Fennel & mascarpone risotto with scallops

For ➍
50 g butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 fennel bulbs, heads finely sliced
300 g risotto rice, such as carnaroli
30 cl white wine
1.2 litres vegetable stock, hot
1 tbs olive oil
80 g prosciutto, cut into thin strips
12 fresh scallops ('diver caught', if possible), corals detached
3 tbs chopped fresh flatleaf parsley
4 tbs mascarpone

Melt the butter in a large, deep frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook gently for 8 m, until softened. Add the garlic and fennel and cook for a further 5 m. Add the rice and stir until coated in butter, then add the wine and bubble for 2-3 m.
Add the stock, a few ladlefuls at a time, stirring in each addition until absorbed. Keep ladling and stirring until the stock is used up and the rice is al dente but creamy – this will take about 20 minutes at a gentle simmer. Check the seasoning, cover and allow to rest for 2-3 m.
Heat the oil in a heavy-based frying pan, then add the prosciutto and fry for 1 minute or until crisp. Remove with tongs and set aside. When the pan is hot, add the white parts of the scallops and season in the pan. Cook for 1 me each side or until lightly golden, then add the corals and cook for 30 s. Remove from the heat. Stir the parsley and mascarpone into the rice.
To serve, divide the risotto between 4 bowls, top with the crispy prosciutto, scallops and their corals, and season with black pepper.

Read tip on cooking scallops. Read tip on cooking rissoto.

Spinach & minced meat curry

For ➍ 

450 g fresh spinach 

1 ts salt for cooking spinach 

1 tbs salad oil or olive oil 

300 g minced meat 

1 onion, finely chopped 

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 

3-4 tbs curry powder 

1 red chilli, cut into small pieces 20 cl water 

1 ts salt for seasoning 

4 tbs ketchup 

2 tbs Tonkatsu sauce or 1 tbs Worcestershire sauce 

4 servings rice or naan 

4 boiled eggs (optional) 

Wash the spinach and drain the water. Boil plenty of hot water and add 1 ts salt. Put spinach in boiling water, submerge the spinach and boil for about 1 m. Immediately soak in cold water after boiling. When it cools, transfer it to a cutting board and cut it into 1 cm width. Then squeeze the spinach to drain excess water and set aside. (if you don’t cook curry immediately, keep it in the fridge until required). 

Heat 1 tbs of oil in a frying pan over medium heat, add chopped onions and garlic and fry. When they become soft, add minced meat and fry. When the color of the meat changes, lots of fluid and fat will come out. Absorb it with kitchen paper. Add curry powder and red chili and fry until the curry aroma comes out. Pour 20 cl of water and add salt, ketchup, tonkatsu (or Worcestershire) sauce. After boiling, cover and simmer over low heat for about 15 m. Take the lid off and cook for 5 m. 

Add spinach* to the curry and mix gently, and cook for 5 m. Serve with rice or naan. 

*Before adding spinach, if the curry is too watery, cook for an additional 5 m to reduce excess water. *About seasoning: at first, add less than the amount stated in the recipe, check the taste, and then add if it is not enough. 

-okawarishitene-

Jamaican pork tenderloin

For ➍
500-750 g pork tenderloin, trimmed & cut into 2 cm slices*/**
2 dl orange juice
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 ts cornstarch***
2 tbs apple juice
2 large cloves garlic, minced
½ ts ground cayenne pepper
¼ ts ground cumin
¼ ts dried leaf thyme
¼ ts salt
2 tbs minced scallions

Place the pork* slices, a few at a time, between 2 sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound slices to 0.5 cm thickness.
Coat a skillet with a small amount of vegetable oil. Place skillet over medium-high heat until very hot.
Add slices to make a single layer in the skillet. Cook slices for about 6 m, or until the meat is cooked, turning once halfway through cooking time. Transfer the pork to a warm platter. Cover to keep warm. Repeat until all the meat is cooked.**
Add the orange juice to the skillet. Quickly bring to a boil, scraping bottom with a spatula to loosen any browned bits. Add the onion, green peppers, red peppers. Cook, stirring, for 5 m, until vegetables are tender.
Place the cornstarch in a small bowl. Add the apple juice. Stir until smooth. Add the minced garlic, ground cayenne pepper, cumin, thyme, and salt. Add to the skillet. Cook, stirring, for 3 m, or until the sauce thickens.
Serve over the meat. Sprinkle with the scallions.
Serve with oven-baked sweet potatoes.

*Or chicken fillets, sliced in 2 lengthwise.

**Or braise the meat in a traditional way: brown the complete tenderloin for a few m in oil, then braise for about 15-25 m in a skillet.

***Omit, if wanted.

Czech sauerkraut with duck

For ➍

2 duck legs *

oil for frying

500 g sauerkraut, drained

1 onion, chopped

100 g bacon cubes

1 tbs (apple) vinegar

1 ts caraway seeds or cumin

little sugar **

Heat the oven to 200˚C.  

Put some oil in an oven-safe frying pan. Fry the duck legs all around for a while and then put in the oven. Depending on the size of the duck legs 1 to 2 h, for small legs 1 h. * 

Heat a large frying pan without oil and fry the bacon. Fry the onion in the bacon fat and add the caraway seeds or cumin. Add the sauerkraut to the onion and bacon, along with a little sugar **, vinegar and a very thin layer of water. It should be just below. Put a lid on the pan, reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 45 m.

Serve the baked sauerkraut with the duck legs *. Also delicious with baked potatoes.

* Or use pre-cooked duck legs. Fry them in the pan with some duck fat

** Optional.

Gnocchi with tomato & fennel

For ➋

1 vegetable stock cube

pepper & salt

1 ts rosemary

1 large fennel

250 g gnocchi

130 g raw ham*

1 toe garlic

150 g sun-dried tomatoes in oil

60-70 g Parmigiano, finely grated

Bring a cooking pot with water and the stock cube to the boil.

Place the fennel on the side, cut off the lower end and then cut it in half. Cut into fine rings. Keep the fennel greens aside. Cut the ham into rough slices.

Cook the fennel and gnocchi in the pot for about 2 m until tender and drain. **

Put the same pot back on the fire and add a spoonful of tomato oil. Fry the ham until crispy.  Fry  the gnocchi, fennel and garlic together. Add the tomatoes a little later. Add baked ham.

Serve and sprinkle generously with poor man's parmigiano and fennel greens.

* Or try chorizo ​​sausage, cut into cubes.

** Or steam the fennel almost done in the microwave (5-7 m per 500 g).

Eryngii with wild garlic

For ➍ 
20 cl olive oil (+ some extra for frying)

3 tbs lemon juice

pinch of salt

pinch of black pepper

Brabantse witlooftaart (Belgian endives' tart)

For ➍*
2 onions, peeled & chopped finely
5 stalks witloof/endives**, cut into 4, lengthwise***/****
150 g bacon, cubed
2 eggs
5 cl milk
100 g Gruyère (or Emmental) cheese, grated
1 pack puff pastry
nutmeg
salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 200°C. 
Beat the eggs and season to taste. Add the milk and half the cheese.
Line a baking tin or dish with baking paper. Put the pastry in, puncture with a fork.*****
Spread the the vegetables into the tin, crossing the witloof leaves. Put the bacon on top. Pour the egg mixture over.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
Put in the oven for 40 m.
Serve with a small green salad.

*For a smaller tart (for 2 or as a starter or snack), use 3 endives, 75 g bacon. Use the same amounts for the sauce and cheese.

**Use the best quality witloof available, avoid hydroculture witloof. 
***If wanted, you can add 2 stalks blanched celery (or leek), cut into small pieces.

****If wanted, you can stew the vegetables for 1 or 2 m with  a little bit of butter.

*****If wanted, pre-bake the pastry.

Gnocchi with ricotta, Parma ham & green asparagus

For ➍

1 red onion 

1 clove garlic 

90 g Parma ham 

350 g green asparagus 

200 g (frozen) garden peas 

800 g gnocchi 

1 tbs mild olive oil 

100 g ricotta 

90 g Parmigiano Reggiano flakes

  

Chop the onion and finely chop the garlic. Cut the Parma ham into ½ cm strips. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. 

Cut the bottom 2 cm of the green asparagus and cut the asparagus into 3 cm pieces. Boil the asparagus, garden peas and gnocchi 2 m. Drain in a colander, keep 50 ml of the cooking liquid (per 4 persons) and rinse under cold running water. 

Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the onion and garlic 2 m over medium heat. Add the Parma ham and fry for 1 m. 

Add the asparagus, garden peas and gnocchi. Bake 2 m. Mix the ricotta with the reserved cooking water and stir through the gnocchi. 

Mix in the Parmigiano Reggiano. Season the gnocchi with salt and pepper.

Fennel & mascarpone risotto with prosciutto

For ➍
50 g butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 fennel bulbs, heads finely sliced*
300 g risotto rice, such as carnaroli
30 cl white wine
1.2 litres vegetable stock, hot
1 tbs olive oil
80 g prosciutto, cut into thin strips
3 tbs chopped fresh flatleaf parsley**
4 tbs mascarpone
mace

Melt the butter in a large, deep frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook gently for 8 m, until softened. Add the garlic and fennel and cook for a further 5 m*. Add the rice and stir until coated in butter, then add the wine and bubble for 2-3 m. [Add some ground mace during cooking to enhance the taste.
Add the stock, a few ladlefuls at a time, stirring in each addition until absorbed. Keep ladling and stirring until the stock is used up and the rice is al dente but creamy – this will take about 20 minutes at a gentle simmer. Check the seasoning, cover and allow to rest for 2-3 m.
Heat the oil in a heavy-based frying pan, then add the prosciutto and fry for 1 minute or until crisp. Remove with tongs and set aside. When the pan is hot, add the white parts of the scallops and season in the pan. Cook for 1 me each side or until lightly golden, then add the corals and cook for 30 s. Remove from the heat. Stir the parsley and mascarpone into the rice.
To serve, divide the risotto between 4 bowls, top with the crispy prosciutto, scallops and their corals, and season with black pepper.

*Steam or microwave the sliced fennel until half-done. Add for 15 m to cooking.
**Or chop the fennel fronds.

Read tip on cooking rissoto.
Read a similar recipe with scallops.

Risotto with watercress

For ➍
6 dl water
2 cubes chicken stock
1 large onion
1 clove garlic
40 g butter
250 g arborio rice
600 g cod fillet
2 tbs olive oil
1 bunch watercress
50 g grated Parmigiano
160 g coppa*
1.5 dl dry white wine

Preheat the oven to 180 ° C. Cover the oven tray with parchment paper and arrange the crumpled slices of coppa on top. Bake them in the oven for 5 to 10 m until golden brown. Leave the oven on.*
Bring the water to a boil with the chicken stock cubes. Put the lid on the pan and keep warm.
Fry the chopped onion and the crushed garlic clove on a low heat for 5 m. In a saucepan with half the butter. Sprinkle the rice, mix 2 m and pour over white wine. Add a ladle of warm broth as soon as the wine has been absorbed. Add broth little by little as it is absorbed by the rice, until the rice is cooked (20 m in total).
Meanwhile, divide the fish into 4 portions and place in a lightly oiled baking dish. Sprinkle with the rest of the oil and season with salt and pepper. Place 10 m in the oven at 180 ° C.
Chop the stalks of the watercress very finely and the leaves a little coarser. Stir everything under the risotto, along with the Parmigiano and the rest of the butter. Remove the pan from the heat, put the lid on it and let it rest for 2 m. Season further.
Serve the fish with the risotto and sprinkle with chopped coppa. Serve immediately.

* Dry the coppa at low temperature, 1h20 h at 100 ° C.

Read the tip on making a quick risotto.

Spanish mussels with Manchego & Serrano

For ➍
2 kg mussels
2 onions
2 cloves garlic
1 tbs smoked paprika
½ ts peri peri
20 cl white wine
33 cl passata tomato frito
20 g flour
45 g Italian or Spanish ham s.a. Serrano
50 g Manchego
fresh flat-leaf parsley
juice 1 lemon
peanut oil

Rinse the mussels several times in cold water. Remove the beard.
Peel the garlic and onion. Squeeze the garlic. Cut 1 onion into rings and finely chop the other onion.
Heat some peanut oil in a mussel pot and fry the onion rings until translucent.
Add the mussels and deglaze with white wine. Bring to a boil under lid.
Shake up after a few m. Let it boil for another 2 m, or until the mussels open.
Remove from the heat and strain the mussels. Keep the mussel liquid.
Always remove the shell half to which the mussel is not attached.
Heat peanut oil in a frying pan. Fry the onion. Bake the smoked paprika powder and the periperi for 1 m while stirring. Add the flour and stir well. Add the passata.
Add 25 cl of mussel juice and let it boil for a few m.
Season with salt and lemon juice.
Reduce the heat after cooking time and add the mussels. Let them warm in the sauce for 1 m.
Finish with fine slices of ham, grated Manchego cheese and finely chopped parsley.
Serve with pasta, bread or rice.

