Bustrengo

Bolognese Polenta and Apple Cake



A beautiful recipe from Jamie's Italy slightly changed to suit my taste.

Ingredients

a knob of butter
100g polenta
200g plain flour, sifted
100g stale breadcrumbs
100g caster sugar, plus extra for dusting
500ml full cream milk
3 large organic eggs, beaten
100g runny honey
55ml olive oil
100g dried figs, chopped
100g raisins or sultanas
500g firm eating apples, peeled, cored and roughly diced
1/2 tsp cinnamon
zest of an orange and a lemon
1 tsp sea salt

Method

Preheat oven to 180°C and butter a 28cm loose bottomed cake tin. Mix the polenta, flour, breadcrumbs and sugar in a bowl. In a separate bowl mix the eggs, milk, honey and olive oil. Add the wet mix to the dry mix and stir well. Add the dried fruits, apples, cinnamon, zest and salt and stir again.

Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake for 50 minutes. Cover with foil if it starts to brown too much. Sprinkle with caster sugar and eat warm with a dollop of whipped cream.

Tortilla Española

Spanish Tortilla



Tortilla is one of the most commonly served dishes in Spain. A true Spanish Tortilla contains only three ingredients - potatoes, onion and eggs plus salt and oil. It is so simple and so delicious. Sometimes I add a little chopped chorizo but it has plenty of flavour without it.

Ingredients

3 potatoes, peeled and sliced
1 onion, sliced
8 eggs, whisked
sea salt
olive oil
chorizo, sliced (optional)

Method

Heat a good glug of oil in a heavy based pan and add the potatoes. Cook for a few minutes, turning then add salt, (and chorizo if using) and the onion so it sits on top of the potato. Cook, turning frequently until the potatoes are tender then pour the egg over. Make sure there is plenty of oil still or the egg will stick. When the omelette is 3/4 cooked place a plate over the pan and turn it out. Slide the omelette back into the pan, uncooked side down and cook for a few more minutes. Turn onto a serving dish and cut into slices. In Spain it is eaten warm or at room temperature.

Gambas al Ajillo

Garlic Prawns


I have been very inspired by the food of Spain lately. I started taking Spanish language lessons at the start of the year at Casa de Flamenco in preparation for my trip to Spain next year and now I cant get enough of all things Spanish!

Ingredients

olive oil
14 prawns, peeled and deveined
5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
half a chilli, cut in half again
sea salt
parsley, finely chopped

Method

Heat enough oil in a pan to cover the prawns. When the oil is hot add the garlic (it should be sizzling) and chilli. Wait a few seconds before adding the prawns and cook for one minute, turning them so they cook evenly. Spoon prawns into a serving dish, pour the oil on top and sprinkle on the chopped parsley. Eat with lots of crusty bread.