Courgette soup with fried aubergines and feta
This simple courgette soup is great for a lunch or light evening dinner
Courgette Soup
- Main course
- Serves 2
- Vegetarian
- Ready in about 30 minutes
Equipment
- Chopping board
- Chef’s knife
- Pan
- Frying pan
- Vegetable peeler
- Stick blender
Pantry
- Olive oil (4 tablespoons)
- Salt
- Pepper
Ingredients
2 courgettes
1 aubergine
1 floury potato
1 pack flat leaf parsley
1 pack feta (75 gram)
1 vegetable stock cube
1 onion
1 clove garlic
Method
1
Finely chop the onion and garlic. Peel the potato and cut in cubes. Cut the courgettes into 2 cm cubes and dissolve the vegetable stock cube in 750 ml hot water.
2
Cut the aubergine into 1 cm cubes.
3
Heat a pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil and sweat the onion until soft. Add the garlic and fry for 1 minute. Add the courgette and potato and fry for 2 minutes, add the stock and simmer gently until the courgette is soft.
4
Heat a frying pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil and fry the aubergine cubes until golden brown. Season with salt and pepper. Crumble three-quarters of the feta into the soup and cook for 2 minutes. Finely chop the parsley and stir through the aubergine.
5
Puree the soup with a stick blender or blender. Season with salt and pepper. Divide between 2 bowls. Spoon the aubergine on top and crumble over the remaining feta. Serve with crispy bread.
Courgettesoep
1. Hoofdgerecht
2. Tweepersoons
3. Vegetarisch
4. Bereidingstijd: ca. 30 minuten
Benodigdheden
- Snijplank
- Koksmes
- Pan
- Koekenpan
- Dunschiller - Staafmixer
Voorraadkast
- Olijfolie (4 eetlepels) - Zout
- Peper
Ingrediënten
2 courgettes
1 aubergine
1 kruimige aardappel
1 pakje bladpeterselie (15 gram peterselie) 1 pakje feta (75 gram)
1 bio groentenbouillonblokje
1 ui
1 teentje knoflook
Bereiding
1
Snijd de ui en het knoflookteentje fijn. Schil de aardappel en snijd in blokjes. Snijd de courgette in blokjes van 2 cm. Los het bouillonblokje op in 750 ml warm water.
2
Snijd de aubergine in kleine blokjes van 1 cm.
3
Verwarm een pan met 2 eetlepels olijfolie en smoor de ui zacht. Voeg knoflook toe en bak 1 minuut. Voeg courgette en aardappel toe en bak alles 2 minuten, voeg dan bouillon toe en laat zachtjes koken tot courgette zacht is.
4
Verwarm een koekenpan met 2 eetlepels olijfolie en bak hierin de aubergineblokjes goudbruin, breng op smaak met zout en peper. Kruimel 3⁄4 van de feta toe aan soep en laat 2 minuten koken. Snijd de peterselie fijn en mix dit door de aubergine.
5
Pureer de soep met een staafmixer of in een blender, breng op smaak met zout en peper. Verdeel over 2 kommen, schep de aubergine er bovenop en kruimel de resterende feta er overheen. Serveer met wat brood.
Pita with lamb meatballs
Pita with Lamb Meatballs
- Main course
- Serves 2
- Meat
- Ready in about 30 minutes
Equipment
- Chopping board
- Chefs knife
- Vegetable peeler
- Frying pan
- Bowl
Pantry
- Olive oil (6 tablespoons)
- Salt
- Pepper
Ingredients
350 gr lamb meatballs
1 teaspoon ground cumin
200 ml Greek yoghurt
4 pita breads
1 bag lamb’s lettuce
3 tomatoes
1 cucumber
2 tablespoons tahini
Method
1
Slice the tomatoes. Peel the cucumber, halve lengthways, remove the seeds and slice thinly. Set the cut vegetables aside.
