Thursday 4 September 2014

Pesto Pasta With Roasted Tomatoes, Green Beans & Spinach!

Yes, its pasta again. I've got the hang of it now, becoming a pro init. This time I decided to add dried herbs to my pasta mixture to give it more colour and of course I made my very own pesto using goats cheese & pistachio nuts, so delicious. Everyone absolutely loved it, you have to give it a go so lets get cooking chefs!


Ingredients for the pasta
3 cups flour
4 eggs
1 tbsp salt
Splash of olive oil
2 tbsp dried parsley
2 tbsp dried basil

Method
In a food processor combine all the above ingredients adding one egg at a time, take the dough out & on a floured surface knead the dough for about 10 minutes & wrap in cling film & let it rest in the fridge for about half an hour. 
Once the pasta gas rested, roll out into lasagna sheets using your pasta machine, then cut into triangles, don't be precise,  they don't need to look equal, it'll look more rustic. Flour the pasta & set aside for later.

Ingredients for roasted tomatoes and green beans
2 cups cherry tomatoes
2 tsp salt
2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp dried rosemary
2 tsp dried chilly flakes
Zest of one lemon
Drizzle of olive oil
1 pack fresh green beans

Method
In a roasted dish lined with parchment paper, add all the above ingredients excluding the green beans, roast the tomatoes on high heat for about 30 minutes until tender and golden brown. 
In a pan add the green beans with boiling water & 1 tbsp salt, boil them until they're slightly soft but still crunchy. Drain and set aside.

Ingredients for the pesto & spinach mixture
For the pesto: 1/2 cup pistachio nuts
1/2 cup fresh basil
1 cup fresh spinach
Zest & juice of one lemon
1/2 cup olive oil
60g crumbled goats cheese
4 garlic cloves
1/2 tbsp salt
1/2 tbsp pepper
For the Spinach mix: 1 bag fresh spinach
1 large onion diced
3 garlic cloves minced
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp salt, pepper & red chilly flakes 
Zest of half a lemon

Method for pesto
In a hand blender combine all the above ingredients together in this order, garlic, spinach, basil, pistachio nuts, olive oil, goats cheese, lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper to season. the consistency should be smooth and creamy, add more olive oil if necessary. 

Method for spinach
In a large wok, add the butter and once melted add in the diced onions, cook until they are translucent and soft, add in the garlic and continue cooking until golden brown. Next add the whole bag of spinach and let it wilt, once its wilted add in the salt, pepper & chilly flakes. put it on low heat and add all the pesto and mix together, leave the heat on low and start boiling your pasta in salted water.
once your pasta is cooked add it to your spinach mixture, add in a few splashes of the water you used to boil your pasta just to loosen the mixture. Add in your green beans and roasted tomatoes & toss everything so it's well coated, lastly add the zest of half a lemon and taste to check if you need anymore salt, serve immediately. Crumble over goats cheese, optional of course but for those cheese lovers it has to be done.

Bon Appetit!

Chicken Tortellini With A lemon Butter Sauce Finished Of With Parsley, Cottage Cheese & Black Pepper!

Have I already mentioned that I'm like totally in love with my new pasta machine? I think in the last week ive made pasta 5 times? I have all the time in the world so Why not.


Ingredients for the pasta (serves 4)
3cups plain flour
4 eggs
1 tsp salt
Drizzle of olive oil

Method
In a food processor combine all the above ingredients,  the mixture should resemble breadcrumbs. Transfer onto a floured surface & combine the mixture until its formed a ball, kneed for about 10 minutes until the pasta dough is silky smooth,  it shouldn't be floury. Tightly wrap in cling film & leave it in the fridge for 30 mins.

The instructions for rolling out the pasta for tortellini should be given with your pasta machine so just follow it step by step or google it.


Ingredients for the filling
3 small chicken breasts steamed 
1 tub ricotta cheese
1/2 cup home made Sun dried tomato pesto (shop brought is fine too)
Juice & zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp chilly flakes
1/2 tbsp black pepper
4 garlic cloves minced
Salt to season
2 tbsp butter
handful fresh parsley

Method
In a food processor combine all the above ingredients excluding the butter, parsley & the juice of half a lemon. Don't over mix the mixture, you want it smooth but still have some texture to it. 
Start making your tortellini following the instructions in your pasta book or from the internet, once the pasta is done, whilst they are boiling in the water, in a separate pan heat the butter until its melted, add the pasta to the butter then add a Handful of fresh parsley, sprinkle some black pepper and a splash of double cream and toss the pasta so it's well coated. Lastly squeeze in the rest of the lemon juice & serve immediately with a dollop of cottage cheese.

Bon Appetit!

Fettucine Alfredo With Roasted Tomatoes & Chicken Finished of With Goats Cheese!

Its pasta again yay. This quick and easy Alfredo sauce is simple yet delicious, if you're in a hurry & need some food quick then this dish is perfect for you. Me & the sister in law managed to make fresh pasta and put this dish together in just over an hour, I know were geniuses!


