Meatballs with Fennel and Ricotta

We know that we've been talking a lot recently about comfort food. The truth is really, that during the this strange time we're all experiencing and the lack of human contact, there's nothing better than plate of something delicious and comforting to lift us up and give us a big culinary hug.

Serves 2

Ingredients
8 veal meatballs of 50g each (bought from a butcher or self-made)
250g ricotta
2 onions
2 bulbs fennel
30g panko
1/2 chicken stock cube
30g grated Parmesan
35g pine nuts
600g floury potatoes
5 tablespoons olive oil
splash of milk
50g butter
salt and pepper

Method
Preheat an oven to 200°C. Finely slice the onion and fennel. Reserve the green herby ends of the fennel.  Dissolve ½ the stock cube in 200 ml hot water. Peel the potatoes and cut into chunks. Place in a pan of salted water and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for about 15 minutes until soft. Drain off the water and mash the potatoes. Add 50 g butter and a splash of milk, stirring until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm over a low heat.

Heat a frying pan over medium heat with 3 tablespoons olive oil and sweat the onions for 10 minutes until golden brown. Add the fennel and fry for a further 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the stock and boil to reduce by half. Transfer to a roasting dish. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the frying pan and fry the meatballs until golden. Add to the roasting dish with the onions and fennel.

Spoon the ricotta around the meatballs and sprinkle over the grated Parmesan, panko and pine nuts. Place in the oven for 12-15 minutes until the top is lightly coloured.

Finely chop the reserved herby fennel. Reheat the mashed potatoes. Remove the meatballs from the oven and sprinkle over the chopped fennel. Serve with the mashed potatoes.

 

Nederlands

voor 2 personen

Ingrediënten
8 kalfsgehaktballetjes van 50gr per stuk (gekocht of zelfgemaakt)
250gr ricotta
2 uien
2 venkel
30gr panko
1/2 kippenbouillon blokje
30gr geraspte Parmezaan
25gr pijnboompitjes
600gr kruimige aardappels
5 eetlepels olijfolie
scheutje melk
50gr boter
zout en peper

Bereiding
Verwarm een oven voor op 200° C. Snijd de uien en venkel fijn. Bewaar het groen van de venkel. Los ½ van het bouillonblokje op in 200 ml warm water. Schil de aardappels en snijd ze in stukken. Breng ze in een pan met koud water en zout aan de kook. Kook ze zachtjes ongeveer 15 minuten totdat ze zacht zijn. Giet het water van de aardappelen af en stamp ze fijn. Voeg 50 gr boter en een scheutje melk toe. Breng op smaak met zout en peper en houd warm op een laag vuurtje.

Verwarm een koekenpan met 3 eetlepels olijfolie en smoor de uien in 10 minuten goudbruin. Voeg de venkel toe en bak nog eens 5 minuten, breng op smaak met zout en peper.

Voeg de bouillon toe en laat voor de helft inkoken. Doe ze in een ovenschaal. Voeg 2 eetlepels olijfolie toe in een koekenpan en bak de gehaktballetjes rondom goudbruin. Voeg ze toe aan de ovenschaal met de uien en venkel.

Lepel de ricotta eromheen en besprenkel met de geraspte Parmezaan, broodkruim en pijnboompitjes. Zet in de oven ongeveer 12-15 minuten, totdat de bovenkant licht gekleurd is

Hak het groen van de venkel fijn. Verwarm de aardappelpuree. Haal de gehaktballetjes uit de oven, bestrooi met het venkelgroen en serveer met de aardappelpuree.


Gelato Festival

A short impression of The Amsterdam Gelato Festival on the Museum Plein 8 to 10th of August 2014

Sorts of ice creams:

Bottargadi marcedi and candied celery, dark chocolate orange variegated, ricotta orange and pistaches, hazelnut varied with hazelnut praline

For more information please visit Gelato Festival.

 


Baked Ricotta

Ingredients
500 g tub fresh ricotta
1 red chilli
1 small bunch tarragon
1 small bunch flat leaf parsley
1 small bunch chives
4 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper

Method
Preheat the oven to 180° C.  Finely chop the herbs. Remove the seeds from the chili and chop finely too. Mix all the herbs and chilli together.

Gently unmould the ricotta on to a greased baking tray. Season the ricotta with salt and pepper and using your hands, gently press the herb and chili mix on to the ricotta. Drizzle with the olive oil and place in the oven for about 15 minutes. In this time the ricotta will firm up.

Remove the ricotta from the oven and slice wedges. Serve with a green salad and some freshly baked bread.

Tip: If possible, we recommend using the organic ricotta from Lindenhoff. It's flavour and texture are far superior to anything you'll buy in the supermarkets.

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