2
Season the Greek yoghurt with ground cumin to taste, salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
3
Heat a frying pan over medium heat with 2 tablespoons olive oil and fry the lamb meatballs for about 10 minutes until golden brown.
4
Grill the tomato slices in a grill pan with 1 tablespoon olive over medium heat and season with salt and pepper. Heat the pita breads up in a toaster or preheated oven at 180° C.
5
Dress the lamb’s lettuce with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper. Cut the pita breads open and spread with a layer of yoghurt. Fill the pitas with the cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, lamb meatballs and remaining yoghurt. Spoon the tahini over the vegetables. Mix together the remaining salad and cucumber and serve on the side.
Pita met lamsgehaktballetjes
- Hoofdgerecht
- Tweepersoons
- Vlees
- Bereidingstijd: ca. 30 minuten
Benodigdheden
- Snijplank
- Koksmes
- Dunschiller
- Koekenpan
- Kom
Voorraadkast
- Olijfolie (6 eetlepels)
- Zout
- Peper
Ingrediënten
1 bakje lamsgehaktballetjes (350 gr)
1 bakje komijnpoeder (1 theelepel)
1 bakje Griekse yoghurt (180 gr)
4 pitabroodjes
1 zakje veldsla (75 gr)
3 tomaten
1 komkommer
2 eetlepels Tahini
Bereiding
1
Snijd de tomaten in plakken. Snijd de komkommer over de lengte in tweeen, haal de zaadjes eruit en snijd in dunne plakjes. Zet de gesneden groenten opzij.
2
Breng de Griekse yoghurt op smaak met komijnpoeder, zout, peper en 1 eetlepel olijfolie.
3
Verwarm een koekenpan op medium vuur met 2 eetlepels olijfolie en bak de lamsgehaktballetjes in ongeveer 10 minuten goudbruin.
4
Grill de tomatenschijfjes in de pan met 1 eetlepel olijfolie en bestrooi met zout en peper. Verwarm de pitabroodjes in een broodrooster of in een voorverwarmde oven van 180° C.
5
Maak veldsla aan met 1-2 eetlepels olijfolie, zout en peper. Snijd de pitabroodjes open en bestrijk ze met de Griekse yoghurt. Vul de pitabroodjes met de komkommer, tomaten en veldsla, de lamsgehaktballetjes en de resterende Griekse yoghurt.Lepel er wat tahini overheen. Meng restant van de sla en komkommer door elkaar en serveer het in een schaaltje erbij.
Breda-Amsterdam
Restaurant Breda, situated in the centre of Amsterdam, offers modern international cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. You can choose between 3 menus carefully compiled and executed by the chefs.
They have over 15 wines available to order by the glass, wine pairing with the menu and more than 60 wines on the list from all over the world.
The food is simple yet delicious with surprising combinations and attention to detail. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner which used the best and freshest of the season's ingredients. Also the prefect choice for lunch! A restaurant we wouldn't hesitate to return to.
Daalder in the Jordaan
At Daalder, situated on the Lindengracht in Amsterdam's vibrant Jordan district, you can expect fine, Michelin-quality cuisine in a down to earth environment. They serve either a 5-or 7- course menu, made with beautiful fresh ingredients, all hand picked by their head chef and co-owner from Paris, Dennis Huwaë.
His dishes are like works of art and with their many flavours and textures, his creations are a delight to the palate. They do things a little differently at Daalder. Their superb dishes are served with a smile in a joyful, unpretentious atmosphere.
The wine menu is created by Maitre Sommelier Tim Grashuis, who is also responsible for the widely acclaimed great service at Daalder.
Double-baked goat cheese Souffle
This is one of our go-to recipes for a light lunch of vegetarian main course. The beauty is that it can be made ahead of time and the last baking done just before serving. It's light and full of flavour.
