Homemade Pasta with Shellfish

This is so indulgent and special that we've decided to give a large recipe as it should be enjoyed with special people.

Serves 8

Ingredients
Pasta
500g pasta flour, typo ‘00’
5 eggs
40ml olive oil
pinch of salt

Shellfish
2 x 450g lobsters, cooked for 7 minutes
500g vongole or clams
8 scallops or other shellfish available
8 razor clams
1 tablespoon fresh flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
6 fresh basil leaves, finely shredded

Sellfish sauce
45ml olive oil
30g butter
1 onion, finely diced
1 stick celery, trimmed and finely chopped
1 small carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
30g flour
1 tablespoon tomato puree
the pounded shells form the lobster
60ml brandy
300ml chicken or fish stock (or a shellfish stock if you have)
salt and pepper
a little cream, to finish

Method
Put the flour, along with the salt in a food processor. Add the olive oil and eggs and pulse until it resembles breadcrumbs. Remove from the machine and knead to a dough. Allow to rest under an up-turned bowl for about 30 minutes. Roll through a pasta machine, until lovely and thin and cut into tagliatelle. Leave to air-dry on a lightly floured surface.

Prepare the lobster by removing the meat from the tail and claws and finely slice, ready to top the final dish. Set away in the fridge to keep cool. Save the shells for the sauce.

To make the sauce, heat the olive oil and butter in a saucepan. Add the onion, celery, carrot and garlic and cook over a low heat for about 10 minutes until soft. Stir in the tomato puree and allow to fry for a couple minutes. Then add the flour and pounded lobster shells and cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Flambé with the brandy. Once the flame has subsided, add the stock and allow to reduce to a coating consistency. Pass through a fine sieve and season to taste. Reheat the sauce gently, adding a little cream.

Grill the razor clams for a couple of minutes. Toss with olive oil. Steam the clams open in white wine for about 3 minutes. The juices can be strained into the shellfish sauce for added flavour.

Season the scallops with salt and pepper and pan-fry in a hot non-stick pan with a little olive oil for 1½ minutes per side until beautifully coloured and still slightly rare in the middle.

Meanwhile, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the tagliatelle. Once the it rises to the surface, cook for 1 more minute then drain and mix with the shellfish sauce.

Serve the pasta in bowls, topped with some lobster meat, a couple of clams, a razor clam and a seared scallop. Sprinkle with the parsley and basil and serve immediately.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Meringues

Ingredients
200 g egg white, at room temperature
400 g caster sugar
a little lemon juice

Method
Start by weighing your egg whites. Weighing your egg whites gives you more accuracy to achieve the half egg white ratio and will ensure that your meringues are perfect every time.

Preheat the oven to fan 110° C and line 2 or 3 oven trays with baking paper. Rub the bowl of a heavy-duty mix with half a lemon. The lemon juice ensures that the bowl is fat free and the little touch of acid helps the egg whites beat up better.

With the whisk attachment fitted, start the machine on low speed. This helps to break the 'bonds' in the egg white so that it will beat up to a larger volume. Once the egg white turns foamy, increase the speed to high and beat until it  turns white and starts to the thicken.

Now it's time to start adding the sugar, about a large tablespoon at a time. Keep the machine running and take care that it has beaten in well after each addition. Once all the sugar has been added, you should have a thick, glossy meringue. Spoon or pipe mounds on to the oven trays. You can leave them plain, or top them with a dusting of cocoa powder, chopped nuts or a bit of food coloring, for an interesting effect.

Place the meringues in the oven and bake. After 30 minutes, reduce the temperature to 100° C and allow to bake for a further 2 hours. After that time, turn off the oven and allow the meringues to cool oven. Serve, stacked up with whipped cream and seasonal fruit.

Meringues keep well for weeks if stored properly in an airtight container.

You can also play around with the flavours of the meringues. Try adding a touch of instant espresso powder for coffee meringues, or some rose water or orange blossom water for an exotic twist.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Babas au Rhum

Makes about 16

Ingredients
100g raisins
1¼ cups rum
100g butter, softened to room temperature
25g fresh yeast or 10g dried yeast
250g flour, sifted
25g sugar
generous pinch of salt
4 eggs
50g melted butter, for greasing

Syrup
1 liter water
500g sugar

Method
Soak the raisins in the rum.

Mix the yeast with 2 tablespoons warm water. Put the flour in a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the sugar and salt, 2 eggs and the yeast mixture. Mix with a wooden spoon until the dough is elastic, then add the other egg. Work this in and then add the final egg and work it in. Finally add the softened butter and the drained raisins.

