The arrival of autumn here and the garden still bursting with basil made this the perfect combination. Cut butternut pumpkin (squash) into pieces and toss them in a bowl with some olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Fry over low heat until they have some colour and are just soft then set them aside. In the same…… Continue reading butternut and basil lasagna
Category: pasta and noodles
tagliatelle with beef cheek and mushroom ragout
Wonderfully rich and gamey, this ragout would work equally well with polenta. In a pressure cooker or heavy pot heat a little olive oil and sear the ox cheeks briefly before setting them aside. Add a little more olive oil to the pot and gently fry 1 diced onion and 2 finely diced cloves of garlic until the onions are…… Continue reading tagliatelle with beef cheek and mushroom ragout
purple sweet potato noodle salad
I found noodles made from purple sweet potatoes in my local Asian supermarket. Not only did they inspire this pretty salad but they also turned out to have a delightfully chewy texture. First cook the noodles according to instructions or just test until you like them. Cool them under cold water then cut them into shorter lengths…… Continue reading purple sweet potato noodle salad
spaghetti carbonara
This classic Roman dish made with eggs, cheese, bacon and pepper dates from after the second World War when many Italians were eating eggs and bacon supplied by US troops. Although there are many theories about the name ‘Carbonara’ (derived from the Italian word for charcoal burner) it still remains a mystery. Thanks to Chef John at…… Continue reading spaghetti carbonara
glass noodles and edamame beans
This warm salad of glass noodles and edamame (young soya) beans is another delicious Yotam Ottolenghi recipe from his book Plenty. If your local supermarket doesn’t stock them you will find edamame beans, glass noodles and tamarind concentrate in Asian supermarkets. Soak the noodles in hot water for 5 minutes or until just soft. Drain and let them dry.…… Continue reading glass noodles and edamame beans
pork belly with mushrooms, noodles and bok choy
Caramelised and anise-flavoured pork belly over noodles- what could be better? This recipe, adapted from gastronomydomine, is even better the next day (which also allows for the removal of unwanted fat from the sauce). Chop a 1kg (2 lb) piece of pork belly into pieces leaving the skin on. Mix one tablespoon each of the soy…… Continue reading pork belly with mushrooms, noodles and bok choy
spaghetti cake
My sister Eve made this impressive and delicious meal, adapted from a Jamie Oliver recipe . First cook a 500g (17½ oz) packet of spaghetti for a little less time than stated on the packet. Drain and cool under running water. In a bowl beat together 5 large eggs and 750ml (25 fl oz) of light cream…… Continue reading spaghetti cake
ricotta spinach and basil lasagna
A lazy but delicious alternative to cannelloni. First, wash a large bunch of English spinach and steam it until just wilted. Chop the spinach and a bunch of fresh basil and combine these with 500g (18 oz) of fresh ricotta. You can also add some feta cheese for extra flavour. Season with salt and pepper.…… Continue reading ricotta spinach and basil lasagna
squid ink linguini with tomato chilli prawns
A delicious and dramatic-looking meal. Finely chop 2 or 3 brown shallots, 2 cloves of garlic and 1 long red chilli. Gently fry them in some olive oil until soft. Add ½ a cup of white wine and allow this to evaporate before adding a can of peeled chopped tomatoes and seasoning to taste. Allow to simmer…… Continue reading squid ink linguini with tomato chilli prawns
roast vegetable lasagna
A delicious layering of roast vegetables, pasta and fresh ricotta with napoli sauce and grated pecorino. For this lasagna I used eggplant (aubergine), pumpkin, onions, peppers, zucchini and fennel. Whichever vegetables you choose, cut them into thin slices and lay them on a baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil and bake in…… Continue reading roast vegetable lasagna
michelle picker cooks 