Brussels sprouts' mousse

For ➍
500 g steamed Brussels sprouts (not too soft)
2 eggs, separated
1.5 dl lukewarm white sauce*
nutmeg
salt & pepper
250 g lean bacon** or vegan alternative

Preheat oven to 190°C. Butter the sides of the oven-dish and cover with bacon slices.
Put most of the sprouts (reserve a few for decoration) in a blender with white sauce*. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper.
Fold yolks manually through the mixture.
Beat egg-whites until stiff and fold into the mixture.
Pour half in a greased oven-dish, put some sprouts in a row, add rest of the mixture. Cover with lean bacon.
Bake for 35 m.
Let cool a bit. Serve in slices as paté.

*Use the (rather firm) white sauce recipe.
Or: replace white sauce with 1 tbs light cream. The mousse will be slightly firmer.
**Without the bacon, serve with potatoes and lard (or pork). Or use a vegan alternative.

Excellent warm in winter, it can be served cold as a starter in warmer seasons.
Read the tip on cooking sprouts.

Parsnip stew with mushrooms & bacon

For ➍
1 kg potatoes
800 g parsnips
1 tbs mild olive oil
150 g bacon strips
3 sprigs fresh thyme
400 g chestnut mushrooms
125 g sliced ​​shallots
20 cl semi-skimmed milk

Peel the potatoes, cut into equal pieces and cook in water with any salt in 20 m until done.
Peel the parsnip and cut into 1 cm thick slices. Cook the last 10 m with the potatoes.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the bacon strips until crispy over medium heat in 8 m.
Meanwhile, tear the leaves of the thyme sprigs.
Slice the mushrooms.
Turn down the heat. Add the thyme, mushrooms and shallots to the bacon and cook over low heat for 8 m.
Heat the milk. Drain the potatoes and parsnip, add the milk and mash with the mashed potatoes.
Serve the stew with the mushroom mixture.

Battuto for meat stew or soup

For ➍
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
2 tbs celery leaves, chopped
1 tbs parsley, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tbs chopped pork*
olive oil

Mix and brown in hot olive oil. 
Use as a base for a meat stew, or add some more vegetables and broth to make a soup.

*Optional.

In Roman cooking, a battuto is an initial preparation, that can be developed into a sauce, a stew or a soup. This basic battuto works also well a pasta sauce.
The ingredients are flexible, as in an Italian fish parcel.
The minestra col battuto soup uses a finely cut battuto, with onion, celery, garlic and a bit of parsley and basil added for more flavour. Read the Lazio variation.

Varkenshaasje met bloemkool (Pork tenderloin with cauliflower)

For ➍
700 g pork tenderloin
butter
salt & black pepper
Blackwell sauce
10 potatoes
1 cauliflower*

Season the tenderloin with salt and black pepper.

Preheat the oven to 160°C.

Heat a frying pan with a lump of butter in it. Once the butter is foaming, place the meat in the hot pan. Sear the meat to form a crust, so the juice of the meat does not escape. To avoid burning the butter, turn the heat to medium, or put in a lump of fresh butter. Make sure the meat gets get a golden brown on all sides.

Put meat in an ovenproof dish and cook further in the oven for 8 to 10 m at 160°C.**

Pour off excess drippings from the meat. Use the same skillet to prepare the sauce. The burnt leftovers will provide extra flavour.

Remove the meat from the oven. Put on an inverted plate, cover with foil and let meat rest 10 m.

Peel the potatoes and cut into large pieces. Cook them in the steam or boil them in lightly salted water (18 to 20 m).

Cut the cauliflower into florets, rinse the vegetables well and steam them until tender.

Cut the meat into 2.5 cm slices. On each plate, put a few cauliflower florets few and a few potatoes. Arrange a few slices of pork and spoon over some sauce.