Brush 16 dariole moulds with the melted butter. Divide the dough into 16 small pieces and put a piece into each mould. Leave in a warm place until the dough has risen to fill the moulds. Preheat the oven to 200°C and then bake them for 15-20 minutes. Turn the babas out immediately onto a rack and allow to cool completely.

Prepare the syrup by boiling together the water and sugar. Add the remaining rum. Dip each baba into the boiling syrup and leave submerged until no more air bubbles are released. Drain and place on a cake rack resting over a dish. As the rum syrup collects in this dish, repeatedly spoon it over the babas to keep them very moist.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours

 


Bobotie

This traditional South African Cape Malay recipe is a must to try!

Serves 6-8

Ingredients
2 thick slices of stale white bread
250 ml water
5 Tablespoons sunflower oil
4 Tablespoons butter
2 large onions, finley chopped
800g lamb or beef mince
3 cloves garlic, finley chopped
1 Tablespoon Garam Masala
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
3 cloves
5 allspice berries
125 ml sultanas or golden raisins
2 Tablespoons fruit chutney or apricot jam
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
6-8 lemon or bay leaves
250ml natural yoghurt or buttermilk
2 eggs, beaten

Method
Soak the bread in the water. Heat a large heavy-based pot with 3 tablespoons sunflower oil and fry the lamb or beef mince until browned. Transfer to a bowl.

Fry the onions in 2 tablespoons sunflower oil and the butter until just transparent. Add the garlic and fry for a further minute. Add the spices and fry about 1 minute to remove their rawness and cook them out slightly. Add the meat, sultanas, chutney or jam to the pan and mix well together, ensuring that all ingredients are coated in the spices. Season with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 180 C. Squeeze out the water from bread and add to meat and mixing well. Grease and ovenproof dish and add the meat mixture, spreading out into an even layer.Roll lemon leaves into spikes and insert into the mixture or if you can only get bay leaves stick them in so that they are pointing out. Cover with aluminium foil and bake for 15 minutes.

Lightly beat the eggs and yoghurt or buttermilk together, season with salt and pepper and pour over meat. Bake, uncovered, until egg mixture has set, about 20 minutes. You may need to increase the temperature to 200 C to ensure the custard colours to a golden brown. Serve with yellow rice (basmati rice with turmeric added to the water) and fruit chutney.

* We recommend Mrs Balls Chutney. A classic South African ingredient which is becoming more readily available in Holland. If you can't find it, use any another brand of chutney you like.

Wine Tip: Pepin Conde Cabernet Sauvignon

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Greek yoghurt with Dried Figs in Port

This is the one of the easiest and most delicious desserts around. You can rustle it up in no time at all. Serve it in a large bowl in the middle of the table for everyone to help themselves.

Ingredients
large tub Greek yoghurt
dried figs
port
honey
toasted walnuts, chopped (optional)

Method
If you have 10 minutes free, take a bunch of dried figs, remove the hard stalks and and place them in a jar. Cover them in port (you don't need to use the most expensive). You can add some spices to flavour if your wish, fennel seeds, star anise or cinnamon sticks. Close the lid and leave to stand. In fact the longer you keep them, the better they become.

Place the figs with the port in a saucepan, bring to a boil and allow to reduce gently until the figs have softened and the port has become syrupy and sticky and is coating the figs. Allow to cool.*

Pour the yoghurt into a serving bowl. Drizzle with honey, top with the sticky port figs and if you wish, scatter with chopped walnuts.

* The figs are perfect to use this way in salads or served with a beautiful blue cheese.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Lamb Burgers

Serves 2

Ingredients
2 lamb burgers
1 small tub Greek yoghurt
small bunch mint
1/4 red cabbage, finely shredded
1/2 small red onion, finely sliced
1 lemon
2 pita breads
2 Tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
tortilla chips, to serve

Method
Mix the shredded red cabbage and onion together with the juice from the lemon. Season with salt and pepper and allow to stand and marinate.

Finely chop the mint and mix through the yoghurt along with 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Heat a frying pan or grill over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and fry the burgers for about 4 minutes on each side until golden brown.

Toast the pita breads in a toaster and slice in half.

