Showing posts with label pine nuts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pine nuts. Show all posts

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Salmon, Spinach, Ricotta Puff Pastry

Amazing Presentation and Melt in Your Mouth -  that's how I describe this dish. Try it on that special occasion.
If you like salmon and spinach, you could also try the Salmon Roulade on page 114 in Tastes & Treasures cookbook.

Salmon, Spinach, Ricotta Puff Pastry
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, grated or finely chopped
550g fresh spinach leaves
1 handful raisins
75g pine nuts, toasted
200g ricotta cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
12 sheets filo pastry
30g butter, melted

Directions
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Heat the oil in a frying pan over a low heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt, and sweat gently for about 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the garlic, and cook for a few seconds more until the garlic turns white. 

Tip in the spinach, and cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes until it wilts. Season well with salt and black pepper. Remove from the heat, stir through the raisins and pine nuts, and leave to cool. Add the ricotta and beaten egg, and stir well. 

Lay 2 sheets of filo pastry one on top of the other in the cake tin, letting them hang over the edge on two sides. Next, lay 2 more sheets of filo at right angles to the first layer. Continue in this way until you have used 8 sheets for the base of the pie. 

 Spoon the spinach and ricotta mixture into the pie. Fold in the edges of the pastry, and top the pie with the remaining 4 sheets of filo pastry, tucking them in neatly. Brush all over with the melted butter, and bake in the oven for 20–30 minutes until golden and crisp. Serve warm.

Serves 4

Friday, November 23, 2012

Homemade Basil Pesto

The basil plant is out of control. Time to make some Pesto.


Homemade Basil Pesto

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup basil leaves
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 garlic clove, chopped
salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a food processor or high-speed blender.
Puree until smooth.

Makes about 1/2 cup.

Also try Tomato Caper Relish on page 20 in Tastes & Treasures cookbook.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Toasting Almonds


Releasing the aroma and flavor of almonds is easy to do. Using a thick skillet on low to medium heat, stir the almonds continuously to prevent burning. Remove when they are golden brown and smell wonderful.
OR add nuts to an ungreased cookie sheet and cook at 350 degrees fro about 15-20 minutes. Careful! Nuts are easy to burn.

This is also true for the pine nuts used in Exotic Greens with Strawberry Vinaigrette from The Cottage Place in Flagstaff, page 21 in Tastes & Treasures. And for the pecans used in Mixed Greens with Pears, Roquefort and Pecans with Celery Seed Vinaigrette from Camelback Inn, page 43 in Tastes & Treasures.