For 4-6 ramekin moulds
Ingredients
40g butter
40g flour
250ml warmed milk (1 cup)
250g soft goat cheese, crumbled
3 eggs, separated
250ml cream (1 cup)
6 Tbsp grated firm goat cheese
Method
Melt the butter, then stir in the flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in the warmed milk. Bring to the boil, still whisking. Remove from the heat and beat in the soft goat cheese. Beat in the egg yolks and seasoning to taste, then fold in the beaten egg whites.
Spoon into 4-6 well-buttered soufflé dishes and place in a baking pan of hot water. Bake at 220°C for 15-20 minutes, or until puffed and set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in their moulds. To bake a second time, lift the cooled soufflés out of their dishes into a buttered baking dish. Pour over the cream and generously sprinkle with the grated goats cheese. Bake at 230°C for 10 minutes or until puffed and golden.
We like to serve our souffles with a roasted beetroot. Here's the recipe:
Roasted beetroot salad
Ingredients
2kg mixed beetroot, washed
olive oil
garlic cloves, skin on
sprigs of rosemary and thyme
coarse sea salt and black pepper
Method
Line a roasting tray with a double layer of aluminium foil, making show the there is an overhang on the sides. Lay the beetroot in. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with the olive oil. Scatter over the garlic cloves and herbs.
Gather the ends of the foil together making a parcel to enclose the beetroot. Ensure that it’s not too tight as the beetroot won’t cook.
Place in a 220°C oven for at least and hour, depending on the size of the beetroot, until tender. Allow to cool slightly. Peel the beetroot and slice into a bowl. Season with some more salt and pepper, a good quality olive oil and an aged balsamic vinegar. Add some chopped parsley or tarragon to finish. Serve with the goats cheese soufflé.
Vegetarian Lunch
With more people choosing to eat consciously an opting more for vegetarian, it's always a good idea to a few recipes handy.
Here are two of our favourites for lunch.
Beetroot Hummus and feta sandwich:
Ingredients for the beetroot hummus
500 g cooked beetroot, roughly chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tin chickpeas, drained
pinch of ground cumin
pinch of cayenne pepper
1-2 tablespoons tahini
2 tablespoons olive oil
lemon juice, to taste
salt and pepper
Method
Place the beetroot, garlic, chickpeas, cumin, cayenne and tahini in a food processor and blend all the ingredients are broken down. Add the olive oil (enough to make a smooth hummus), lemon juice to taste and season with salt and pepper.
To assemble the sandwiches, use a good bread of your choice. We like a sourdough spelt variety. Spread each slice liberally with the beetroot hummus. Top with some rocket leaves and generous scattering of a good feta.
Sweet Potato and Courgette Salad with Pear
Ingredients
1 head garlic
1 kg sweet potatoes
2 comice pears
1 red chilli
2 sprigs rosemary, finely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons sesame oil
3 courgettes
100 g hazelnuts
100 g baby spinach leaves
Method
Preheat an oven to 200 C. Separate the garlic cloves from the head of garlic, leaving the skins on. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into wedges. Finely chop the chilli, leaving in the seeds if you like it spicy and finely chop the rosemary.
Place the garlic cloves, sweet potato chilli and rosemary in a roasting pan and toss with the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes.
In the meantime, halve the pears, remove the core and cut each half into 6 slices. Cut the courgettes into quarters and then each quarter in half, so that you end you up with 8 pieces. Roughly chop the hazelnuts.
Add the pears, courgettes, hazelnuts, toss again and return to the oven for about another 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, add the remaining tablespoon of sesame oil, check the seasoning if it requires any more salt and pepper and mix through the baby spinach leaves.
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
Filled Focaccia
We're all thinking of ways to enjoy summer eating, whether that be in our outdoors. Here is a great recipe/idea for summer eating. You can practice your bread making skills and use your favourite vegetables or whatever is season.
Make a batch of focaccia.
Use an array of your favourite vegetables. We like a combination of peppers, courgettes, aubergine and red onion. Cut each into bite-sized pieces. Toss in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill in a grill pan until the vegetables have bar marks and are tender and cooked through. You can also finish them off in the oven to get them more tender.
