Thursday, 22 December 2011

Pizzamania!

Pizzette


The traditional flavours of Italy can often be found blazing a trail through our kitchens as summer approaches. Bruschetta and minestrone soup are classics, but can in no way compete with the iconic pizza! The patron saint of Italian cuisine obliges us with a gentle restyling in these recipes.
 

Pizza dough


Preparation time: 2 hours 15 min

Ingredients for 4 people:

- 400g sifted bread flour
- 200ml lukewarm water
- 20g fresh yeast
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil

Preparation:
1. Stir the yeast into the water and add the oil.
2. Place the flour into a large bowl and make a well in the middle.
3. Pour the liquid mixture in gradually. Lastly, add the salt.
4. Knead the mixture until it becomes consistent and no longer sticks.
5. Leave to rest at a minimum temperature of 24°C for 2 hours before using.
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Goat's cheese pizzetta

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes

Ingredients for 4 people:

- Peeled, chopped tomatoes
- Mozzarella
- 1 goat's cheese
- 2 figs
- Olive oil
- 1 tsp caster sugar
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp dried oregano

Preparation:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 210°C.
2. Reduce the chopped tomatoes, caster sugar, dried oregano and balsamic vinegar in a little olive oil.
3. Roll out the pizza dough and cut it into small rounds, each about 5cm in diameter.
4. Place a little of the tomato mixture onto each pizzetta, then add a thin slice of mozzarella, a round of goat's cheese and a thin slice of fig.
5. Cook for 10 minutes.

Tip: Serve with rocket leaves.

Spaghetti with coriander pesto

Spaghetti with coriander pesto

Spaghetti au Pistou de Coriandre 
Preparation time: 10mins
Cooking time: 10 to 12mins


Ingredients for 4 people:

- 400g of thin spaghetti or tagliatelle
- 1 bunch of coriander
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 40g of pine nuts
- 50g of ricotta
- 60g of pecorino cheese, finely grated
- 1dl of olive oil
- Salt, pepper


Preparation:

1. Wash the coriander, sponge dry and take off the leaves.
2. Peel the garlic cloves, quarter them and give them a whiz in a food processor.
3. Add half the pecorino cheese, the ricotta, the pine nuts, the coriander leaves, the oil, the salt and pepper.
4. Blend this mixture for 2 to 3mins, until you have a smooth purée.
5. Boil the salted water in a large saucepan, cook the pasta until it is al dente, and then drain.
6. Place the pasta in a dish, add the sauce and mix together.
7. Serve with the remainder of the grated cheese.

Mushroom Soup

Serving: 4 persons
Time: 20 minutes

All you Need:
2 small cans al alali Mushrooms Pieces & Stems (drained)
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1 cube al alali Chicken Stock
1 cup milk
2 cups hot water
Parsley (finely chopped)
1/2 onion (finely chopped)
1/4 cup cream
Ground white pepper (to taste)
Salt (to taste)

Directions
* Using a small amount of butter, sauté onion and al alali Mushrooms Pieces & stems in a pan on low fire. Season with salt and white pepper. Set aside.
* In a pot, melt remaining butter. Gradually add flour stirring continuously.
* Add al alali Chicken Stock cube dissolved in hot water. Continue to stir.
* add milk, cream, salt, white pepper and nutmeg.
* add onion and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes.
* Garnish with parsley.
* Serve hot.

Chicken with Mushrooms & Capsicum

Serving: 4 persons
Time: 20 minutes

All You Need: 1 chicken cut into 8 pcs. (cleaned & washed)
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 onion (finely chopped)
1 clove garlic (crushed)
1/2 Kg tomatoes (finely cut)
3 pcs capsicum/ red, green, yellow (cubed)
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp ground white pepper
2 small cans al alali Mushrooms Pieces & Stems (drained)
1/4 cup al alali Tomato Paste
1 cube al alali Chicken Stock
1/4 cup fried pineseeds
1/2 cup warm water
Parsley
Salt (to taste)
To Marinate Chicken
1 tbsp al alali Natural vinegar
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 cloves garlic (crushed)
Ground white pepper (to taste)
Lemon juice

Directions
* Marinate chicken with olive oil, salt, white pepper, lemon juice, garlic and vinegar.
* Grill the chicken in a pre-heated oven for 15 minutes at 180C or 350F.
* In a pot heat the olive oil. Fry onion and garlic on low fire.
* Add al alali Mushrooms Pieces & Stems, red, yellow and green capsicum and mix continuously for 7 minutes until soft.
* Add tomatoes and al alali Chicken Cube dissolved in water.
* When mixture starts to boil, add white pepper and oregano. cook for 5 minutes.
* Place chicken on a serving plate. Add the sauce on top.
* Garnish with oregano, parsley and fried pineseeds.
* Serve hot with rice.

Tomato Soup with Vermicelli

Serving: 4 persons 
Time: 30 minutes

All You Need: 200g Vermicelli
4 tbsps. Tomato Paste
¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 cube Chicken Stock
Parsley (chopped) for garnishing
½ tsp. oregano
¼ cup celery (chopped)
2 bay leaves
1 onion sliced
1 clove garlic
Ground black pepper to taste
Ground white pepper to taste
1 tsp. paprika
1.5 liters water

Directions
* In a pot, heat the Olive Oil on low fire. Sauté onions and garlic.
* Add  Chicken Stock dissolved in water and spices. Cook for 2 minutes
* Add  Vermicelli. Mix.
* Add  Tomato Paste. Mix and boil for 5 minutes.
* Add celery, parsley and oregano. Cook for 5 minutes.
* Pour the soup in a serving plate.
* Garnish with parsley.