Ingredients for the pasta (serves 4)
3cups plain flour
4 eggs
1 tsp salt
Drizzle of olive oil

Method
In a food processor combine all the above ingredients,  the mixture should resemble breadcrumbs. Transfer onto a floured surface & combine the mixture until its formed a ball, kneed for about 10 minutes until the pasta dough is silky smooth,  it shouldn't be floury. Tightly wrap in cling film & leave it in the fridge for 30 mins.
The instructions for rolling out the pasta for fettuccine should be given with your pasta machine so just follow it step by step or google it.


Yes I used my kitchen chairs to dry my pasta seeing as I had no drying rack, genius I know!

Ingredients for the Chicken & roasted tomatoes
For the chicken: 8 chicken strips cut into cubes
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tbsp mustard
4 garlic cloves minced
Zest & juice of one lemon
1 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary
1tbsp chilly flakes
1 tbsp salt
1/2tbsp black pepper
For the tomatoes: 1 1/2 cups chopped cherry tomatoes
1 tsp salt & black pepper
1 tsp honey

Method
In a bowl combine all the chicken ingredients together & set aside to marinade for up to 3 hours. For the tomatoes, in a roasting dish add the cherry tomatoes,  drizzle some olive oil, salt, pepper & honey & place in the oven until there golden brown & properly roasted. 

Ingredients for the sauce
1/2 cup butter
1 tub of onion & chive cream cheese (250g)
4 garlic cloves minced
2 cups full fat milk
1 onion diced
1 pack fresh spinach
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tbsp salt
1/2 tbsp black pepper & red chilly flakes
Juice and zest of half a lemon

Method
In a saucepan add the butter and let it melt on medium heat, add in the onions & sauté for a few minutes till they are translucent, add the garlic & once it's golden brown add the salt & the red chilly flakes & spinach, wilt the spinach then add the cream cheese, using a whisk stir it until its creamy & smooth. Add the milk a bit at a time & continue whisking to stop any lumps forming, once its creamy & your desired consistency,  add in the parmesan, lemon juice & zest. Leave it on extremely low heat.

Meanwhile boil your pasta. In a separate pan cook your chicken till its juicy and succulent, add your cooked pasta to the sauce & coat everything properly, toss in the chicken & roasted tomatoes, taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Garnish with crumbled goats cheese then dig in!





Monday 1 September 2014

Guess Who Finally Got A Pasta Machine? Yes I Did & its About time!

Every time I got paid, I kept saying im gonna invest in a pasta machine, what did I do instead? Spent every penny on shoes & clothes! BUT I FINALLY GOT ONE, my Aunt gave me one, mega excited.
First attempt ever at making home made pasta & it turned out bloody brilliant! It was perfect, silky smooth pasta sheets, fresh of course, what could possibly beat that? Nothing I tell you!

Ingredients for the pasta (serves 4)
3cups plain flour
4 eggs
1 tsp salt
Drizzle of olive oil

Method
In a food processor combine all the above ingredients,  the mixture should resemble breadcrumbs. Transfer onto a floured surface & combine the mixture until its formed a ball, kneed for about 10 minutes until the pasta dough is silky smooth,  it shouldn't be floury. Tightly wrap in cling film & leave it in the fridge for 30 mins.


The instructions for rolling out the pasta for ravioli should be given with your pasta machine so follow it as it says or just google it!

So what was the first dish I made using fresh pasta? Ravioli of course! My family said it tasted better than what is served up in restaurants, mega boosted! It was a great first attempt.

Ingredients for the filling
300g cottage cheese
1 cup spinach 
4 small garlic cloves minced
1/cup Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp tomato puree
Zest & juice of 1 
1 tsp chilly flakes
Salt & pepper to taste
2 tbsp butter


Method
All you gotta do is, wilt the spinach in some butter & the garlic then combine all the ingredients together & let it cool down. Once cooled down, make your ravioli,  Easy right!
To serve your ravioli, whilst it's boiling in water, in a large pan, heat up 2 tbsp butter, once melted and starting to brown (the french call this burn noisette) add in the cooked ravioli, toss in the burn noisette and scatter over chopped fresh basil, serve with parmesan shavings on top. Deeeeeelicious! 

Bon Appetit!

Recipes Coming Soon!

Yes I finally got me a pasta machine *sigh of relief* & for the last week all I've been doing is making pasta pasta pasta, so much fun. Here are a few dishes I have made & the recipes will be with you soon, well as soon as I get a chance to write them all up so stay tuned chefs!


Ravioli With a spinach & cottage cheese Filling
Chicken mousse tortellini with Cottage cheese, parsley & lemon butter sauce
Fettuccine Alfredo With roasted tomatoes, chicken and spinach

Make sure you Keep a Look Out!

Chef Zainab xo