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HASSELBACK AUBERGINE PARMIGIANA – Serves 4

1 large onion, chopped
5 tbsps. olive oil
3 crushed garlic cloves
2 tbsps. tomato puree
500mls. tomato passata
400g. tin chopped tomatoes
2 1/2 tsps. dried oregano
1 tsp. caster sugar
large pinch of chilli flakes (optional)
2 large aubergines
50g. grated Parmesan
1 mozzarella ball
30g. dried breadcrumbs
small handful fresh basil

1. Heat the oven to 200C fan / gas mark 7.  In a large frying pan heat 1 tbsp. of the oil and fry the onion for 5 minutes.  Add garlic fry for one more minute.  Then add the tomato puree and fry for a further minute.
2. Pour in the passata, chopped tomatoes, 2 tsps. dried oregano, the caster sugar and chilli if using.  Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until slightly reduced.  Pour the sauce into your baking dish.
3. Take the aubergines and make widthways cuts at 1cm. intervals, three quarters of the way through, so the slices are still attached at the bottom.  Drizzle with 3 tbsps. olive oil, getting into the cuts.  Spoon a little tomato sauce into the cuts, along with 30g. grated Parmesan.  Arrange the aubergines in the baking dish on top of the sauce and bake for 30 minutes or until the aubergines are slightly charred.
4. Cut the mozzarella ball into 6 – 8 pieces then dot over the aubergines.  In a small bowl mix the dried breadcrumbs with 20g. grated Parmesan, 1 tbsp. olive oil and 1/2 tsp. dried oregano.  Sprinkle over the aubergines and bake for a further 20 – 30 minutes until the cheese is golden and the aubergines are tender.  Top with fresh basil and serve with crusty bread and a green salad.  

 

BEETROOT SALAD = Serves 4

2 medium beetroot
dash olive oil
20g. blanched almonds
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
1 red eating apple cut into 2cm cubes
1 green eating apple cut into 2cm. cubes
1/2 small red onion sliced
handful fresh herbs
salt and pepper

Dressing:

150g. plain yogurt
1 lime, zest and juice
2 tsps. runny honey

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6.
2. Line a baking tray with kitchen foil and place the beetroot in the middle.  Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with oil.  Wrap the foil around the beetroots, seal and bake for 1 hour.
3. Place a small frying pan over a low heat and toast the nuts and cumin seeds for 2 minutes.  Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
4. Peel and cut the beetroot into 2cm. cubes and place in a large, glass bow.  Stir in the apple, nuts, seeds and herbs.
5. To make the dressing mix the ingredients together in a bowl.  Just before serving dress the salad and mix well. 

TIPS

The best Mozzarella is buffalo mozzarella.  You could use Parmigiano Reggiano rather than Parmesan, or even a strong Cheddar if you wished.

Do not prepare the beetroot salad too much in advance as the apple will discolour.  If preparing it slightly in advance toss the apple in lemon juice which will stop them going brown.

When toasting the nuts and seeds do be careful as they burn very easily.  Do not have your heat too high.

SPRING PEA DIP

250g. frozen peas or petit pois
a large knob of butter
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
1 x 100g. bag watercress, spinach and rocket
25g. hard cheese finely grated
1 tbsps. chopped mint leaves
2 tbsps. olive oil
Extra mint leaves and cheese shavings to decorate

This can be made up to 2 days ahead and chilled.  Remove from the fridge 2 hours before serving.  It can also be frozen but leave out the mint.  Defrost and allow to come to room temperature before adding the mint, finely chopped.

Put the peas in a large bowl and cover with just boiled water.  Leave to stand for 5 minutes, then drain in a sieve, and run under cold water.

Meanwhile, heat the butter in a frying pan, add the shallot and cook gently for 5minutes, stir in the garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes.  Add the salad leaves plus 1 tbsp. water and cover with a lid.  Cook gently for 2 – 3 minutes until wilted.  Stir in the peas and remove from the heat.

Transfer to a food processor with the grated cheese, mint and olive oil.  Whizz briefly to a chunky puree.  Season, transfer to a serving bowl and decorate with cheese shavings and mint leaves.  Serve with bread, toasted or otherwise. 

FRESH STRAWBERRY CAKE

250g. plain flour
1 1/2 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
85g. unsalted butter, softened, plus more for greasing the pan
225g. caster sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp.vanilla extract
120mls. milk
About 340g. strawberries (see below), hulled and halved (but quarter if large)

Preheat the oven to 180.  You will cook the cake for 10 minutes at this temperature and then reduce to 165 for about 35 minutes.

Butter a 9 inch deep dish or a 9 inch square cake tin.  In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

In another bowl beat the butter and all the sugar apart from 2 tbsps. until pale and fluffy, about 3minutes.  Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat again until well combined.  Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, and beat on low speed until smooth.  It will be like a thick batter.

Transfer the batter to the prepared dish / tin and smooth with a spatula.  Arrange the strawberries on top, cut side down, so that they completely cover the batter (use more or less if necessary).  Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tbsps. sugar.

Bake until the cake is lightly golden and a tester comes out clean.  It can take up to another 35 – 50 minutes.  Let the cake cool in the dish / tin and serve with whipped cream or ice cream.  The cake can be stored loosely covered for several days at room temperature.

NOTES

I thought the dip would be nice to serve with drinks in the garden, always providing the weather holds and felt a strawberry recipe was called for at this time of year.  The chef baked his cake in an earthenware dish.  I would serve it directly from the dish.  If you use a tin instead I would line it.  I am a great one for lining tins, even when the instructions do not tell you to.  It just makes life so much easier.