Venison Stew

Venison season is beginning. We often find the flavour too strong or are not sure how to treat it. This recipe for a comforting stew made with young venison, is the best place to start.

serves 3

Ingredients
750g Amsterdam 'damhert' venison or young venison for stewing
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 carrot
2 sticks celery
2 sprigs thyme
1 bottle dark beer
1 chicken stock cube
1 jar baby onions with ‘appelstroop’
250g penoni pasta
1 small bunch flat leaf parsley
5 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper

Method
Preheat an oven to 150°C. Finely chop the onion, garlic, carrot and celery.

Heat a pan over medium heat with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Dry the venison on kitchen papier and season with salt and pepper. Fry in the hot pan until browned. Don’t overcrowd the pan. It’s better to fry the venison in two batches. Place the browned meat in a bowl and set aside.

Add the chopped vegetables to the pan with 2 extra tablespoons olive oi and sweat for 7-10 minutes. Add the thyme sprigs, beer, chicken stock cube, 750 ml water and black pepper to the pan. Bring to the boil and add the meat. Cover with a piece of grease proof paper and place the pan in the oven.

After two and a half hours, add the baby onions and 1 tablespoon of their juices to the stew. Return to the oven for a further 30 minutes until the meat is soft and tender. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil.

Cook the pasta for about 10-12 minutes until al dente. Drain the pasta and return to the pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Finely chop the parsley. Mix the pasta through the stew and half the parsley. Divide between 3 plates, sprinkle with the remaining parsley and serve.

Nederlands

voor 3 personen

Ingrediënten
750gr Amsterdams damhert stoofvlees
1 ui
2 teentjes knoflook
1 peen
2 stengels bleekselderij
2 takjes tijm
1 fles bok bier
1 kip bouillonblokje
1 potje zilveruitjes met appelstroop
250gr penoni pasta
1 klein bosje bladpeterselie
5 eetlepels olijfolie
zout en peper

Bereiding
Verwarm een oven voor op 150°C. Snijd de ui, knoflook, peen en bleekselderij fijn.

Verwarm een pan op medium vuur met 2 eetlepels olijfolie. Dep de stukjes hert droog met een stukje keukenpapier en bestrooi met zout en peper. Bak ze rondom goudbruin. Bak niet te veel in een keer. Het is beter om het hert in twee keer te bakken. Doe het vlees in een kom en zet opzij.

Voeg de gesneden groenten toe aan de pan met 2 extra eetlepels olijfolie en smoor 7-10 minuten. Voeg de takjes tijm, het bockbier, het kipboullionblokje, 300 ml water en wat zwarte peper toe. Breng aan de kook, voeg het vlees toe. Leg een stukje bakpapier op het vlees en zet de pan in de oven.

Voeg na een uur de uitjes samen met het vocht uit het potje toe aan de stoof. Zet nog eens 30 minuten in de oven totdat het vlees zacht en mals is. Breng een pan water met zout aan de kook.

Kook de pasta in 8 minuten beetgaar. Giet het water van de pasta af, doe terug in de pan en meng met 1 eetlepel olijfolie. Snijd de peterselie fijn. Meng de stoof door de pasta samen met de helft van de peterselie. Verdeel de pasta over 2 borden en strooi de resterende peterselie er overheen.

 


Cod en Papilotte

A healthy way of cooking fish, which steams it in it's own juices and keeps in all the delicate flavours.

English

Serves 2

Ingredients
40g butter
4 carrots
4 spring onions
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 small bunch flat leaf parsley
1 small bunch tarragon
200g savoy cabbage, cabbage
2 cod fillets of 150g a piece
4 roseval potatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
80ml white wine
salt an pepper

Method
Thinly slice the carrots diagonally and the spring onions into rings. Thinly slice the potatoes; finely chop the parsley and roughly chop the tarragon.

Heat a frying pan with the butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sweat the potato, carrots, spring onions, cabbage and fennel seeds for about 3-4 minutes. Add the white wine and season with salt and pepper. Allow the vegetables to cool off slightly.

