
    15. Season with pepper. Taste to see if the risotto needs seasoning with anymore salt and season accordingly.
    16. Add the parsley and some parmesan cheese. This risotto needs a fair amount of parmesan cheese but again add the parmesan according to preference. Recommended amount is around 300g
    17. Serve with Algareiro Albarino and enjoy! 

    Tips: If you don’t want to splash out on saffron, this risotto is equally delicious without it. If you are making your own stock, try adding a handful of brussel sprouts to the vegetable stock for a subtle, secret ingredient that improves the finished risotto.

     

    Tuesday
    Mar092010

    Hazelnut & Peppercorn Crusted Tenderloin of Beef

    Compliments of The Girl & The Fig, Sonoma, California

    Wine Match: Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre

    Serves 6

    Ingredients: 

    Beef Tenderloin:
    2 ½ lbs beef tenderloin 
    3 Tbsp chopped hazelnuts (toasted)
    2 Tbsp black peppercorns
    2 Tbsp olive oil
    salt 

    Reduction Sauce:
    ¾ cup Ancient Vines Mourvedre
    ¾ cup beef stock
    salt & pepper

    To Prepare tenderloin:
    Preheat oven to 375’. 
    Mix the 2 Tbsp of the chopped hazelnuts & peppercorns together. Rub the whole tenderloin with mixture and press gently into the beef. Generously season the beef with salt. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Heat a skillet over high heat, add oil. Sear the beef on all sides, to enclose its juices. 
    To Prepare Reduction Sauce:
    Put the tenderloin in the oven for about fifteen minutes or until internal temperature reaches 150’ for medium. Cook less for rare meat. Transfer the beef to a platter to rest for about ten minutes. Keep warm.
    While the beef is resting, deglaze the pan with the red wine. Bring to a simmer and reduce the wine by 2/3. Add the beef stock and reduce the liquid again by 2/3. Season with salt & pepper.

    Plating:
    Slice tenderloin and ladle the red wine reduction sauce over the meat. Serve on a large platter with roasted potatoes and grilled vegetables. Garnish the plate with a sprinkling of the remaining hazelnuts. 

    Friday
    Mar192010

    Indian Coconut Fish Curry

    Wine Match: Peter Logan Gewurztraminer, Australia

    Ingredients

    1. 1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
    2. 1/4 cup minced onion
    3. 2 large garlic cloves, minced
    4. 2 medium serrano chiles, minced
    5. 1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
    6. 1/3 cup plus 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
    7. 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
    8. 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
    9. 8 curry leaves, preferably fresh (see Note)
    10. 2 teaspoons ground fennel
    11. 1 tablespoon ground coriander
    12. 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
    13. 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
    14. 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    15. 1/4 teaspoon ground fenugreek
    16. 1 tablespoon tamarind concentrate dissolved in 1 tablespoon of water
    17. 2/3 cup water
    18. 1/2 cup chopped canned tomatoes, drained
    19. Pinch of sugar
    20. 15 cherry tomatoes, halved
    21. 2 1/4 pounds skinless salmon fillet, cut into 1 1/4-inch chunks
    22. Salt
    23. Cilantro leaves, for garnish


    Directions
     
    1. In a mini food processor, combine the shredded coconut, onion, garlic, serrano and ginger with the 1/3 cup coconut milk and process to a paste.
    2. In a large, deep skillet, heat the vegetable oil. Add the yellow mustard seeds and curry leaves and cook over moderately high heat until the seeds pop, about 1 minute. Add the coconut paste and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 4 minutes. Add the ground fennel, coriander, cardamom, turmeric, cayenne and fenugreek and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining 3/4 cup of coconut milk and the tamarind paste, water, tomatoes and sugar. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any bits from the skillet. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
    3. Add the cherry tomatoes to the sauce and simmer over moderate heat until just starting to soften, about 1 minute. Season the salmon with salt, add it to the skillet and simmer over moderate heat, stirring gently a few times, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle the curry with the cilantro leaves and serve.

    Make Ahead
    The curry can be prepared through Step 2 and refrigerated for up to 2 days; reheat gently. 