*Or use green beans. or replace with mustard braised Brussels sprouts.
**Or lower the heat. Cover the pan and cook further for 10-15 m.

Minestra col battuto alla Romana (Lazio mince soup)

For ➍
100 g pork meat (cheek)
¼ onion
1 clove garlic
parsley
celery
extra virgin olive oil
grated pecorino cheese
1.5 l beef broth
small pasta
salt & pepper

Mince pork, onion, celery, parsley.
Fry slightly vegetables and mince in oil.
Add beef broth and bring to boil.
Add pasta and cook till done.
Serve with pecorino cheese.

This Lazio (the region around Rome) soup uses a battuto as a base. Read more on battuto.
Read more battuto recipes: battuto, Italian fish parcel, Ligurian pasta pine nut sauce.

Ersatz Flammkuchen

for ➊ portion
1 small tortilla / wrap (corn pancake)
30 g light cream cheese
2 medium-sized scallions, in rings
75 g cooked ham *

Pre-heat the oven to 190°C.
Brush the wrap with cream cheese. Sprinkle the scallions over the wrap, together with the ham.
Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake 10 m in the oven.
Serve with a small salad.

*Vary ingredients, e.g. smoked ham, tomatoes ...

Carbonara alla romana

For ➋
200 g pasta (penne or straight macaroni)
3 yolks of organic eggs
70 g pecorino romano (18 months old)
80 g guanciale (pork jowl bacon from Amatrice, ideally aged 6-8 months)
penja pepper from the mill

Boil the pasta in strongly salted water (5 to 10 g per l), depending on the time indicated on the package.
In a mixing bowl au bain-marie, beat the egg yolks with half the cheese. Season with pepper to taste.
Bake the pieces of guanciale in a (preferably iron) pan, until golden brown and crispy. Separate the meat from the fat and set it aside so that it can be added later when the preparation is heated in a bain-marie.
Drain the pasta as soon as it is ready and put it in the bowl with the mixture of egg yolks and cheese. Heat au bain-marie like with a sabayon to lighten the dish.
Add 30 g of boiling water and the fat from the cheeks, together with the rest of the cheese and some pepper. If the mixture is too fluid, add some cheese. If it is too dry, add some cooking water from the starchy pasta.
Before serving, sprinkle a little cheese and a large pinch of pepper over the plate. Conclude with the guanciale (who must remain warm during the entire preparation). Serve at room temperature, with a glass of Franciacorta (Lombard sparkling wine)

A recipe from chef Filippo La Vecchia of Osteria Romana in Brussels.

Korokke (Japanese meat croquette)

For ➍
vegetable oil
½ onion, finely chopped
150 g mixed minced beef (beef/pork)
2 tbs soy sauce
2 tbs sugar
500 g potatoes
5 cl full cream
salt
flour
some eggs, knocked loose
panko

Heat a dash of oil in a pan, fry the onion and fry the minced meat in a few m until golden brown. Add soy sauce and sugar and cook on a low heat. Stir frequently. Turn off the heat as soon as the cooking liquid has completely disappeared.
Boil the potatoes and puree them. Add the cream and minced meat. Mix well and season with salt.
Make croquettes in a shape as desired.
Place 3 dishes with flour, eggs and panko on the worktop. Roll each croquette first through the flour, then through the eggs and finally through the panko.
Heat the frying oil at 170°C and fry the croquettes golden brown.
Drain the croquettes on kitchen paper and serve immediately (with rice and a green vegetable salad).

Asparagus with orange & coriander dressing

For ➍
8 green asparagus
8 white asparagus
½ bunch coriander
1 orange
4 slices raw ham
2 tbs white wine vinegar
4 tbs olive oil
pepper & salt

Rinse the asparagus. Just peel the white. Remove the hard end. Blanch them separately al dente in salted boiling water*. Drain.
Cut (very thinly) a slice of the orange and divide it into strips. Squeeze out the orange. Cut the coriander (keep it a little bit different for garnishing).
Beat the oil with the vinegar and 4 tbs orange juice into a dressing. Add the chopped coriander and season with salt and pepper.
Arrange the asparagus and the ham on the plates. Pour over the dressing. Finish with orange peel and coriander.

*Use microwave to steam the asparagus: add 1 tbs of water, cook 3-4 m/250 g, slightly less for green asparagus.