Posts Tagged With: meat-free Mondays

Carrot and potato latkes

Posted on January 4, 2014 by melhm

Potato pancakes, also called latkes, are a traditional Chanukkah treat. For sweetness, colour and general good stuff, carrots have been added.

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: potatoes, carrots, lemon, apples, egg, chives
Recipe source: adapted from a recipe on marthastewart.com
Makes: about 12

Equipment:

  • Oven tray with rack
  • Chopping boards and knives
  • Saucepans – medium
  • Food mill or mouli with medium disk
  • Graters, citrus juicer
  • Colander
  • Bowls – large
  • Measures: ½ cup, tablespoon
  • Non-stick heavy frying pan
  • Spatula or egg slice
  • Sauce bowls
  • Scissors
  • Serving plates
 Ingredients:

  • 400g red apples
  • A lemon
  • 500g potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 medium carrots
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup Rice Bran oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 100g sour cream
  • Small handful chives

What to do:

  • Preheat the oven to 160C with the baking tray & rack inside.
  • To make the apple sauce: Juice the lemon & quarter & core the apples & slice into 1cm thick chunks. In the medium saucepan, combine apples & half the lemon juice. Cook over low heat with the lid on, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft & beginning to burst, for about 15 minutes. Pass through the food mill & divide among half the sauce bowls.
  • To make the latkes: Peel potatoes and coarsely grate into a bowl. Add the remaining lemon juice and mix to incorporate, combining each time you add another lot of potato.
  • Meanwhile peel and coarsely grate the carrots, and then in the medium bowl, lightly beat the egg and add in the carrots. Stir in the flour with a little salt and pepper and mix well.
  • Scrape out the potatoes into the colander set over a large bowl and squeeze to press out all the starchy juices. Combine with the carrot mixture and mix well.
  • In the large non-stick frying pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Scoop up 2 tablespoons of the potato mixture in to your hands and shape into tightly compacted disks.
  • Carefully lower into the hot oil one at a time – do not crowd the pan, you may have to do this in several batches! – and cook until browned on one side and turning crispy at the edges, about 3 minutes. Turn the latkes over with egg slice and brown the other side for about 3 minutes again.
  • Carefully transfer into the oven tray to keep warm and drain and repeat with remaining latke mixture until all are cooked. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Divide between serving plates & spoon the sour cream into the remaining sauce bowls with a snip of chives on top. Add them to the plates with the apple sauce & serve the latkes hot.
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Braised greens with harissa, preserved lemon and fried egg

Posted on November 24, 2013 by melhm

Comfort food indeed! Spicy, yolky and slippery… everything I love in a dish. And don’t even talk about the vitamins!!

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: kale, silverbeet, spinach, garlic, eggs, lemons, capsicum
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 4 at home or 20 tastes

Equipment:

  • Chopping board and knife
  • Measures – cup, tablespoon
  • Thick-bottomed frying pan (or casserole dish) with lid
  • Wooden spoon, tongs
  • Egg slice
  • Serving bowls
 Ingredients:

  • 1 big bunch of kale, silverbeet & spinach (about 500g in total)
  • Olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon harissa
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 preserved lemon
  • Flaked salt and pepper
  • 4 organic free-range eggs

What to do:

  • Wash all the leaves thoroughly and shake dry, then trim the kale of its stalks and your other greens of any tough or dry stems. Chop the greens into thick ribbons.
  • Peel the garlic and thinly slice.
  • With tongs, remove a preserved lemon from the jar and rinse under running water to remove the salt. Cut into quarters and carefully slice out the pith and seeds and discard. Finely slice the rind into slithers and reserve.
  • In the frying pan or casserole, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. When it shimmers, add the greens. Use tongs to toss and coat in the oil.
  • After about 4 minutes, the greens should start to wilt, brown in spots, and cook down. Add the garlic and continue to sauté, tossing or stirring occasionally, another 2 minutes. Do not allow the garlic to brown.
  • Add the harissa and toss to distribute. Then add the cup of water. Bring the pan to a boil, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom. Cover, and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the thickest parts of the veggie stems are very tender and easily pierced with a knife.
  • In the final several minutes of cooking, add the slices of preserved lemon, tossing to incorporate them in the cooking liquid. You may need to add a little more water as you go.
  • Taste for salt and pepper and season, if necessary. Remove the greens from the heat and divide among your bowls.
  • Heat a little more oil in the pan and fry your eggs one or two at a time, placing one on top of each bowl of greens. Serve immediately!

Notes: What are preserved lemons and when did we make them? What is harissa? What other greens could you use?

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Beetroot soup with creme fraiche and chives

Posted on November 24, 2013 by melhm

This recipe is our version of Borscht – it’s a favourite with the children as it’s so beautifully vibrant in colour and sweet as well as earthy – and one also might be seeing its effects for a good while afterwards…!

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: beetroot, onion, garlic, thyme, chives
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 4 at home or 20 tastes

Equipment:

  • Chopping board and knife
  • Garlic press
  • Kitchen paper
  • Graters
  • Measures – jug, tablespoon
  • Stockpot
  • Wooden spoon
  • Stick blender
  • Teaspoons
  • Serving bowls
 Ingredients:

  • 1 medium onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 4 sprigs thyme
  • Small bunch chives
  • 3 large beetroot
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 litre boiling water with 1 tablespoon bouillon (or 1 litre stock)
  • 1 tin chopped tomatoes
  • Flaked salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 small tub crème fraiche or sour cream

What to do:

  • Fill the kettle and set it to boil, then measure a litre of boiling water into the jug and stir in a tablespoon of bouillon. Reserve.
  • Peel and chop the onion. Peel and squeeze the garlic through the press.
  • Wash and peel the beetroot and carefully grate.
  • Warm olive oil in the stockpot over medium heat. Stir in the onions and garlic and cook until soft but not browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the grated beetroot and the thyme and cook for 1 minute.
  • Stir in the tomatoes and the stock and season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil and then cover and simmer until the beetroot is tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
  • Meanwhile wash the chives and lay out on a piece of kitchen paper to dry, then snip or chop finely. Wash and dry the thyme and pick the leaves, then chop finely.
  • Whizz the soup with the stick blender, stirring to get all the solids mixed in.
  • Check the seasoning, then ladle into bowls and garnish with a little dab of the crème fraiche or sour cream and sprinkle of chives.

Notes: What other dishes have their original names in a different language?

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Bruschetta with smashed broad beans and garlic

Posted on November 24, 2013 by melhm

I love the way that the group congregates around the bowl when shelling broad beans…  I always feel like we’re old Italian nonnas, standing there gossiping… so I will often start the conversation with the kids talking about the signorina at number 38 and whether she will marry your son Giuseppe, and if that will please Frederico at number 45 or whether Frederico himself likes the signora at number 70, and why Maria at number 20 has bought a few extra goats and a new  hair scarf…

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: broad beans, rocket, garlic, thyme, marjoram
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 8 at home or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Saucepan & lid
  • Bowls – big, med, small
  • Knives – bread, small
  • Chopping board
  • Grill trays
  • Colander, citrus juicer
  • Mortar & pestle
  • Butter knife
  • Serving plates
 Ingredients:

  • A large handful of broad beans
  • Great sourdough bread
  • 50g pecorino
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • A lemon
  • Cooking salt
  • Flaked salt & black pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • A small handful herbs

What to do:

  • Fill the saucepan with water & set to boil with the lid on. Heat the grill.
  • Pod the broad beans into the medium bowl and put the outer shells into the compost.
  • Cut the lemon in half and juice one half only.
  • Slice the bread loaf down the middle, and then into slices. Place on grill trays, ready for grilling.
  • Wash and dry the herbs and pick from stems, finely chop. Grate the pecorino into the small bowl. Fill the big bowl with cold water.
  • When the water is boiling, drop all the broad beans in with a teaspoon of cooking salt and put the lid back on to bring back to the boil quickly. Boil for 3 minutes with lid off.
  • Then drain the broad beans into the colander & then immediately refresh in the bowl of cold water. Drain again & wipe the big bowl dry.
  • Double-pod the broad beans into the big bowl, discarding the outer skin into the compost.
  • Pound the broad beans with the pestle in the mortar with the olive oil & a pinch of salt (you may have to do this in 2 batches) until smooth – a few beanie lumps are fine!
  • Stir in the lemon juice bit by bit, tasting – and the grated pecorino and herbs with a grind of pepper into the broad bean mixture. Taste again for seasoning.
  • Slide the bread into the oven to grill & lightly toast, turning when needed & watching to make sure it doesn’t burn.
  • When ready bring toast out from the grill. Cut the end off the garlic cloves and rub each cut-side down on the toast a few times.
  • Spread a little broad bean paste onto each slice of toast & arrange onto serving plates with a good grind of pepper.

Notes: What does ‘double-pod’ mean? Why do we do this to the broad beans? What other name are broad beans known by?

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Kitchen News – 24th October 2013

Posted on October 29, 2013 by melhm

ourkitchengarden.net

Week 3 already and it’s hot, humid and very smoky… scary to think what the rest of these warm seasons’ weather holds in store? While the mountains burn, the garden here bursts with produce… For a while there I thought that this term would be quieter than the last’s multitude of activities and extravaganzas but I’ve been deluding myself!

We have been welcoming the Year 2 students into the Kitchen Garden program these last weeks, so they’ve been boning up on all the safety issues related to working in a busy kitchen, and also demonstrating knife skills (and Bear Paw: RAAAARRRR!) with flair and precision. Next lesson will include the formal ceremony of Presentation of the Knife Licences…! The children also got a taste of kitchen lessons to come and managed to whip up some snacky antipasto snacks too while they were at it, (clever little cooks that they are already!) so we feasted on Bruschetta with smashed broad beans and garlic; Danish feta with lemon and thyme; Roasted capsicum and garlic cloves with herbs; A simple salad with edible flowers; and rolled out some crispy Rosemary and thyme grissini. Tutto bene!

The biggest news is that we have a new Garden Specialist! Allison has jumped into the role with gusto, and has already started lessons with the children. (Thanks to Emma for all your support this week!) Please drop in to the garden and say hi if you have a moment – and PLEASE consider volunteering for one of our 10 weekly lessons if you have an hour or so to spare! Or even put your hand up for a bit of Stink Bug extermination?!

On the menu this week: the gorgeous-hued Beetroot linguine with landcress, lemon and aromatic herbs; a super-delicious Green lentil and spinach soup; the most fabulous crunchy and spicy Eurasian slaw; and also hand-rolled out some Rosemary and thyme grissini to dip into Yotam’s hummus. Veg-heavy and wonderful – and very little scraps left for the chooks!

For loads of great photos from the week and recipes updated fortnightly, check back here!

Cheers all x

ourkitchengarden.net

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Green lentil and spinach soup

Posted on October 29, 2013 by melhm

Hugh says, “This makes a substantial soup – add some good bread and it makes a great lunch.” We say, “This is such a tasty soup but for goodness sake please don’t tell the kids how healthy it is!”

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: shallots, carrots, thyme, garlic, tomatoes, parsley, spinach
Recipe source: adapted from a recipe by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in Veg Every Day
Serves: 6 at home or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Kettle
  • Measures: jug, tablespoon, teaspoon
  • Scales
  • Chopping board & knife
  • Peeler
  • Bowls – large, med, small
  • A salad spinner
  • Garlic press
  • Mezzaluna
  • Stockpot
  • Serving bowls
 Ingredients:

  • 1.5 litres vegetable stock (or 1½ tablespoons bouillon and 1½ litres boiling water)
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 shallots (or 1 onion)
  • 1 carrot
  • A few sprigs fresh thyme
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 3 tomatoes
  • 150g Puy or green lentils
  • 1 small bunch parsley
  • 150g spinach
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

What to do:

  • Fill the kettle and turn on. When boiled carefully pour into the jug and stir in the bouillon.
  • Peel the shallots or onion and finely dice.
  • Wash and peel the carrot, then finely dice.
  • Wash the thyme and spin it dry. Pick the leaves and reserve in a small bowl.
  • Peel the 3 garlic cloves and squeeze through the press.
  • Wash the tomatoes and dice.
  • Weigh the lentils then pour into the sieve and then rinse under running water.
  • Wash the parsley, spin dry and remove the tough stalks. Finely chop with the mezzaluna.
  • Wash the spinach in several changes of water, shake it dry over the sink, then slice the leaves into ribbons and the stalks into small pieces.
  • In the stockpot, warm 2 tablespoons of the oil over a medium-low heat. Add the shallots, carrot and thyme, and sauté gently for five minutes.
  • Add the garlic and tomatoes, and sauté for a minute more.
  • Tip in the lentils, stir, then add the stock and a little salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes until the lentils are tender.
  • Add the parsley and spinach, simmer for another five minutes, season to taste and ladle into bowls. Trickle over a drop of oil and serve!

Notes: How many types of lentil are there? Do you need to soak lentils overnight? What’s a mezzaluna?

ourkitchengarden.net

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Beetroot linguine with land cress, lemon and garden herbs

Posted on October 8, 2013 by melhm

Our Kitchen Garden students love making pasta – and this recipe sings of spring! It includes the dough mixture as well as instructions on how to use a pasta machine.

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: eggs, beetroot, land cress, lemon, marjoram, parsley, coriander
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 8 or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Salad spinner
  • Pasta machine
  • Scales, garlic press
  • Scissors
  • Plastic wrap
  • Chopping board & knife
  • Pastry brush, grater
  • Large stock pot
  • Tongs, large & small bowls
  • Serving bowls
 Ingredients:

  • 500g typo ‘00’ plain flour
  • 4 free-range eggs
  • 70g pureed beetroot
  • A large handful of land cress (or watercress)
  • A handful of freshly picked herbs
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • A lemon
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Flaked salt & black pepper
  • 30g parmesan

What to do:

To make the pasta:

  • Place the large bowl on the scales, reset to zero then measure the flour in to it. Add the beetroot.
  • Crack the eggs carefully into the small bowl, discarding any shell, then add them to the flour. Mix thoroughly with the wooden spoon, then tip the dough onto a clean, dry workbench.
  • Knead the dough for a few minutes, then wrap it in plastic film and let it rest for 1 hour at room temperature.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

  • Fill the large stockpot and the saucepan with water and set to boil on high with the lids on.
  • Fix the pasta machine to a suitable bench or table – if the surface is not thick enough you may need to place a thick book under the machine. Screw the clamp very tightly.
  • Clear a large space on the workbench alongside the pasta machine. All surfaces must be clean and dry. Press or roll the dough into a rectangle about 8 cm wide.
  • Set the rollers on the pasta machine to the widest setting and pass the dough through. The dough will probably look quite ragged at this stage. Fold it in 3, turn it 90 degrees and roll it through again. Go to the next-thickest setting and pass the dough through 3-4 times.
  • Continue in this manner (changing the settings and passing the dough through) until the dough has passed through the second thinnest setting. Don’t use the very thinnest setting, as the dough gets too fine and is hard to manage. If the dough gets too long to handle comfortably, cut it into 2-3 pieces using the large knife, and roll each piece separately.
  • Lay the pasta strips on a lightly floured surface & dust with a little more flour. Attach the pasta cutter to the machine and pass through the largest rollers, draping it in your hands to catch.
  • Carefully separate each strip and hang over a pole to dry.
  • Clean the pasta machine by brushing it with a dry, wide pastry brush& putting back in its box.  

To finish the dish:

  • Check that the stockpot has been filled with water and is set on high to boil.
  • Wash the land cress in several changes of water and spin dry. Using the scissors, snip the leaves into thin strips and reserve in a big bowl.
  • Wash and dry the lemon and zest it. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze its juice into the big bowl too.
  • Peel the garlic cloves and squeeze them through the garlic press into the bowl too.
  • Wash and spin dry the herbs and strip their leaves, then add them into the rocket bowl.
  • Measure 1/3 cup of olive oil into the bowl and sprinkle on a few pinches of flaked salt and toss to incorporate.
  • Measure the parmesan and grate what you need and keep separate.
  • When the stockpot has started a fast boil, gather your drying pasta on a large baking tray. Add a tablespoon of cooking salt and then the pasta to the pot, stir once and quickly put the lid back on.
  • As soon as the pot begins to boil again, take the lid off. The pasta should only take 1 or 2 minutes to cook from boiling. Taste to check – it’s important that the pasta remains al dente and is not overcooked!
  • Using tongs, carefully pull the pasta (and some of its cooking liquid) out and into the big lemony bowl, sprinkle the parmesan on and toss thoroughly to incorporate.
  • Divide into serving bowls, sprinkle the remaining parmesan on and eat immediately!

Notes: Never wash the pasta machine – it will rust! Just brush down with a strong brush to remove the leftover dough.

ourkitchengarden.net

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Salad of baby beets, broad beans and goats cheese

Posted on October 8, 2013 by melhm

We love the arrival of broad beans to signify the warm weather! This salad is a firm favourite of ours, with its contrasting flavours and textures.

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: broad beans, beetroot, beetroot leaves, lettuce leaves, marjoram, garlic
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 6 at home or 24 tastes 

Equipment:

  • Chopping board & knife
  • 2 x saucepans with lids
  • Colander, scissors
  • Paper towel
  • Measuring: tablespoon, teaspoon
  • Bowls – large, small
  • Garlic press
  • Salad spinner
  • Fork, skewer
  • Plates to serve
 Ingredients:

  • 4 baby beetroot
  • A large handful of broad beans
  • A handful of lettuce leaves
  • Small sprig of marjoram
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 teaspoons aged balsamic
  • Flaked salt and black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • A small roll of goats’ cheese

ourkitchengarden.net

What to do:

  • Cut the leaves from the beetroot, leaving about 2cms of stalk. Reserve any small leaves.
  • Gently scrub the beets under water to remove any dirt and place them in the saucepan with cold water to cover by about 5cm. Heat on high with lid on and boil for 20 minutes until soft when pierced with a skewer.
  • Fill the other saucepan with water and set on high to boil.
  • Pod the broad beans, discarding the outer shell into the compost and add beans to the boiling water. Fill a large bowl with cold water and have ready.
  • Boil the broad beans for 3 minutes, drain and then immediately refresh in the bowl of cold water. Drain again and double-pod by slipping the outer shell off into the compost. Put the beans into a medium bowl.
  • Carefully separate out, then wash the lettuce and beetroot leaves and spin dry. Break up into smaller pieces with your hands if needed, then roll up into a kitchen paper-lined tea towel & place in the fridge until needed.
  • Wash, dry and pick the marjoram leaves and reserve for the garnish.
  • Squeeze the garlic through the garlic press into a large bowl, then mix in the balsamic vinegar and olive oil, season with salt and pepper and stir together gently.
  • Meanwhile when the beetroot are soft, drain the saucepan and fill with cold water to cool the beets. When cool to handle, slide off the skins and root and thinly slice the beetroot. Add the slices to the dressing and toss to soak.
  • To finish, divide the salad leaves among your serving plates and scatter the beetroot slices on top. Scatter the broad beans over the top, then remove the wrapping from the goats’ cheese and dab chunks of cheese over each salad. Drizzle over the remaining dressing, sprinkle with the marjoram and serve.

ourkitchengarden.net

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Pizza ai funghi e rucola

Posted on October 7, 2013 by melhm

Why did the mushroom go to the party? ‘Cos he was a fun-gi to be with… boom tish! And this one has some peppery rocket sprinkled over, yum yum…

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: mushrooms, rocket, onion, garlic, marjoram
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 8 at home or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Chopping boards & knives
  • A frying pan
  • Bowls – large, med
  • Salad spinner
  • Measures – ¼ cup, tablespoons, teaspoons
  • Colander, grater
  • Scales
  • Paper towel
  • Wooden spoon
  • 2 pizza trays
  • Metal tablespoons
  • Wide egg lifter
  • Pizza cutting wheels
  • Serving plates
 Ingredients:

For the pizza topping:

  • 1 handful mushrooms
  • 1 tub bocconcini
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 30g parmesan
  • A handful rocket
  • Aged balsamic vinegar

Tomato sauce:

  • 1 onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 3 sprigs marjoram
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tin diced tomatoes
  • Flaked salt and black pepper

What to do:

  • Preheat the oven to 220C.

For the tomato sauce:

  • Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic, reserving half of the garlic for the topping.
  • Heat the olive oil in the frying pan & gently cook the onion and garlic until translucent but not brown.
  • Open the tin of tomato and add to the frying pan with a pinch of salt and a grind of pepper.
  • Wash, dry and pick the herbs. Roughly chop then add to the tomatoes.
  • Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until quite reduced.

For the topping: 

  • Wipe the mushrooms free of dirt using a piece of paper towel and finely slice. Drop them in to a big bowl, drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of olive oil and toss to combine.
  • Open the tub of bocconcini and cut each ball into 3 or 4 slices.
  • Wash and spin the rocket dry and then reserve in another large bowl.
  • Grate the parmesan and add it to the rocket with a tablespoon or two of olive oil and a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar. Gently toss to combine.

Assembling the pizza:

  • Scatter some flour on the workbench, divide the dough in two and roll to form two thin shapes about 26 cm in diameter.
  • Assemble the pizzas directly onto the trays, flouring the trays first.
  • Usingthe metal spoon, swirl a couple of spoonfuls of tomato sauce onto the pizza bases, spreading so that they become totally covered with a clean border.
  • Layer the bocconcini on top, spoon on the garlicky mushrooms, then slide the pizzas into the oven.
  • Wash and dry the wooden chopping boards and set them out ready.

Baking the pizza:

  • Bake the pizzas for 12 minutes or until the edges are very crusty and the cheese is bubbling.
  • Use this time to make the dough for the next class if needed.
  • You may want to slip the pizza off the tray onto the rack for the last few minutes, so that you get a really crusty base.
  • Once the pizzas are done, transfer them to the wooden boards using the wide egg lifter.
  • Cut the pizzas in half first, and then each half into squares for each plate.
  • Lift onto serving plates and sprinkle with the rocket and parmesan.
  • Eat! 

Notes: Where does pizza come from? What other sort of vegetables could you use in a pizza? What sort of other pizza could we make? What other cheeses could we use?

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Mushroom and kale risotto

Posted on October 7, 2013 by melhm

This lovely risotto is textural and beautifully herby, and very easy once you get past all the stirring! Feel free to experiment with different types of mushies too. And if you have any left over then go crazy making arancini!

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: mushrooms, Tuscan kale (cavolo nero), marjoram, garlic, onion
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 8 at home or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Saucepan
  • Salad spinner
  • Garlic press
  • Bowls – 1 large, small, med
  • Large knife& chopping board
  • Grater & microplane zester
  • Ladle
  • Wooden spoon with a flat end
  • Heavy based stockpot
  • Measures:scales, jug, cup, tablespoon
  • 4 bowls or soup plates to serve

 

 Ingredients:

  • 2 litres water with 2 tablespoons bouillon (or 2 litres stock)
  • A large handful of mushrooms
  • A small handful marjoram
  • 4 or 5 kale leaves
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 brown onion
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 20g butter
  • 400g Arborio rice
  • 1 lemon
  • 50g parmesan
  • Flaked salt & black pepper

What to do:

  • Measure the water into the saucepan, add the bouillon and bring it to a simmer on medium heat.
  • Meanwhile wipe the dirt from the mushrooms with a piece of paper towel, trim any ugly bits and then thinly slice the mushrooms.
  • Wash and spin dry the marjoram, strip and discard the stems. Wash the kale leaves, trim from the stalks and finely slice into ribbons.
  • Squeeze the garlic cloves through the press into a small bowl. Peel and finely chop the onion.
  • Heat half the butter and 2 tablespoons of olive oil and butter over medium heat in the stockpot. Add half the chopped onion and cook gently until just tender, about three minutes. Do not brown. Add the mushrooms and garlic and a pinch of flaked salt and sauté for 3 or 4 minutes until the mushrooms are starting to colour. Remove from the pan and reserve in a medium bowl.
  • Heat the rest of the butter and another 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the same pan & then add the rest of the onions. Cook until translucent & then stir in the rice until the grains begin to crackle.
  • Begin adding the simmering stock, a ladle at a time, and stir in until fully absorbed. The stock should just cover the rice and bubble. Add the kale, and stir every minute or so for about 15 minutes, making sure you get into all the corners of the pan with the wooden spoon.
  • Meanwhile, zest the lemon and grate the parmesan to yield about ½ cup.
  • After about 15 minutes, add the mushrooms backto the rice and keep stirring for about another 5 minutes. When the rice is just tender all the way through but still slightly firm, usually in about 20 minutes, it is done.
  • When you are ready to serve, add in a last ladleful of stock. Stir in the marjoram, lemon zest and parmesan, and remove from the heat. Taste now and check the seasoning. The mixture should be creamy.
  • Serve onto the soup plates and eat right away!

 

 

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