Once they and the bread have cooled down, slice the bread in half. Spread with pesto (either homemade or shop bought). Top with the grilled vegetables and then tear some buffalo mozzarella over. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Dot a few fresh basil leaves over and a handful of rocket leaves. Close the bread to form a giant sandwich. Cut into pieces and serve.
Cooking Workshop at Groot Kruivestein
Yesterday, we were fortunate enough to be the first people to make use of the beautiful new kitchen and dining space at Groot Kruivenstein, in Langbroek near Utrecht.
This location is perfect for dining and meetings, set over beautiful lush grounds away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The interior and furnishings have been tastefully planned and thought out, with a unique eye for detail. Jan Steengracht and his wife Maud have created something really special.
Jan, by trade, is a designer working with metal. Pieces of his work complement the spaces, from door handles in the kitchen to lighting. Maud has used her interior design skills to created a homely ambience with beautiful fabrics and pieces of furniture.
We were hosting a cooking workshop and lunch for a group of ladies who had come to celebrate a special birthday. We enjoyed an afternoon cooking delicious food with seasonal ingredients. Dishes included bruschetta with buratta and grilled courgette, bruschetta topped with veal sweetbreads fried in buerre noisette with capers, lemon and parsley. Main was a pan-fried sea bream anchovy dressing and roasted asparagus. Dessert was a rhubarb and strawberry Eton mess and caramelised lemon tart.
Morgan & Mees
Morgan & Mees is a brand new hotel and restaurant situated in a completely renovated historical building in Amsterdam West. The interior matches the characteristics of the monumental building, but with a modern twist. With an elegant timeless look and an eye for detail Morgan & Mees is a stylised hotel for international travellers and locals.
The bar, restaurant and hotel are tastefully designed, classical, yet modern at the same time.
The restaurant menu is brasserie inspired with very accessible dishes. In the evenings, the bar is really popular and even standing space is hard to find.
In the short time they've been open, Morgan & Mees has gained quite a following and they are certainly a valuable addition to the area.
For more information, please visit Morgan & Mees.
Tomato, Basil and Parmesan Quiche
Ingredients
Pastry
280 g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
140 g cold butter, cut into pieces
a pinch of salt
Filling
300 g cherry tomatoes
10 ml fresh thyme leaves
salt and pepper
drizzle olive oil
50 g parmesan, grated
2 eggs
250 ml cream
small bunch basil leaves, shredded, plus a few small ones left whole for scattering
Method
Heat the oven to 120 C. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and lay on a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper. Sprinkle with thyme leaves, salt, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil and bake for 1 hour until slightly dried and the flavour concentrated.
To make the pastry, tip the flour, a pinch of salt and butter into a bowl, then rub together with your fingertips until completely mixed and crumbly. Add 8 tablespoons cold water, then bring everything together with your hands until just combined. Roll into a ball and rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a round about 5cm larger than a 25cm tin. Use your rolling pin to lift it up, then drape over the tart case so there is an overhang of pastry on the sides. Using a small ball of pastry scraps, push the pastry into the corners of the tin. Chill in the fridge or freezer for 20 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 180 C.
Lightly prick the base of the tart with a fork, line the tart case with a large circle of greaseproof paper or foil, then fill with dried beans or rice. Blind-bake the tart for 20 minutes, remove the paper and beans, then continue to cook for 5-10 minutes until lightly browned. Remove the tart case from the oven.
While the tart is cooking, beat the eggs in a large bowl. Gradually add the cream, then stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper. When the case is ready, sprinkle half the cheese over the base, scatter over the tomatoes, pour over the cream mix, then finally scatter over the rest of the cheese. Bake for 20-25 mins until set and golden brown. Leave to cool in the case, trim the edges of the pastry, then remove from the tin. Scatter over the remaining basil and serve in slices with a green salad.
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