Posts Tagged With: rocket

Rocket, fennel and lentil salad

Posted on November 21, 2012 by melhm

I love every recipe from this book, there’s so much inspiration! I love it almost as much as our book!

ourkitchengarden.net

From the garden: rocket, fennel, parsley, onion, lemon
Recipe source: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in Veg Every Day
Serves: 4 at home or 20 tastes

Equipment:

  • 1 small saucepan & lid
  • Colander or sieve
  • Chopping board & knife
  • Citrus juicer
  • Jar with lid
  • Bowls – large, med, small
  • Measures – jug, teaspoon
  • Salad spinner
  • Serving bowls
 Ingredients:

  • 125g little green lentils
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ small onion
  • A few parsley stalks
  • A large fennel bulb
  • About 75g rocket

For the dressing

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • A lemon
  • 120ml olive oil
  • A pinch of sugar
  • Flaked salt & black pepper

 

 What to do:

  • Put the lentils in the saucepan and add plenty of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for a minute only, then drain. Return the lentils to the pan and pour on just enough water to cover them. Add the bay leaf, onion and parsley stalks. Bring back to a very gentle simmer, and cook slowly for about half an hour, until tender but not mushy.
  • Meanwhile, to make the dressing: zest the lemon and then cut in half and juice. Add these and the rest of the dressing ingredients to the jar, put the lid on and shake until emulsified.
  • When the lentils are done, drain them well and discard the herbs and onion. While still warm, combine with a good half of the dressing. Leave until cooled, then taste and adjust the seasoning; you could add a little more salt, sugar, pepper or lemon juice if needed.
  • Trim the fennel, removing the tough outer layer (unless they are young and very fresh). Halve the bulb vertically, then slice as thinly as you can, tip to base.
  • Wash and spin dry the rocket, then pile about two-thirds of the lentils into wide serving bowls. Scatter over the rocket and fennel and trickle over the rest of the dressing. Scatter over the remaining lentils and serve.

Notes:What does emulsified mean? What other sort of lentils are there? What does fennel smell like?

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Rocket linguine with broad beans, lemon and marjoram

Posted on October 8, 2012 by melhm

ourkitchengarden.net

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.

Fresh from the garden: eggs, rocket, broad beans, lemon, marjoram
Recipe source: Melissa

Equipment:

  • Salad spinner
  • Pasta machine
  • Scales, garlic press
  • Measures – teaspoon
  • Food processor
  • Plastic wrap
  • Chopping board & knife
  • Pastry brush, grater
  • Large stock pot & saucepan
  • Tongs, large bowls
  • Serving bowls
 Ingredients:

  • 500g plain ‘00’ flour
  • 5 free-range eggs
  • Salt
  • 2 handfuls of rocket
  • 500g broad beans in pod
  • A handful of marjoram sprigs
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • A lemon
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • Flaked salt & black pepper
  • 50g parmesan

What to do:

To make the pasta:

  • Wash a handful of rocket thoroughly and spin dry. Discard any tough stalks and chop roughly.
  • Weigh the flour, then combine it with 1½ teaspoons of salt in the bowl of the food processor. With the motor running, add the eggs and the chopped rocket. Process for a few minutes until the dough clings together and feels quite springy.
  • 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 & saucepan have been filled with water and are 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 the big bowl.
  • Wash and dry the lemon and zest it. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze its juice into the beans.
  • Peel the garlic cloves and squeeze them into the bowl too.
  • Measure the parmesan and grate what you need. Wash and spin dry the marjoram and strip leaves into the garlicky broad beans.
  • Wash and spin the remaining rocket dry and add that to the bowl.
  • Measure 1/3 cup of olive oil into the bowl and sprinkle on a few pinches of flaked salt and a good grind of pepper and toss to incorporate.
  • 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 2 minutes or so 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 rocket bowl and toss to thoroughly incorporate.
  • Divide into serving bowls, sprinkle the 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.

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Bocconcini, garden herb, rocket and red onion pizza

Posted on September 13, 2012 by melhm

We love the whole gamut of pizza qualities! Making the dough is great fun (and very therapeutic…!) and we love using our big muscles to roll out the bases… We wash and spin and chop our herbs, and simmer up our own garlicky tomato sauce – with fresh tomatoes in summer and tinned toms out of season – and compile our toppings based on what’s growing…  this week it’s loads of sweet onion, marjoram, rocket and curly parsley… We grate and tear and zest, and we LOVE the smell as the pizza bakes… But most of all, we adore devouring the pizza. Mmmmm.

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: rocket, red & brown onions, thyme, marjoram, parsley
Recipe source: Melissa, kitchen specialist at Bondi PS

Equipment:For the pizza dough

  • Bowls – 1 small, 1 large
    • Fork
    • Scales
    • Measures: cup, tablespoon, teaspoon
    • Stand mixer with a dough hook
    • Pastry brush
    • 2 rolling pins
    • 2 baking or pizza trays
    • wide egg lifter

For the pizza topping:

  • Chopping board & knife
  • Medium frying pan
    • Measures: ¼ cup, tablespoon
  • Wooden spoon
    • Grater, tongs
  • Kitchen towel
  • Large bowl
  • Salad spinner
  • Large board for cutting pizza
  • Pizza cutters
  • Serving plates
 Ingredients:For the pizza dough

  • 1 cup lukewarm water
  • 3 teaspoons instant dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for greasing
  • 400g plain flour, plus extra for flouring
  • 2 teaspoons salt

For the pizza topping:

  • 1 tub bocconcini
  • 1 large red onion
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Small handful marjoram, parsley and thyme
  • A small handful rocket
  • 30g parmesan

Tomato sauce:

  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 can chopped tomatoes
  • Flaked salt and black pepper

What to do:
To make the dough:

  • Place the water, yeast and sugar in the small bowl. Mix with the fork and leave for 5–10 minutes until the mixture looks frothy.
  • Add the 2 teaspoons of oil to the yeast mixture and mix well.
  • Place the flour and salt and yeast mixture in the bowl of the electric mixer and beat for at least 8 minutes, until the dough looks smooth.
  • Brush the inside of a large bowl with a little of the extra virgin olive oil, using the pastry brush.
  • Turn the pizza dough into the oiled bowl. Cover with a clean, dry tea towel and put in a draught-free place until the dough has doubled in size. This process, which is called ‘proving’, will take at least 1 hour.
  • After an hour, tip the risen dough onto the workbench and knead briefly, then shape it into a round ball and return it to the bowl. Cover the bowl with the tea towel and leave again, this time for at least 20 minutes.                                                                                 

What to do:

Start of lesson:

  • Preheat the oven to maximum. You can prepare the topping now while you wait for the oven to heat up.
  • Scatter some flour on the workbench, divide the pizza dough in two and roll to form two thin rectangles to fit the baking trays.
  • Assemble the pizzas directly onto the trays, flouring the trays a little first.

For the tomato sauce:

  • Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic.
  • 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.
  • Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until quite reduced.

For the topping: 

  • Peel the red onion, cut in half and finely slice into rings
  • Wash and carefully dry the herb sprigs – pick the leaves, discarding the stalks. Finely chop all the herbs.
  • Wash the rocket and spin it dry. Leaving small leaves whole, chop large leaves into ribbons.
  • Peel the onion, cut in half and finely slice into rings.
  • Open the tub of bocconcini and cut or tear each ball into 3 or 4 pieces.
  • Grate the parmesan.

Assembling the pizza:

  • Using a metal spoon, swirl a couple of spoonfuls of tomato sauce onto the pizza bases, spreading so that they become totally covered.
  • Layer the onion slices on top and then lay on the bocconcini. Season well.
  • Drizzle the pizzas with the last of the oil, then slide them into the oven.

Baking the pizza:

  • Bake the pizzas for 12 minutes or until the edges are very crusty and the cheese is bubbling.
  • At this stage you can make the dough for the next class.
  • Once the pizzas are done, transfer them to a board using the wide egg lifter. Cut the pizzas crossways into small squares, and lift onto serving plates.
  • Sprinkle with the herbs and the grated parmesan and finish with the rocket.
  • Serve and eat!

Notes: What other sort of vegetables could you use in a pizza? What sort of other pizza could we make?

Categories: Kitchen Garden, Recipe | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Handcut rocket pappardelle with lemon and olive oil

Posted on August 30, 2012 by melhm

Fresh from the garden: eggs, rocket, lemon

Recipe source: Pasta: Stephanie Alexander, Kitchen Garden Cooking with Kids. Dressing: Melissa

Our Kitchen Garden students love making pasta! This recipe includes the dough mixture as well as instructions on how to use a pasta machine. In the summer you could add chopped cherry tomatoes too, for their explosive bite…

Our Kitchen Garden

 

Equipment:

  • Salad spinner
  • Pasta machine
  • Scales, garlic press
  • Measures – teaspoon
  • Food processor
  • Plastic wrap
  • Chopping board & knife
  • Pastry brush, grater
  • Large stock pot
  • Tongs, large bowl
  • Serving bowls
 Ingredients:

  • 500g plain ‘00’ flour
  • 5 free-range eggs
  • Salt
  • 2 handfuls of rocket
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • A lemon
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • Flaked salt & black pepper
  • 50g parmesan

What to do:

To make the pasta:

  • Wash a handful of rocket thoroughly and spin dry. Discard any tough stalks and chop roughly.
  • Weigh the flour, then combine it with 1½ teaspoons of salt in the bowl of the food processor. With the motor running, add the eggs and the chopped rocket. Process for a few minutes until the dough clings together and feels quite springy.
  • 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 with water and set to boil on high with the lid 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. Fold up carefully 2 or 3 times and then using a knife or cutter, slice pasta into strips about 2cm wide.
  • Carefully unravel each strip as you go and hang to dry.
  • Clean the pasta machine by brushing it with a dry, wide pastry brush & putting back in its box. At this stage you can make the dough for the next lesson!

To finish the dish:

  • Check that the stockpot has been filled with water and is set on high to boil.
  • Wash the remaining handful of rocket and spin it dry. Discard any tough stalks and chop roughly and put into the large bowl.
  • Wash and dry the lemon and zest it into the rocket. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice of one half into the bowl.
  • Peel the garlic cloves and squeeze them into the bowl.
  • Measure the parmesan and grate what you need.
  • Measure 1/3 cup of olive oil into the bowl and sprinkle on a few pinches of flaked salt and a good grind of pepper and toss to incorporate.
  • When the stockpot has started a fast boil, gather your drying pasta on a large baking tray. Add  the pasta to the pot with a tablespoon of cooking salt, 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 2 minutes or so 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, rocket bowl and toss to thoroughly incorporate. The rocket should start to wilt.
  • Divide into serving bowls, sprinkle a little 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.

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Our winter salad

Posted on August 10, 2012 by melhm

Fresh from the garden: Salad leaves, rocket, edible flowers, lemon, parsley, marjoram, thyme, coriander, oregano

Recipe source: Melissa ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

This is a lovely salad to pair with heavily flavoured dishes and is easy and quick to assemble.

Equipment:

  • Bowls – 2 large
  • 2 salad spinners
  • Tea towel
  • Kitchen paper
  • Chopping board & knife
  • Mortar & pestle
  • Measure – 1/3 cup
  • Citrus juicer
  • Mezzaluna, teaspoon
  • Serving bowls, little tongs

 

 Ingredients:

  • A large handful salad leaves
  • A few garnishing flowers

Herby vinaigrette dressing

  • 1 small garlic clove
    • Flaked salt & black pepper
    • 1 lemon
    • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
    • A small handful mixed herbs: parsley, marjoram, thyme, coriander, oregano

What to do:

  • Fill up the 2 big bowls with cold water & wash the salad leaves, gently dunking them a handful at a time into the water, then pulling out to see if any dirt is left behind. Repeat in fresh water until no dirt remains. Spin the leaves dry and then wipe the bowls dry.
  • Wash the flowers separately and drain on a piece of paper towel. Keep the flowers reserved, picking off the petals to use.
  • Wash and spin dry the herbs, and pick off the leaves.
  • Lay out the tea towel and line it with kitchen paper. Spread the salad leaves over the paper and roll the whole lot up like a log. Keep the rolled parcel of leaves in the fridge until needed.

To make the dressing:

  • Peel the garlic clove and put it in the mortar with a large pinch of salt. Pound to a paste.
  • Juice the lemon and add the juice to the mortar (without the pips) then stir the lot with the teaspoon and scrape it into a large bowl.
  • Stir in the olive oil and grind a little pepper, then whisk the dressing lightly. Add the herbs, chopping any large leaves in the mezzaluna if needed. Add to the dressing in the large bowl.

To assemble:

  • Unwrap the parcel of salad leaves & tip them into the bowl with the flower petals, herbs and the dressing. Gently turn the leaves in the dressing using your hands or tongs.
  • Transfer the salad to the serving bowls and serve immediately with little tongs.

Notes: What is the correct way to wash the leaves?Why do we completely dry the leaves before adding the dressing? What else could you add to the salad?

Categories: Kitchen Garden, Recipe, School Holiday Program | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pizza with rocket, bocconcini and garden herbs

Posted on August 10, 2012 by melhm

Fresh from the garden: rocket, thyme, oregano, marjoram, sage, parsley

 Recipe source: adapted from a recipe by Stephanie Alexander in ‘Kitchen Garden Cooking With Kids’ ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Equipment:

For the pizza dough:

  • Bowls – 1 small, 1 large
  • Fork
  • Scales
  • Measures: teaspoon, tablespoon, cup
  • Stand mixer with dough hook
  • Pastry brush

For the pizza topping:

  • Chopping board
  • A large knife
  • Medium frying pan
  • Wooden spoon
  • Kitchen towel
  • Large bowl
  • Tongs
  • A metal spoon
  • A large oven tray
  • A large board for cutting pizza
  • Pizza cutter
  • Serving plates

 

 Ingredients:

For the pizza dough:

  • 1/2 cup lukewarm water
  • 2 teaspoons instant dry yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for greasing the bowl
  • 200g plain flour, plus extra for flouring
    • 1 teaspoon salt

For the pizza topping:

  • 1 tub bocconcini
  • 1 large red onion
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 50g parmesan
  • A large handful rocket

Tomato sauce:

  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 brown onion
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • A few sprigs thyme, sage, oregano, marjoram, parsley
  • 1 can chopped tomatoes
  • Flaked salt and black pepper

What to do:

To make the dough:

  • Place the water, yeast and sugar in the small bowl. Mix with the fork and leave for 5–10 minutes until the mixture looks frothy.
  • Add the 2 teaspoons of oil to the yeast mixture and mix well.
  • Place the flour and salt and yeast mixture in the bowl of the stand mixer and beat for at least 8 minutes, until the dough looks smooth.
  • Brush the inside of a large bowl with a little of the extra virgin olive oil, using the pastry brush.
  • Turn the pizza dough into the oiled bowl. Cover with a clean, dry tea towel and put in a draught-free place until the dough has doubled in size. This process, which is called ‘proving’, will take at least 1 hour.

What to do:

  • Tip the risen dough onto the workbench and knead briefly, then shape it into a round ball and return it to the bowl.
  • Cover the bowl with the tea towel and leave again, this time for at least 20 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 220°C. You can prepare the topping now while you wait for the oven to heat up.

For the tomato sauce:

  • Wash, dry and pick the leaves from the herbs.
  • Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic.
  • Heat most of 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, a grind of pepper and the herbs.
  • Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced with minimal liquid.

For the topping: 

  • Peel the red onion, cut in half and finely slice into rings.
  • Open the tub of bocconcini and cut or tear each ball into 3 or 4 pieces.
  • Grate the parmesan.
  • Wash and spin the rocket dry. Leaving small leaves whole, chop large leaves into ribbons.

Assembling the pizza:

  • Scatter some flour on the workbench and roll to form a thin rectangle to fit the large baking tray.
  • Assemble the pizza directly onto the tray, flouring the tray first.
  • Using the metal spoon, swirl a couple of spoonfuls of tomato sauce onto the pizza base, spreading so that it becomes totally covered.
  • Layer on the onion slices and then dab the bocconcini on top. Drizzle a little olive oil on, season well and slide it into the oven.

Baking the pizza:

  • Bake the pizza for 15 minutes or until the edges are very crusty and the cheese is bubbling.
  • Once the pizza is done, transfer it to a clean wooden chopping board using the wide egg lifter.
  • Cut the pizza crossways into small squares, and lift onto serving plates.
  • Sprinkle the grated parmesan onto the pizza and then add the rocket. Serve!