Preheat the oven to 180° C. Cut 2 pieces of aluminium foil or baking paper of 30 cm and grease with olive oil. Place the vegetables in the middle of the foil and lay the cod on top. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle over the parsley and tarragon. Fold the sides in, forming a package and pour in the juices from the vegetables. Fold the ends tightly together. Transfer the packages to an oven tray and place in the oven for about 13–15 minutes.

Carefully remove the fish and vegetables from the packages and place on serving plates.

Nederlands

voor 2 personen

Ingrediënten
40g boter
4 bospeen
4 lente uitjes
1 theelepel venkelzaad
1 klein bosje platte peterselie
1 klein bosje dragon
200g savooiekool, gesneden
2 kabeljauwfilets a 150g per stuk
4 roseval aardappel
80 ml witte wijn
3 eetlepels 0lijfolie
zout en peper

Bereiding
Snijd de bospeen fijn in schuine plakjes, de lente uitjes in ringetjes, de aardappels in dunne schijfjes, de peterselie en de dragon fijn.

Verhit de koekenpan met de boter en 2 eetlepels olijfolie. Fruit hierin de aardappel, bospeen, lente uitjes, kool en venkelzaad voor ongeveer 3 tot 4 minuten. Blus af met de witte wijn. Laat groenten iets afkoelen.

Verwarm een oven voor op 180 °C. Knip twee stukjes aluminiumfolie van 30 cm. Plaats het groentemengsel in het midden van de folie, leg de kabeljauw er bovenop, bestrooi met zout, peper, peterselie en dragon. Vouw de zijkanten van de folie omhoog, zodat er een bakje ontstaat, giet het vocht van de groenten erover heen. Vouw de pakketjes aan de bovenkant dicht.

Zet de pakketjes op een bakplaat in de oven voor ongeveer 13 tot 15 minuten.

Leg de pakketjes op borden en vouw het open.


Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup, otherwise known as Jewish penicillin, is one of those dishes which is surrounded by mysticism. Jewish mothers would prepare a large pot of this golden liquid to give to their children when they were not well. It has been scientifically proven that chicken soup contains many of the same properties as penicillin, so it is in essence, the perfect medicine. This is actually a 'poor man's soup'. Once a week on the Sabbath or for special holidays, the chicken and vegetables would be used to make a flavourful soup. The soup would then be strained and served as a clear broth to start the meal. The reserved chicken and vegetables would then be served as the main course.

Serves 6-8 

Ingredients
1 chicken, about 1 kg in weight
2 leeks
3-4 sticks celery
1 carrot
4 small turnips
1 bunch flat leaf parsley
2-3 organic chicken stock cubes, according to taste
water, to cover
salt and pepper

Method
Wash the leeks and celery and finely slice. Peel the carrot and turnips and cut into small dice. Finely chop the flat leaf parsley.

Place the chicken and vegetables in a pressure cooker or large pot. Add water to cover, the stock cubes, salt and pepper. If using a pressure cooker, place on the lid, bring to the boil and cook for 30 minutes. If using a conventional pot, bring to the boil and simmer gently for about 2 hours, skimming off any scum which forms on the top.

Remove the chicken and pick the meat off the bones. Return the meat to the soup and check the seasoning. Serve in large bowls and you'll be feeling better in no time.

To bulk the soup up, you can always add some broken spaghetti or other pasta of your choice. Traditionally the soup is served with matzah balls.

Make a large pot, as the soups freezes beautifully and it's always good to have some at hand.

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

 


De Eetbare Stad

'De Eetbare Stad' or Edible City is a book packed with gems what can be foraged in and around Amsterdam.

Filled with interesting and unusual ingredients, this book, divided into the seasons, supplies background information on the ingredients and includes a recipe with each. The perfect hand guide to the secret treasures hiding around the city of Amsterdam.

On a side note, the photos in this book have been taken by photographer Hay Hermans, who also produces beautiful food and ingredient photos which we stock in our store.


Summer Drinks

With the weather heating up, we're getting more interested in light and refreshing drinks.

