Grilled fennel salad with apricots & goat cheese

For ➍ 

2 fennels

4 large apricots

2 tbs roasted hazelnuts*

1 handful of basil

200 g fresh goat cheese

lemon

salt

olive oil

Heat the barbecue.**

Slice half a fennel into thin slices using a mandoline or a sharp knife. Pour the juice of a lemon over it and add a generous pinch of salt. Mix briefly and let it marinate. Cut the rest of the fennel into slightly thicker slices. Rub with olive oil and salt, and grill on the barbecue**. Use a grill with small openings for this, so that the fennel does not fall through. When the fennel is slightly charred and a little soft, remove it from the barbecue. Cut the apricots in half and remove the pits, then rub with oil. Place them on the grill** with the cut side down for a moment, until they soften slightly and develop black stripes.

Assemble the salad by mixing the roasted and marinated fennel (and the lemon juice in which they marinated) with the grilled apricots. Place the goat cheese on top and finish with the basil leaves and hazelnuts*.

Season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with some good olive oil.

*Replace with walnuts.

**Use a grill pan for small quantities if necessary.

Easy pistou

For ➍

80 g pine nuts

40 g basil

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

10-12.5 cl olive oil

Toast the pine nuts in a dry frying pan until they are nicely browned. 

Set aside 12 basil leaves. 

Place the rest of the basil leaves, garlic and half the pine nuts in the bowl of the food processor and pulse a few times. While the machine is running, pour in as much oil as needed for a runny sauce in a trickle. Taste and season the pistou with salt and pepper.

♥︎Tray bake of giant beans with ratatouille vegetables & pistou

For ➍

2 cans giant white beans (400 g each), rinsed & drained

2 red onions, peeled, cut into 8 wedges each

2 red bell peppers, chopped

1 eggplant, in pieces

1 zucchini, in pieces

4 small tomatoes on the vine, each cut in 4 wedges

3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

2 tbs rosemary needles, coarsely chopped

1 red chilli pepper, in rings

pinch chilli flakes

salt pepper

4 tbs olive oil

For the pistou*:

80 g pine nuts

40 g basil

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

10-12.5 cl olive oil

Preheat the oven to 200 °C.

Put the beans, all the vegetables, the garlic, rosemary, chilli pepper and chilli flakes, four tablespoons of olive oil, a good pinch of coarse salt and a pinch of pepper in a bowl and toss. Divide the mixture over two baking trays lined with parchment paper.

Slide the baking trays into the oven and roast for 45-60m, until the vegetables are tender and the beans are just a little crunchy. Switch the baking plates halfway through, so that they both receive the same amount of top and bottom heat.

For the pistou, toast the pine nuts in a dry frying pan until they are nicely browned. Set aside 12 basil leaves. Place the rest of the basil leaves, garlic and half the pine nuts in the bowl of the food processor and pulse a few times. Then, while the machine is running, pour in as much oil as needed for a runny sauce in a trickle. Taste and season the pistou with salt and pepper.

Transfer the beans and vegetables to a serving platter. Sprinkle over the rest of the pine nuts and the reserved basil leaves. 

Serve the pistou separately.

*Pistou is the Provencal version of Italian pesto. It's basically the same sauce without Parmigiano.

Pomodoro torte di Amalfi (tomato & olive tarts)

For ➍

dough:

120 g Italian '00' flour, plus extra for dusting

55 g polenta/cornmeal

70 g ricotta

70 g cold unsalted butter*

large egg (yolk only)

topping:

250 g plum tomatoes

10 cherry tomatoes, quartered

fresh thyme leaves, chopped

1 tbs fresh oregano, chopped

125 g goat cheese**

handful of olives, pitted olive oil,

to sprinkle basil leaves, for garnish

sea salt &freshly ground black pepper

For the dough, place all ingredients in a food processor and mix until smooth. Place the dough on a floured work surface and shape into a large ball. Divide this into separate pieces (1 per person) that you flatten a bit. Wrap and let rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, pour the can of tomatoes into a sieve and collect the juice for a drink. Chop the tomatoes.

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

When the dough is chilled, roll it out into 3mm thick circles on a floured work surface (the dough should be a little rustic around the edges). Top each circle with some drained tomatoes, chopped cherry tomatoes and season to taste. Add the thyme and oregano and crumble some goat cheese over it. Decorate with olives and drizzle with a little olive oil.

Bake for 20 m in the preheated oven, garnish with basil.

*Use same amount olive oil instead.

**Use melting light cheese instead.

Caponata

For ➍
2 eggplants
½ celery
2 medium onions
2 tbs pine nuts
6 tbs traditional olive oil
400 g canned tomatoes
200 g green olives stuffed with lemon
5 tbs red wine vinegar
2 tbs granulated sugar
2 tbs raisins
2 tbs capers
15 g fresh basil

Cut the aubergine into 1½ cm pieces and sprinkle with salt. Leave standing for 5 m. Pat dry with kitchen paper. 
Meanwhile, cut the green celery and chop finely. Cut the stems into thin arcs. Slice the onion in thin rings. Heat a frying pan without oil or butter and roast the pine nuts 3 m golden brown. Let cool on a plate. 
Heat half of the oil in a skillet over medium heat and fry half of the eggplant golden brown . Remove from pan and repeat with rest of oil and eggplant. Put all the eggplant together in the pan, mix with the onion and celery and bake for4 m. Add the diced tomatoes, olives, vinegar and sugar. 
Stew with the lid diagonally on the pan over low heat for 30 m until done. 
After 15 m, add the pine nuts, raisins and capers. 
To prevent sticking, toss from time to time. Season with pepper and salt if desired.
Remove from heat and toss in the basil leaves and celery greens.

* Delicious with grilled fish, or / and couscous or ciabatta.
** You can also eat this dish as a starter.
*** You can eat the salad warm, lukewarm or cold.
**** You can make this dish two days in advance, but don't add the basil until just before serving. Keep covered in the refrigerator.

Italian rösti with broccoli & meatballs

For ➍
2 cloves of garlic
2 tbs mild olive oil
1 tbs dried rosemary
750 g rösti
500 g broccoli
250 g cherry tomatoes
15 g fresh basil
250 g beef soup balls

Finely chop the garlic cloves. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the garlic and rosemary 1 m over low heat. Add the rösti, salt and pepper and bake for 15 m over medium to high heat. Toss regularly. 
Meanwhile, cut the broccoli into small florets, peel the stump and cut into small pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes and finely chop the basil. Add the broccoli and balls and fry for 10 m. Toss regularly.
Remove the pan from the heat and add the tomatoes and basil. Season with pepper and salt if desired.

*Delicious with fresh green pesto.

Caprese skillet eggs

For ➍
2 tbs olive oil
60 g (½ cup) chopped onion
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
½ ts salt
½ ts pepper
4 large eggs
120 g (½ cup) shredded fresh mozzarella cheese
5 (¼ cup) mixed chopped fresh basil, oregano & chives*
toasted sliced pane Pugliese or ciabatta

Heat oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 3 m. Add tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes have softened and released their juices, about 5 m.
Use a spoon to make 4 wells in the tomato mixture and crack an egg into each one. Cover pan and cook until whites are firm and yolks are just starting to set, about 2 m.**
Sprinkle with cheese and cover again to melt cheese slightly, about 1 m. Add some freshly baked bacon or ham if wanted.
Sprinkle with herbs and serve with toast.

*Use a mix of basilicum pesto (and fresh basilicum) instead.
**Use poached eggs instead.

Parmigiano & garlic zucchini noodles

For ➍
4 medium (800 g) zucchini, unpeeled, trimmed & spiralized*
3 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 tbs minced garlic (3-4 cloves)
¼ to ½ ts crushed red pepper flakes
2 medium (± 340 g) tomatoes, chopped*
50 g shredded Parmigiano cheese, plus more for serving
1 cup basil leaves, torn into pieces
1 ts cornstarch
2 ts cold water
salt

Trim and spiralize the zucchini (see notes below for how to do this without a spiralizer). Cut extra long noodles so that they are about the length of spaghetti.
Add olive oil, garlic, and the red pepper flakes to a large, deep skillet. Turn to medium heat. When the oil begins to bubble around the garlic, add the zucchini noodles. Toss the noodles with pasta tongs and cook until al dente — they should be wilted, but still have a crunch. go on for5-7 m. Do not let the noodles cook any longer or else they will become mushy. As they cook, keep tossing so that all the zucchini noodles have a chance to hit the bottom of the skillet.
Stir in the tomatoes, basil, and Parmigiano. Cook for 1 m. Use pasta tongs to transfer the noodles, tomatoes, and basil to a serving dish. Leave the liquid in the skillet.
Bring the liquid left in the skillet to a simmer.
Combine cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl then whisk into the simmering liquid. Cook, while whisking until the liquid thickens to a sauce; about 1 m.
Taste the sauce and season with salt. Pour the sauce over the zucchini, tomatoes, and basil. Finish with more Parmigiano on top and serve immediately.

*Or use half zucchini noodles and half spaghetti
**Use canned San Marzano tomatoes, when tomatoes are out of season..

Pistou

For ➍
2 cloves garlic
1 nice handful basil leaves
3 to 4 tbs olive oil
salt & pepper
1-2 tbs grated cheese (f.i. Gruyère)*

Peel the cloves of garlic. Cut them in half, then put them in a mortar. Start pounding.
Add the basil leaves little by little while continuing to pound until you get an ointment.
Add the finely grated cheese*, if you have chosen to use it, while continuing to pound.
Add olive oil always by continuing to pound, you must keep this consistency of ointment, it should not be bathed in oil.
Pistou can be used in the famous soup with pesto, or in sauce in a pasta dish, or as such on grilled toast as an aperitif.
For preservation, you can completely freeze the pesto, the easiest remaining in ice cube trays.The advantage is the ease of dosing without having to thaw everything. Garlic loses some of its strength after thawing however.

*Optional

Peri peri sauce

For ➍
1 red onion
4 cloves garlic chopped
1-2 bird's-eye peri peri peppers, chopped
2 tbs sweet, smoked paprika powder
4 tbs white wine vinegar
2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
grated zest plus the juice of 2 lemons
pinch salt & pepper
small bunch basil

Mix the ingredients. Add a little water and chop finely.
You can then let the chicken marinate in the sauce for a while, before you roast it in the oven. If you use chicken thighs, you can first grill them in a grill pan and then bake them in a large baking dish together with the marinade in a hot oven at 200°C for 10 m.

Serve with chicken f.i.

Fresh tuna & salade niçoise (French Riviera salad)

For ➏
400 g green beans, trimmed
750 g small potatoes
vegetable oil for brushing
20 g drained bottled capers
400 g lettuce (2 heads), leaves separated & large ones torn into pieces
1 bunch cherry tomatoes
100 g small brine-cured black olives
4 hard-boiled large eggs, quartered
3 tbs fresh parsley & basil, finely chopped
750 g (2,5 cm thick) tuna steaks*
ice-bowl with ice-cubes
20-25 cl (or 10 tbs for the salad +10 tbs for (optional) extra) salade niçoise dressing**

Cook beans in boiling salted water 3 to 4 m. Transfer to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. Add potatoes to boiling water and simmer 15 to 20 m, then drain. Halve potatoes while still warm (peel if desired) and toss with 2 tbs dressing in a bowl, then cool.
Prepare grill for cooking.
Brush tuna with oil and season with salt and pepper, then grill on lightly oiled rack, uncovered, turning over once, until browned on outside but still pink in centre, 6 to 8 m in total. Let tuna stand for 3 minutes, then break into large pieces. Put tuna on a large platter and drizzle with 2 to 3 tbs dressing and top with capers.< Add potatoes to platter with tuna. Drain beans and pat dry. Toss beans in bowl with 1 tbs dressing and salt and pepper to taste, then transfer to platter. Toss lettuce in bowl with 2 tbs dressing and salt and pepper to taste, then transfer to platter. Toss tomatoes in bowl with 1 tbs dressing and salt and pepper to taste, then transfer to platter. Arrange olives and eggs on platter and sprinkle salad with parsley and/or basil. Serve salad with remaining dressing on the side.

*You can do a light salad without the tuna. If you must, you can use canned tuna. If you prefer fully cooked tuna, try the marinating tuna recipe.
**Or try a lemon & mustard vinaigrette.

The salade was named niçoise by tourists, and originally meant a typical salad of the region, consisting mainly of tomatoes and olive oil. It became popular in the 60's, when scarcely clad, tan-hungry tourists from all over Europe were drawn to the French Riviera. The discussion thrives on about the original recipe of la sallada nissarda, mainly omitting green beans and potatoes from the now widely spread recipe.
The city of Nice is only a part of France since 1860. Before the treaty, it went its own way, mostly with Sardinian and Italian allies and influences, tough it was occupied by French (and Spanish) armies before. The Italian freedom fighter Garibaldi, born in Nice, tried to make it a part of Italy.
Picture in salade niçoise dressing shows the fishing nets on the beach of late 19th century Nice.
Read more Provençal recipes: salade niçoise dressing, Provençal garlic sauce, old-fashioned salade niçoise, Saint-Tropez (Provençal) chicken.

Salade niçoise dressing

For ➏*
10 cl red-wine vinegar
2 ½ tbs minced shallot
2 ts French mustard
1 large garlic clove, minced & mashed to a paste with ½ ts salt
½ ts anchovy paste (or mince a few anchovy)
25 cl extra-virgin olive oil
1 ½ tbs minced fresh thyme
1 ½ tbs finely chopped fresh basil

Whisk together vinegar, shallot, mustard, garlic paste, and anchovy paste in a small bowl until combined well. Add oil slowly. Whisk in thyme, basil, and salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with fresh tuna & salade niçoise .

*It is quite difficult to get the dressing right with smaller quantities. Make some more and put in the fridge, keeping the salad ingredients apart, or take ⅓ of quantities for 2.

Read more Provençal recipes: fresh tuna & salade niçoise , Provençal garlic sauce, old-fashioned salade niçoise, Saint-Tropez (Provençal) chicken.

Pesto omelet

For ➊
3 egg whites
1 large egg
salt & pepper
35 g cooked chicken breast, into small cubes,
2 tbs goat cheese, crumbled
1 tbs sun-dried tomatoes, packed (dip off all oil)
1 tbs pesto, green or red
fresh basil

Spray a small 10 cm pan with cooking spray and heat on medium-low heat for 2 m.
While the pan heats, whisk together the egg whites and egg and add a pinch of salt and pepper.
Pour the egg mixture unto the pan and cook, making sure you occasionally tilt the pan and lift up the set egg, letting the uncooked egg run underneath it to cook. Cook until the omelet is just set, about 3 to 5 m, you don’t want the bottom to become too brown!
Spread the chicken over half of the omelet, followed by the goat cheese. Finally, sprinkle the sun dried tomatoes on top. Flip the other side over and on top, so it covers all the fillings. Let cook for a few s so the goat cheese gets warm and melty.
Spread the pesto on top of the omelet and sprinkle with fresh basil.

Pollo al limone (easy Italian chicken with lemon)

For ➍
1 onion, cut
1 lemon, pressed
10 cl white wine
3 tbs saucebinder
2 tbs cream cheese
1 ts sugar
500 g chicken fillet, in cubes
1 chicken stock cube
25 cl water
basil leaves
olive oil
butter
pepper & salt

Heat a knob of butter and a dash of olive oil in a large pan. Fry the onion glassy. Add the chicken cubes and fry until golden brown.
Extinguish with the wine and simmer for 2 m. Put the lemon juice, the sauce binder and the sugar in a bowl and mix into a smooth paste. Dissolve the stock cube in 25 cl of hot water. Pour this, along with the paste, with the chicken. Stir well until the sauce begins to thicken.
Stir in the cream cheese and season with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle before serving with the basil. Serve with puree.

Other recipe: lemon chicken

Schwe payon hinjo (Burmese pumpkin soup)

For ➍ 

1 tbs peanut oil
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
750 g pumpkin (or other winter squash), peeled, seeded & cubed
1 l chicken stock (or, traditionally, water)
salt & pepper
50 g basil leaves, finely sliced*

Heat oil in a medium saucepan. Lightly sauté the garlic for 3 m, until it is fragrant. Add the cubed pumpkin and stock to the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25 m, until pumpkin is tender. Purée in a blender, solids first, until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. When ready to serve, stir in finely sliced basil and ladle into bowls.

*Use Thai (sweet) basil, if possible.

This pumpkin soup is a classic Burmese dish, that can also be served as a drink with other Burmese dishes.
Banknotes are from the democratic Union of Burma, ended in 1962 by a military regime.

Zomersmeus (mashed potatoes with tomatoes & North Sea shrimps)

For ➋
handfull basil, chopped
125 g cherry tomatoes, halved
⅓ lime, juiced
10 cl sour cream
250 g unpeeled North Sea shrimps @ room temperature
2 big potatoes, unpeeled* & washed
½ kg coarse salt
olive oil
pepper

Preheat the oven to 180 ° C.
Put the coarse salt in a thick layer on an oven plate.
Wash and dry the potatoes. Place the potatoes on the salt layer. Cook them cook in the oven for about 30-45 m.*
Meanwhile, peel the shrimps.
Remove the potatoes from the oven.
Heat a generous amount of olive oil in a (stew) pan over a low heat. Do not let the oil get too hot. Halve the baked potatoes and spoon out the mash.
Put the potatoes in the pan with oil and crush it with a fork. Make sure the potatoes do not bake. Season with pepper and add the sour cream, lime juice and possibly a small splash of water.
Stir the cherry tomatoes and the chopped basil leaves in the potatoes just before serving.
Divide the potatoes over the plates. Sprinkle the shrimps over the potatoes.

*Or just cook or steam  the (peeled) potatoes until soft with a bite in a traditional way.

**Or slice a coeur de boeuf tomato. Sprinkle with olive, salt & pepper.

This is a summery variation on a classic Flemish dish smeus.

Creamed chicken with mushrooms

For ➍
2 chicken breasts, cut in half
75 g mushrooms
2 tbs flour
2 tbs grated + 35 g Parmigiano cheese
1 ts salt
1 pinch pepper
1 tbs olive oil
1 tbs olive oil from dried tomatoes
2 ts garlic, chopped
200 g sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
37.5 cl cream
2 tbs fresh basil
2 ts Italian herbs

Mix flour, grated cheese, salt and pepper. Coat 2 chicken breasts in this preparation.
Heat 1 tbs olive oil.
Add the chicken breasts, cook for 5 to 6 m, or until the fowl is browned on both sides. Keep warm.
Heat 1 tbs olive oil, and add dried tomatoes, the sliced ​​mushrooms and 2 ts chopped garlic.
Cook for a few m. Reduce heat, and add cream*. Leave to simmer. Add fowl. Simmer for 20-25 m, or until chicken is weel cooked..
Simmer until thickened. Add 35 g Parmigiano cheese and 2 tbs Italian herbs.
Serve with the chicken. Sprinkle 2 ts fresh basil on top.
Serve with good pasta al dente or  warm bread.

*Or use  half milk, half creamy goat cheese.

Crisp chicken legs with sweet tomatoes & basil

For ➍
4 chicken leg quarters
sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 big bunch fresh basil, leaves picked, stalks finely chopped
2 big handfuls red and yellow cherry tomatoes and ripe plum or beefsteak tomatoes, cherry tomatoes halved, plum tomatoes quartered
1 whole bulb garlic, broken into cloves
1 fresh red chilli, finely chopped, or a big pinch of dried chilli flakes
olive oil
410 g can cannelini beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
2 handfuls new potatoes, scrubbed (optional)

Heat your oven to 180°C.
Season the chicken pieces all over with salt and pepper. Put them into a snug-fitting pan in one layer, skin side up.
Throw in all the basil leaves and stalks. Then chuck in your tomatoes. Scatter the garlic cloves into the pan with the chopped chile and drizzle over some olive oil. Mix around a bit, pushing the tomatoes underneath.
Place in the oven, uncovered, for 90 m, turning any of the exposed tomatoes halfway through, until the chicken skin is crisp and the meat is falling off the bone.
If after an hour or so the skin isn’t crisping to your liking, you can turn up the heat and switch to convection, or just blast it under the broiler for a bit at the end, rotating the pan occasionally and watching closely, until you get the skin as brown as you like.
Don't let the sauce simmer too vigorously or the meat might toughen up.
Squeeze the garlic out of the skins before serving. If you fancy, you can add some drained cannelini beans or some sliced new potatoes to the pan along with the chicken.

*Or you can serve the chicken with some simple mashed potato.
**Or make it part of a pasta dish: remove the chicken meat from the bone and shred it, then toss into a bowl of linguini or spaghetti and serve at once.

Tomato medley with halloumi

For ➋ as a salad or for ➍ as a starter
1 fresh red chilli
½ bunch fresh basil
extra virgin olive oil
balsamic vinegar
600 g mixed cherry tomatoes
250 g halloumi cheese
1 large beefsteak tomato
for the dressing:
2 yellow tomatoes
2 orange tomatoes
4 cloves of garlic

Preheat the oven to 190ºC.
For the dressing, place the tomatoes and garlic on a baking tray and roast for 15 m, or until soft.
Deseed and finely slice the chilli and pick and tear up the basil, reserving a few baby leaves for garnish.
Once roasted, pop the tomatoes in a blender and squeeze in the soft garlic flesh, then blitz until smooth.
Add a few swigs of oil, a splash of balsamic and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, blitz again and check the seasoning, then set aside.
Roughly chop the cherry tomatoes, then place in a bowl and dress with oil, the chilli and torn basil.
Slice up the halloumi, then hit it with some black pepper.
Preheat a large non-stick pan over a medium heat, then add the halloumi in a single layer so most of the slices are touching – you want to create a doily effect with a few gaps.
Cook for 4 to 5 m, or until golden and starting to melt together, then carefully flip over with a fish slice. If it breaks, don’t worry, it will all melt back together.
Once golden on both sides, slide it onto a serving board.
Finely slice the beef tomato and lay the slices on top of the halloumi.
Tip over the dressed tomatoes over and scatter with the reserved basil leaves.
Take to the table with the tomato and roast garlic dressing to drizzle over before serving.

Greek grilled vegetables with halloumi

For ➍
250 g mushrooms
1 red chilli, seeded & quartered
2 zucchini, chopped
1 small red onion, peeled & sliced
2 small eggplants, roughly chopped
6 tomatoes, halved
4 cloves garlic
9 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
8 tbs balsamico vinegar
2 tbs sugar
juice of 2 lemons
500 g halloumi cheese, cut into 0.5 cm slices*
½ small bunch basil
salt & pepper

Heat oven to 180°C.

Place the chilli, zucchini, mushrooms, onion, eggplant and garlic in an oven-proof roasting pan. Drizzle with a third of the olive oil and half the vinegar.

Place the halved tomatoes face up in another oven-proof pan. Sprinkle with the sugar, salt and pepper and drizzle with another third of olive oil and the rest of the vinegar. Place both pans in the oven and roast for thirty minutes, turning vegetables occasionally.

5 m before vegetables are ready, heat the remaining oil in a large skillet. When sizzling, let the halloumi slices slide in and sear quickly (2 m a side).

Combine dish and dot with basil.

Serve with bread.

*Obviously you can omit the halloumi. Or serve with grilled fish or chicken.

Read more halloumi recipes: red sparkled halloumi or a recipe for balsamic roasted vegetables.