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 is pizza bianca?

 

Categories: Kitchen Garden, Recipe, School Holiday Program | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cannellini beans with sage, garlic and rocket

Posted on June 4, 2012 by melhm

We’ve recently discovered the joys of cooking our own soaked beans – the only thing is to remember to start at least 12 hours before as the beans need that soaking time.  These accompaniments are very basic but so delicious & perfect for a one-bowl supper in front of Masterchef! You can also substitute borlotti beans for an earthier dish…

Cannellini beans with sage, garlic and rocket

From the garden: sage, parsley, rocket

Recipe source: Melissa, kitchen specialist Bondi PS

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Soaking dried beans and then cooking them the next day is such a rewarding experience – and these simple accompaniments make the beans a lovely autumn dish. Serve with crusty sourdough!

Equipment:

  • Bowls – large, heatproof
  • Colander
  • 2 saucepans – medium
  • Kitchen towel
  • Measures: tablespoon, jug
  • Chopping board & knife
  • Sieve
  • Microplane grater
  • Serving bowls

 

 Ingredients:

  • 250g dried cannellini beans
  • 1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda
  • A small branch of sage
  • A small bunch of flat-leaf parsley
  • A handful of rocket
  • Cooking salt
  • Flaked salt & black pepper
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • A splash of extra-virgin olive oil
  • 50g grana padano cheese

What to do:

  • The night before, place your dried beans in the large bowl and fill the bowl with cold water well over the beans, add the bicarb and stir. They will need to soak for at least 12 hours.
  • At the start of your lesson, drain the beans into the colander and rinse them well, then put them into the medium saucepan with about 3cm cold water to cover.
  • Rinse the sage, keeping the branch whole, and shake dry. Peel 3 of the garlic cloves and add them, whole, to the saucepan. Also add the branch of sage, a teaspoon of salt & grind of pepper. Set on a medium heat and simmer until beans are soft, probably about 2o minutes.
  • Meanwhile wash the parsley and spin dry. Discarding the stalks, finely chop the leaves.
  • Wash the rocket and spin that dry too. Chop the stalks in half or thirds depending on the size.
  • When the beans are soft, turn off the heat and let them cool slightly in the water for a minute or two.
  • Set the sieve over a heatproof bowl and carefully pour the beans and their liquid in to drain.
  • Scrape the beans into a large bowl and toss in the rocket to wilt. Add a cup of cooking liquid back in with a splash of olive oil and stir.
  • Check for seasoning, then sprinkle over the chopped parsley and divide among serving bowls. Grate over some parmesan cheese and serve.
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Rocket & coriander soup

Posted on June 4, 2012 by melhm

Winter has hit with force… I juggle the washing line with obsessive compulsion, trying to dodge the showers and sprinkles and hoping for a ray or two of sun to dry the tea towels and aprons. And sit at this computer with a thick scarf double-draped around my neck, and dream of soup… this recipe has been slurped up greedily in the last two weeks and is a cinch to make. Soup on!

Fresh from the garden: rocket, potatoes, spring onions, coriander, bay leaves

Recipe source: Melissa, kitchen specialist at Bondi PS

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Soups have always been a popular dish for the students at Bondi Public – no matter how green they are (the soups, not the kids!) And it’s fun to prepare, with many different procedures and fun equipment.

Equipment:

  • Salad spinner
  • Bowls – large and medium
  • Potato peelers
  • Chopping board & knife
  • Garlic press
  • Large stockpot
  • Wooden spoon
  • Handheld mixer
  • Ladle
  • Serving bowls
 Ingredients:

  • 4 spring onions
  • 1kg waxy potatoes
  • 1 big bunch rocket
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 60g unsalted butter
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Small bunch of coriander
  • 1.5lt water
  • Cooking salt
  • Flaked salt and black pepper

What to do:

  • Wash and trim the spring onions, removing & discarding the tough outer layer. Slice into 1cm bits.
  • Peel potatoes and cut into 2cm cubes.
  • Peel and squeeze the garlic cloves through the garlic press.
  • Wash the rocket in several changes of water, spin dry and remove & chop into ribbons.
  • Melt butter in the large stockpot over medium heat and sauté spring onion and garlic for 2 minutes.
  • Add the potato cubes, a teaspoon of cooking salt and the bay leaves and stir a few times with the wooden spoon so that the potato sweats in the butter.
  • Add the water, bring to a simmer over medium heat then cover and cook gently over low heat for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile wash and spin dry the coriander and then chop the stalks & leaves really finely.
  • After 2 minutes check that the potato is tender, then stir in the chopped rocket, increase heat to medium and cook for 2 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and turn heat off, adding a good grind of pepper.
  • With dry hands, plug in the handheld mixer and carefully whizz the soup until it is silky smooth.
  • Taste for correct seasoning, sprinkle in the coriander and ladle into bowls to serve.

Notes: What other vegetables can be used for soup? How many different procedures are there in this recipe? Why do we want the potato to ‘sweat’? Why do we take out the bay leaves?

 

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New recipes – Term 2

Posted on June 5, 2011 by melhm

I’ve been absent for a while and realise now – so late – that it’s been months… where does the time go? I’m starting to feel like a cliche, in that the older I get, the quicker time flies. I’m always running late, I clearly never plan my time well and am forever trying to scrape through at the last minute…. and then see that the weeks fly past, and now we’re almost in July. Yikes!

Anyway,  my excuse for the absence is that I’ve dived back into the pool of employment and become what is statistically known as a ‘Working Mother’… hmmm. One child in daycare for four days, the other child can only fit in on two days so we also have a nanny on one day – and I’m only working for three days! My wage comes in one hand and goes straight out the other, it’s crazy. But I am enjoying the job, and also the enforced separation for my darlings – I relish picking them up from school having missed them all day, and love that they missed me too…

So my new job is my perfect job. Cooking with school children! The primary school students grow the veggies in the school garden; they harvest when the time is right; they prepare and cook the food; they share the food (and then they clean up!). It’s that simple.

Cooking with the kids

We have been cooking up a storm at school recently & I thought I’d share a recipe from one of the most popular dishes: Rocket, silverbeet & potato soup. This has been such a hit (I think it’s all the garlic) and is perfect for the cold wintry days we’ve been having…

and here in full is another easy & fun recipe to do at home:

 Rosemary & Thyme Grissini

 Fresh from the garden: Rosemary, thyme

 Recipe source: The Cook and the Chef TV program

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A simple & fun bread-making exercise – I’ve found that the thinner you make the grissini, the crunchier and more delicious they are! It also pays to knead the dough well too.

Equipment:
  • Kitchen towel
  • Chopping board
  • Large knife
  • Large bowl
  • Large spoon
  • Measuring jug
  • 2 baking trays
  • Pastry brush
  • Rolling pin

 Ingredients:

  • 2 cups plain flour
  • ½ teaspoon cooking salt
  • Large sprig rosemary
  • 4 or 5 sprigs thyme
  • 1 teaspoon yeast
  • ½ teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 100ml lukewarm water
  • A pinch or two of flaked salt

What to do:

  • Preheat oven to 180°C
  • Wash & dry herbs thoroughly
  • Strip herbs from stalks and chop up finely to yield 2 tablespoons of herbs
  • Mix all the dry ingredients (except for the flaked salt) and herbs together in a large bowl
  • Add the water and olive oil and knead together until a smooth dough is formed – this might take between five and ten minutes. If the dough is too wet just add some more flour, bit by bit
  • Brush baking trays with a little olive oil
  • Flatten the dough out and roll into an even rectangle shape. Divide into halves, then quarters, and then again and again until you get 32 pieces
  • Roll each ball into a thin cigar shape with floured hands & place evenly onto the baking trays
  • Sprinkle with flakes of salt
  • Carefully slip the trays into the oven & bake for about 15 minutes until golden brown

Notes: Grissini are thought to have been invented in Italy in the 17th century – what other dishes have originated inItaly?

Here also is a list of recipes of other lovely dishes the children have been making this term:

Basic pasta dough

Linguine with herb sauce

Baked ricotta slices with capsicum & tomato

Gnocchi with burnt butter & sage

Carrot & coriander soup

Eggplant, garden herb & bocconcini pizza

Happing reading, happy eating!

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