What we like is to start with a cordial or syrup. This is an intense flavoured base from which to begin building your drinks. Think different seasonal fruits that bring colour and flavour; rhubarb, lemons and plums for example.

Once you have a cordial base, this should keep well in the refrigerator for a few weeks. Now get creative. Mix the cordial with water (still or sparkling), ice cubes and then an array of fruit  and herbs to garnish. Think of a garnish the complements the main ingredient. Let your imagination run wild.


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.


Making Stock

Stocks or bouillons are the foundation of many important kitchen preparations; therefore the greatest possible care should be taken in their production.

Stock is not an end in itself – it is always used to make some other dish or as a basis for sauces. A stock is the liquid obtained from long, gentle simmering of bones, vegetables, seasonings and water (except fish stock which only requires 20 minutes). The liquid, strained and reduced down to concentrate its flavour by rapid boiling, is the basis of soups, stews, braises and sauces.

In cooking stock, the prime essential is patience. Classic cookbooks recommend cooking veal stock for 10-12 hours. Three hours will suffice for chicken stock and fish stock is completed relatively quickly in half an hour.

During the cooking process, all the flavour should have been extracted from the bones and vegetables, leaving them tasteless. As well as flavour, good stock should acquire body from bone marrow and when chilled it will set to a jelly.

LE FONDS – THE STOCKS

Stocks, which are clear, flavoured liquids, are the foundation of many kitchen preparations. Therefore the greatest possible care should be taken with them.

- Unsound meat or bones and decaying vegetables should not be used

Ÿ- Scum should be removed continuously so that it does not boil back into the stock

Ÿ- The pot should be skimmed regularly and only simmer gently

Ÿ- Do not add turnip, potato or other items that will cloud stock

Ÿ- Always keep the inside of the pot clean and free of grease and scum

- Keep stock in clean containers in the refrigerator or freezer to avoid souring

GENERAL PROPORTIONS OF INGREDIENTS FOR ALL STOCKS EXCEPT FISH

5 liters water
2 kg raw bones
500g vegetables (onion, carrot, celery leek)
Bouquet garni including thyme, bay leaf, parsley stalks

GENERAL METHOD FOR ALL BROWN STOCKS

Chop the bones, remove any skin or fat and brown well on all sides by placing in a roasting pan in the oven.

Drain off any fat and place the bones in a stockpot.

Brown any sediment that may be in the bottom of the tray, déglace (swill out) with boiling water, simmer for a few minutes and add to the bones.

Wash, peel and roughly cut the vegetables. Fry in a little fat (from the roasting tray) until well browned but not burnt. This will improve the colour of the stock. Add to the bones.

Add the cold water. Bring to the boil and skim. Then add the bouquet garni.

Simmer for 6-8 hours wiping the inside of the pot continually to remove impurities. Skim and strain.

NOTE: For brown stocks, a few tomatoes and washed mushroom trimmings may also be added to improve flavour.

BROWN VEAL STOCK

For brown veal stock, use the same ingredients as for the chicken stock, substituting veal bones for the chicken. Place 2-2,5kg veal bones in a roasting pan and roast in the oven for 30-40 minutes until well browned, stirring occasionally. Add the vegetables and brown them also, about 15-20 minutes longer. Thorough browning gives stock flavour and colour. Transfer the vegetables and bones to the stockpot. Discard the fat from the pan and deglaze with 500ml water. Add the liquid to the pot, then make the stock. Add the garlic, 1 chopped tomato or 1 tablespoon tomato puree, bouquet garni and peppercorns. Simmer for 6-8 hours.

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


Artichokes Barigoule

Serves 4-6 as a side dish

Ingredients
12 small violet artichokes
1 lemon
100 ml olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 small carrot chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted
3 pieces of orange peel
2 fresh bay leaves
2 sprigs of thyme
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
3 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
200 ml white wine
small bunch of basil leaves, picked and torn
100 ml chicken or vegetable stock stock
selection of fresh herbs: chervil, fennel, basil
salt and pepper

Method
With a small knife, trim the hard leaves off the artichokes, remove the centre hairs and rub the artichokes with lemon juice.

Heat the oil in a deep casserole and fry the onions and the carrot until soft but not coloured. Stir in the tomatoes, orange peel, herbs and spices. Add the artichokes.

Pour in the wine and add enough water to cover the artichokes halfway, sprinkle over the torn basil and cover the pan with a lid. Cook slowly until tender, 35 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the artichokes.

Remove the artichokes from the pan, reduce the cooking juices and add a little chicken or vegetable stock to intensify the flavour. Season with salt and pepper and finish off with fresh herbs.

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

 


Easter Lamb

Ingredients
1 de-boned shoulder of lamb about 1 ½ - 2 kg
salt and pepper
fresh oregano or fresh rosemary
small bunch of flat leaf parsley
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves of garlic

Sauce
200 ml white wine
1 bunch of tarragon
2 shallots, finely chopped
400 ml lamb or veal stock

Method
Pre-heat the oven to 160° C.

Make a paste from the herbs using the rosemary or oregano, parsley, garlic and the olive oil by mashing up in a pestle and mortar. Rub on the inside of the shoulder. Take a length of kitchen string and tie up the meat into a tidy roll. Season with salt, pepper.

Heat a heavy casserole with some olive oil over a high heat and brown the lamb on all sides.  Place a lid on the casserole and roast for a about 60 minutes.

Remove from the oven and leave to stand for a further 20 minutes in a warm place.

Pour of the excess fat and add a little stock to the pan, bring to the boil and reserve for the sauce.

To make the sauce, ,blanch the tarragon in boiling water for 10 seconds, then plunge into cold water. Dry off, remove the leaves from the stalks and chop finely. Reserve to add to the sauce later.

Place the stalks in a pan with the white wine and shallot, bring to the boil and reduce by half. Add the lamb or veal stock and simmer gently until reduced by a quarter.  Add the cooking juices from the lamb and the tarragon, just before serving. Season, if necessary with salt and pepper.

Braised Greens
2 heads of Swiss chard or Cavalo Nero
4 tablespoons olive oil
6 anchovy fillets, chopped
50g raisins soaked in a little brandy or hot water
2 tablespoons toasted nigella seeds (black onion) or pine nuts

Method
Wash the vegetables well in cold water and remove any though stalks.

Blanch the vegetables for a few minutes in boiling salted water and drain well.

Heat the olive oil in a pan add the chopped anchovies, toss in the vegetables and heat through; add the raisins, the seeds or nuts. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

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 


Hazenpeper - Hare Stew

Ingredients
4 hare legs
1, 5 bottles red wine
1 head of garlic, peeled
1 carrot, diced
1 red onion, finely chopped
200 g celeriac, diced
1 leek, finely chopped
4 sprigs of thyme
4 sprigs of rosemary
8 cloves
8 juniper berries
2 bay leaves
olive oil
butter
salt
black pepper
flour
4 slices onbijt cooked (ginger or spice cake), crumbled

Method
Mix together the red wine, peeled garlic cloves, carrot, onion, celeriac, leek, thyme, rosemary, cloves, juniper berries and bay leaves. Add the hare legs and marinate the hare legs for 24- 48 hours.

Remove the hare from the marinade and pat dry. Strain the marinade and keep the vegetables and herbs separately.

Heat a casserole or oven proof pan with some olive oil and a knob of butter. Brown the hare on all sides until nicely caramelised. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Add the strained vegetables and herbs to the pan and fry for about 5-10 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon flour and fry for 1 minute. Pour in the reserved red wine from the marinade, the hare legs and a good seasoning of salt and pepper.

Bring to the boil, cover with a lid and place in a 140° C oven for about 3 hours until the meat is tender.

Remove the hare from the pan and pour the liquid through a sieve. Pick the meat from the bones.

Bring the sauce to a boil, whisk in the crumbled onbijtkoek (ginger or spice cake) and a knob of butter. Check the seasoning, adding more salt and pepper if necessary. Return the meat to the sauce to reheat.

Serve the hare stew with creamy mashed potatoes and braised red cabbage.

The stew also freezes well and can be made ahead of time.

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