delicious – Page 19 – My Whisk and I

Mediterranean Orzo

August 26, 2023August 12, 2023by Karen Claassen1 Comment

200g chorizo sausage
30ml olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 x 400g tin of whole cherry tomato
10ml sugar
5ml salt
400g orzo pasta
400ml vegetable stock
a handful of basil leaves, chopped
parmesan cheese

Place a large pan on medium-high heat and add the olive oil and onion to it.
Fry the onion until just soft.
Add the garlic and stir-fry for one minute.
Add the tomatoes, sugar, salt and a few grindings of black pepper.
Cook for 5 minutes or so, stirring every now and then.
Add the orzo and stir through.
Pour in the vegetable stock and cook for about 10 minutes. The liquid has to reduce and the orzo should be tender when you taste it.
Scatter over three quarters of the basil and turn off the heat.
Stir through and serve with grated parmesan cheese and the rest of the basil scattered over.

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Roasted Broccoli

August 25, 2023August 12, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

one head of broccoli
60ml olive oil
60ml dried breadcrumbs
150ml finely grated parmesan/ementhal cheese
5ml garlic powder
2,5ml salt

Preheat your oven to 220℃ and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
Break/cut the broccoli into florets and add it to a bowl.
Drizzle over the olive oil and toss with your hands to coat the broccoli.
Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs, half the parmesan, garlic powder, salt and a few grindings of black pepper.
Mix together, rubbing slightly in order to make the flavourings stick to the broccoli.
Spread the florets in an even layer on the baking sheet, sprinkle over the rest of the parmesan and roast in the oven for 15 minutes.
Stir and flip the florets and bake another 10 minutes.
Serve immediately.

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Quick Beetroot Salad

August 23, 2023August 5, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

4 beets, cooked, peeled and cubed
30ml olive oil
30ml balsamic vinegar
1 small red onion, cut into thin slices
a pinch of salt
30ml chopped chives
a handful of walnut halves
50g feta cheese

Add the cubed beetroot, olive oil, balsamic, red onion and pinch of salt to a bowl and mix together.
Spoon onto a serving platter and scatter over the chives and walnuts.
Top the salad by crumbing the feta over.

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White Bean Soup

August 21, 2023August 2, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

30ml olive oil
30g butter
4 cloves of garlic, minced
3 x 400g cans of cannellini beans
500ml vegetable stock
5ml finely chopped rosemary
5ml finely chopped thyme leaves
sourdough croutons to serve

Place a saucepan on medium-high heat, add the olive oil and butter and wait for the pan to heat up.
Add the garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute.
Drain 2 of the cans of beans and add the beans to the saucepan.
Pour the third can of beans, liquid and all, into a liquidiser and blitz until smooth.
Add to the saucepan.
Pour in the stock and add the rosemary and thyme.
Grind over some black pepper and stir together.
Bring the soup to a boil, turn the heat down and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring every now and then.
Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
Serve piping hot with freshly made croutons.

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Baked Burrata

August 18, 2023August 2, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

250ml passata sauce, store bought
200g pickled sweet peppers, in olive oil
2 burrata cheese

Preheat your oven to 200℃.
Pour the passata sauce and peppers into a small ovenproof dish.
Place the cheese in the sauce and pour over the olive oil from the sweet peppers.
Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
Serve the burrata and sauce with crostini or fresh, crusty bread as a delicious warm starter.

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Bocconcini Pasta Salad

August 17, 2023August 2, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

500g fussily pasta, cooked and cooled
350g cocktail tomatoes, halved
60ml chopped parsley
60ml chopped basil
300g bocconcini cheese balls, halved
1 red onion, finely chopped
Dressing:
125g basil pesto
60ml olive oil
45ml red wine vinegar
15ml granulated mustard

Add the cooled pasta, tomatoes, parsley, basil, bocconcini and red onion to a large bowl and toss through.
For the dressing:
Blitz together the basil pesto, olive oil, red wine vinegar and mustard.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss again.
Season with salt and pepper to serve.

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Shitake Chicken in Mustard Sauce

August 16, 2023August 2, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

4 chicken breasts, skin and bone removed
20ml chicken spice
30g + 50g butter, cubed
30ml olive oil
5ml chopped rosemary
500g shitake mushrooms, halved
15ml thyme leaves, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
125ml dry, white wine
125ml chicken stock
15ml wholegrain mustard
60ml cream

Place the chicken on a cutting board and halve each breast horizontally.
Pat dry and season with salt, pepper and the chicken spice.
Place a pan on medium-high heat and wait for it to warm up.
Add the 30g butter, 30ml olive oil and the chopped rosemary.
Lay the chicken cutlets in the pan and cook for 4 minutes before flipping them over and cooking for another 4 minutes.
Remove the chicken from the pan and cover tightly with aluminium foil. Set aside.
Add the 50g butter to the pan and wait for it to melt.
Now add the mushroom and thy and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute.
Pour in the white wine and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Add the chicken stock and stir in the mustard.
Add the chicken cutlets back into the pan and simmer for another 5 minutes.
Pour in the cream and stir through.
Serve the chicken on mashed potato, rice or pasta.

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Chocolate Pudding

August 15, 2023August 3, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

2,5ml coffee granules
7,5ml vanilla essence
90ml sugar
30ml cocoa powder, sifted
20ml cornstarch
2,5ml salt
90ml whipping cream
2 egg yolks
375ml milk
45ml butter, cubed
80g chocolate, finely chopped

Add the coffee and vanilla to a small cup and stir together to dissolve the coffee. Set aside.
Add the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch and salt to a saucepan and whisk together.
Add the cream and egg yolks and whisk until incorporated. Scrape the corners of the saucepan, making sure you get all the ingredients and whisk again.
Pour in the milk and whisk once more.
Now place the saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, whisking constantly.
Keep going until the mixture has thickened and is bubbling all over the surface – it should take 5-7 minutes.
Cook for another 30 seconds and then remove the saucepan from the heat.
Add the butter and chocolate and whisk until melted and fully incorporated.
Add the coffee and vanilla and whisk to blend.
Place a sieve over a bowl and pour the mixture through.
Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the pudding’s surface and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Whisk the pudding by hand for one minute before serving.

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Chimichurri Focaccia

August 14, 2023August 5, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

340ml lukewarm water
10g instant yeast
10ml sugar
10ml salt
20ml olive oil
500g flour
Chimichurri Sauce:
60ml olive oil
15ml red wine vinegar
60ml finely chopped parsley
2 cloves of garlic, minced
5ml thyme leaves
2,5ml salt

1 onion, sliced into 1,5cm rings

Pour the water into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with its dough hook.
Sprinkle over the yeast and stir to dissolve. Set aside for 5 minutes.
Add the sugar, salt and olive oil to the bowl with the yeast and stir to dissolve.
Turn the mixer on a low speed and gradually add the flour.
Mix/knead on medium speed for 6 minutes.
Lightly oil a clean mixing bowl, place the dough in it and cover with a damp tea towel.
Set aside to rise for 90 minutes.

For the chimichurri sauce:
Blitz the olive oil, vinegar, parsley, garlic, thyme and salt together.

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and spray a 38cm x 23cm roasting tin with cooking spray.
Place the dough in the tin and evenly spread it out by poking your fingers down into the dough.
Randomly press the onion rings into the focaccia dough, cover with a tea towel and rest for another 15 minutes.
Drizzle the chimichurri over the dough and bake in the oven for 35 minutes.

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Beef Tagliata

August 13, 2023July 29, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

Tagliata which simply means to cut in Italian, is one of Italy’s most popular steak dishes. I use store bought quartered sun-dried tomatoes for this recipe. The dressing adds a punchy freshness to the meat and is one of the quickest meals you will prepare..

Dressing:
10 quarters of sun dried tomatoes in olive oil, finely chopped
60ml olive oil from the packet of tomatoes
60ml soy sauce
juice of 1 lemon
60ml finely chopped basil leaves

beef fillet/tenderloin
parmesan shavings
a handful of peppery herbs

For the dressing:
Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and stir to mix. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
Cover the bowl and set it aside at room temperature to develop its flavours. (about 40 minutes)
Cook your steaks in a pan or on the braai/bbq.
Cover with aluminium foil and set aside to rest for 10 minutes.
Slice the cooked meat into strips and arrange it on a serving platter.
Drizzle over the dressing and sprinkle over some parmesan shavings and herbs.
Serve the steak with the rest of the dressing on the side.