Beef Tagliata

Beef Tagliata

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.

Turkish Rice Pudding / Sütlaç

Turkish Rice Pudding / Sütlaç

125ml uncooked rice
500ml water
1 litre + 125ml milk
250ml sugar
grated zest of 1 lemon
37,5ml cornstarch
50g pistachios nuts, finely ground

Preheat your oven to 200℃ and place 6 ramekins in an oven tray that is at least 7cm deep.
Add the rice and water to a saucepan and cook over medium heat until tender – the rice should be creamy and not dry.
Pour in the 1 litre milk and add the sugar.
Stir, bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a slow simmer.
Cook for 10 minutes.
Add the lemon zest and stir through.
Add the cornstarch to a small bowl and pour in the 125ml milk. Whisk together to make a slurry.
Now drizzle the slurry into the simmering rice mixture while stirring the whole time.
Keep stirring and allow the mixture to become thick – about 10-15 minutes.
Spoon the mixture into the ramekins and fill the oven tray with enough warm water to come halfway up the side of the ramekins.
Place the oven tray on the top shelf of your oven and bake for about 30 minutes, until golden brown on top. WATCH THE PUDDINGS AND REMOVE THEM FROM THE OVEN WHEN YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE COLOUR – THEY BURN EASILY!
Take the ramekins from the tray, allow them to cool and then refrigerate them for 1 hour.
Sprinkle the ground pistachio over the rice puddings and serve.

Golden Syrup Dumplings

Golden Syrup Dumplings

This is one of my top 5 favourite all-time eats!! It is so easy and quick to make and utterly, heavenly delicious! The recipe makes 2 dumplings each for 4 people.

Syrup:
125ml golden syrup
190ml brown sugar
40g butter, diced
450ml water

Dumplings:
375ml self-raising flour
a pinch of salt
30g butter
1 egg
100ml milk
30ml golden syrup

For the syrup:
Add the syrup, sugar, butter and water to a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat, give the mixture a stir and leave on a low simmer while you make the dumplings.

For the dumplings:
Add the flour and salt to a mixing bowl and stir to mix.
Add the butter and rub it in with your fingertips until the butter is as evenly distributed as possible.
Add the egg, milk and golden syrup to a bowl and whisk to combine.
Pour the mixture into the flour and stir until just combined – do not overmix!
Drop heaped tablespoons of the batter into the simmering syrup and cover with a lid.
Simmer for 7-8 minutes, turn the dumplings over and cook with the lid on for another 5 minutes.
Serve the dumplings with cream, ice cream or as is.