    Serve With
    Steamed basmati rice

     

    Thursday
    Feb252010

    Individual Beef Wellington with buttered spinach

    By James Martin

    Wine Match: Domaine de Fontavin Chateauneuf du Pape

    Ingredients

    For the pancakes
    3 free-range eggs
    6 tbsp plain flour
    150ml/5fl oz milk
    unsalted butter, for frying
    For the Wellingtons
    olive oil, for frying
    4 x 300g/10½oz beef fillet steak
    freshly ground black pepper
    4 tbsp finely chopped fresh mixed herbs (chives, chervil and flatleaf parsley)
    25g/1oz butter
    4 Portobello mushrooms, finely chopped
    4 slices prosciutto
    few slices fresh truffle 
    1 packet ready-made puff pastry, rolled to 5mm thick
    1 free-range egg plus 1 free-range egg yolk, beaten together
    For the red wine sauce
    1 shallot, peeled, finely chopped
    110ml/4fl oz red wine
    200ml/7fl oz beef stock
    salt and freshly ground black pepper
    For the buttered spinach
    50g/2oz butter
    400g/14oz baby spinach leaves
    salt and freshly ground black pepper
    pinch freshly grated nutmeg
    For the baby carrots
    35g/1¼oz butter
    250g/9oz baby carrots
    175ml/6fl oz water

    Method

    1. For the pancakes, whisk together the eggs and flour in a bowl until smooth and well combined. Gradually whisk in the milk, until the batter has the consistency of single cream (you may not need all of the milk). 
    2. Heat a frying pan over a high heat and add the butter. When the butter is foaming, add a ladleful of the pancake batter and swirl the pan to evenly coat the base. Fry for 1-2 minutes, or until the underside is golden-brown. Carefully flip the pancake over and cook for a further minute, or until the pancake is cooked through and golden-brown all over. Slide the pancake out onto a plate lined with greaseproof paper, then cover with another layer of paper. Repeat with the remaining pancake batter to make 4 pancakes. 
    3. For the Wellingtons, heat a little olive oil in a frying pan until hot. Season the fillet steaks with freshly ground black black pepper, then sear in the hot frying pan for 2-3 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden-brown all over.
    4. Sprinkle the chopped herbs on a plate and roll each fillet in the herbs to coat. Set aside. 
    5. Heat the butter in the frying pan until foaming, then add the mushrooms and fry for 3-4 minutes, or until the mushrooms are golden-brown. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then set aside to cool. 
    6. Cut the puff pastry into 4 equal squares and lay a pancake on each piece, followed by a slice of prosciutto. Spread the cooled mushrooms over the prosciutto, then lay over a few pieces of freshly sliced truffle. Place the fillet steak in the centre, then fold the pastry over to cover. Fold up the edges to completely seal the steak in the pastry. Turn the Wellingtons over so that the seam is on the bottom and place onto a baking sheet. 
    7. Brush the Wellingtons with half of the beaten egg, then chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
    8. Remove the Wellingtons from the fridge and brush once more with the egg wash. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, or until the pastry is golden-brown and crisp. (Cook for a further 20-25 minutes if you prefer the beef to be well done, covering the pastry with aluminium foil if it browns too quickly.) Remove from the oven and set aside to rest.
    9. For the red wine sauce, heat a pan until hot and add the butter. When the butter is foaming, add the shallots and fry for 1-2 minutes, or until softened
    10. Add the red wine to the pan and bring to the boil. Cook until the wine has reduced in volume by half. Add the beef stock, bring back to the boil and cook until the liquid has reduced in volume by half again. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 
    11. For the buttered spinach, heat a frying pan until hot and add the butter. When the butter is foaming, add the spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the spinach has wilted. Season with salt, freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg. 
    12. For the baby carrots, heat another pan and add the butter, the baby carrots and the water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated and the carrots are tender. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 
    13. To serve, carve each Wellington into thick slices. Spoon the buttered spinach onto serving plates and top with the Wellington slices. Spoon the carrots alongside and drizzle the sauce around the plate.

    Wednesday
    Feb242010

    Pork chop cacciatore with rosemary potatoes

    By Gino D'Acampo

    Wine Match - Poppiano Il Cortile Chianti 


    Ingredients

    4 celery sticks, washed and cut in chunks
    3 large carrots, peeled and cut in chunks
    1 large white onion, chopped
    10 tbsp Italian olive oil
    4 bay leaves
    4 fresh rosemary sticks
    4 large pork chops
    1 glass of red wine
    4 cans Italian plum tomato (with the juice)
    2 large courgettes, cut in chunks
    4 tbsp double cream
    salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
    4 large potatoes, par-boiled

    Method


    1. Preheat the oven to 160C/320F/Gas 2.
    2. In a large casserole dish, fry the celery, carrots and onion in six tablespoons of olive oil for about one minute. 
    3. Add in the bay leaves, two sticks of rosemary and the pork chops and continue to fry for a further minute. 
    4. Now add the wine and cook for two minutes, allowing the alcohol in the wine to evaporate. 
    5. Add the tinned tomatoes and courgettes along with the cream. 
    6. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. 
    7. Place a lid on top and bake in the oven for 90 minutes.
    8. In the meantime, cut the potatoes into rounds 1cm/½in thick and shallow fry in the remaining olive oil with the remaining two rosemary sticks. 
    9. Once the potatoes are crisp, drain the excess oil and serve with the pork casserole.