Fill the pita breads with the red cabbage and burgers. Spoon some of the minted yoghurt in and serve with tortilla chips.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken

Serves 2

Ingredients
Salad
2 chicken breasts
1 ciabatta roll
3 baby gem lettuces
1 tin anchovies, use as many as you like in the salad
50-75 g Parmesan, grated
olive oil

Dressing
150 ml sunflower oil
25 ml olive oil
10 ml fresh lemon juice
2 ml salt
5 ml sugar
few drops tobasco sauce
25-50 ml red wine or rice vinegar
2 ml Dijon mustard
1-2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 egg yolks
salt freshly ground black pepper

Method
Begin with the dressing. Put all ingredients, except oils in a blender and mix. Slowly add the oils until emulsified. If too thick, thin with a little water.

Preheat the oven to 180° C. Cut the ciabatta into 3 cm cubes and place in a roasting tray. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with a little sea salt. Mix the ingredients together and bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and crunchy.

Slice the chicken breasts lengthways in half. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Slice off the bottom end of the baby gem and discard. Separate the leaves, rinse them gently under cold running water and dry off in a clean tea towel or in a salad spinner.

Place a grill pan over a high heat. Grill the chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes on each side until they are golden and cooked through.

Using a large bowl, mix together the salad leaves, dressing, anchovies, croutons and ¾ of the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper.

Divide the salad between 2 plates. Lay 2 chicken breast halves on each salad and finish by scattering with the remaining Parmesan.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Walnut Cake with Spiced Caramel Sauce

Ingredients
Cake
220 g butter, at room temperature
240 g caster sugar
4 eggs
160 g fine semolina
2 teaspoons baking powder
300 g walnuts

Caramel
300g caster sugar
300 ml cream
1 star anise
½ cinnamon stick
25g butter

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C. Place the walnuts on a baking tray and toast them lightly in the oven, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 160C. Grease a 24 cm round springform tin or small fluted tins, of your choice.

Place the butter and sugar in a bowl of a mixer and beat until light and fluffy. Beat the eggs in, one at a time, until well combined.

Place the walnuts in a food processor and blend until finely ground.

Stir the baking powder through the semolina and fold through the egg and butter mixture, followed by the ground walnuts.

Spoon the batter into the greased cake tins and bake in the oven for about 35 minutes (large cake) or about 20 minutes (for the small cakes). Remove from the oven, cool in the tin for about 5 minutes before turing out onto a wire rack to cool completely before covering with the caramel.

For the spiced caramel sauce, heat the sugar in a pan until it turns golden-brown. Pour the cream in carefully and bring to the boil, stirring well. Add the star anise, cinnamon and butter. Cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened and smooth.

Strain through a fine sieve, cool completely and pour over the cake before serving.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Thai Style Mussels

Serves 4

Ingredients
3 Tablespoons sunflower oil
4 kg mussels
5 cm piece fresh ginger, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finley chopped
1 stalk lemon grass, hard outer layer removed and finley sliced
3 Tablespoons Thai green curry paste
400 ml coconut milk
fish sauce to taste (optional)
1 small bunch basil
1 small bunch coriander
2 limes
2 red chillies, finely sliced

Method
Place the mussels in a bowl of cold water. Discard any open ones.

Heat a large pot over medium heat with 3 tablespoons sunflower oil. Add the garlic,  ginger and lemon grass and fry for a about 2 minutes. Add the curry paste and fry for another 1 minute.

Drain the mussels and add them along with the coconut milk to the pot. Cover with a lid and bring to the boil. Cook the mussels for about 3 -5 minutes or until they are all open. Shake the pot gently every so often to ensure that the mussels cook evenly. Season with fish sauce, if you wish, according to your taste.

Pick the basil and coriander leaves. Squeeze the juice of 1 lime into the mussels and stir well. Scatter the basil, coriander and red chilli over the mussels and serve with the remaining lime cut into wedges.

Delicious served with crispy bread or rice to mop up the juices.

If you're looking for a dessert to follow the mussels, try the Pineapple with Minted Sugar.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours

Wine advice: Iphöfer Kronsberg Scheurebe - Kabinett Trocken


Pineapple with Minted Sugar

Serves 3-4

This is the simplest recipe ever. In fact, there is no recipe to it. It's more of an assembly job and relies on your own taste. It's inspired by a recipe Jamie Oliver did many years ago.

Ingredients
1 pineapple
about 50 g sugar
small bunch mint
1 lime (optional)

Method
Peel the pineapple, cut into quarters and remove the hard centre core. Slice each quarter lengthways into thin slices. Place on a serving platter.

Place the sugar and mint in a small food processor and blend until the mint has broken up and the sugar has turned green. This can also be done in a pestle and mortar.

Scatter the minted sugar over the pineapple and serve. If you wish, you can add a squeeze of lime juice over the pineapple.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours