Slow-roasted cherry tomatoes

Beautiful sweet roasted tomatoes! You can use them on crostini's with ricotta or in a salade with burrata and basil

Ingredients:

500 gram sweet small cherry tomatoes

1 tbsp olijfolie

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh pepper

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 150 C

Put a baking sheet on an oven rack and place the tomatoes on top.

Brush the tomatoes with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Place the tomatoes in the oven until their skines are shriveled, but the tomatoes are still plump, about  75 min.

 


Salmon with Basil Aioli, Green Asparagus and Purslane

A wonderful date night dinner. Serve with a glass of chilled white wine and the evening is set.

English

Serves 2

Ingredients
2 salmon fillets
10 green asparagus
50g purslane
1 small bunch  basil
1 clove garlic
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
salt and pepper

Method
Place the mayonnaise in a small bowl with the basil leaves. Finely chop the garlic clove, also adding it to the bowl and blend with a stick blender until smooth (alternatively, finely chop the basil and stir through the mayonnaise). Season with salt and pepper.

Discard the hard ends of the asparagus. Heat a grill pan on medium heat. Drizzle the asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper and lay in the grill pan. Grill for about 5 minutes turning every so often.

Heat a frying pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil on medium-high heat. Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper and fry for 3 minutes on each side until golden brown.

Mix the purslane through the warm asparagus. Divide between 2 plates, placing the salmon on top. Serve the basil aioli on the side.

Nederlands

voor 2 personen

Ingrediënten
2 zalmfilets
10 groene asperges
50g postelein
1 klein bosje basilicum
1 teentje knoflook
4 eetlepels olijfolie
4 eetlepels mayonaise
zout en peper

Bereiding
Doe de mayonaise in een kommetje met de basilicum blaadjes. Hak het knoflookteentje fijn, voeg toe aan het kommetje en pureer met een staafmixer (of hak de basilicum fijn en meng dit door de mayonaise heen). Breng op smaak met zout en peper.

Verwijder de harde eindstukjes van de asperges. Verwarm een grillpan op medium vuur. Besprenkel de asperges met 2 eetlepels olijfolie, wat zout en peper en leg ze in de grillpan. Grill ze voor 5 minuten en keer ze af en toe om.

Verhit een koekenpan met 2 eetlepels olijfolie op medium hoog vuur. Bestrooi de zalmfilets met zout en peper en bak de zalm in 3 minuten aan elke kant goudbruin.

Meng de postelein door de warme asperges. Verdeel over 2 borden en plaats de zalm er boven op met een lepel basilicum aioli er naast.


Panzanella

As we near the end of summer, tomatoes are at their ripest and best. Keep cool yet satisfied on a warm day with this delicious and flavourful salad Italian bread salad.

Serves 2

Ingredients
1 tin tomatoes
2 red peppers
700 g mixed coloured tomatoes
2 ciabatta rolls or 1 ciabatta bread
1 bunch basil
1 ball buffalo mozzarella
4 tablespoons olive oil (4 tablespoons)
red wine- or Sherry vinegar (to taste)
salt
pepper

Method
1
Preheat the oven to 220 °C. Place the peppers in a roasting tray and roast until black. Alternatively, blacken over an open flame on a gas stove. Transfer to a bowl and cover with cling film. Allow to stand for a few minutes.
2
Lower the oven temperature to 180 °C. Cut the ciabatta into rough cubes. Place them in a roasting tray and bake in the oven until they have dried out and are crunchy. Set aside to cool.
3
Place the tinned tomatoes in a bowl and blend until smooth using a stick blender. Season with salt, pepper, red wine- or sherry vinegar and the olive oil. This dressing should be slightly too sour.
4
Peel the peppers; discard the seeds and slice into strips. The juices that have been released from the peppers can be added to the dressing. Slice the tomatoes into wedges.
5
Pick the basil leaves from the stalks. Tear the mozzarella into pieces. Mix the ciabatta cubes, tomatoes, peppers and basil in a bowl with the dressing. Season with salt and pepper.
6
Divide the salad between two plates and top with the torn mozzarella.


Strawberry and Basil Jam

Ingredients
1 kg fresh strawberries
800 g sugar
1 lemon
10 g basil

Method
Rinse the strawberries in a colander under cold running water. Cut away the green calyx and slice the strawberries in half. Place them in a heavy based pan.

Add the sugar and the juice of the lemon. Bring the mixture gently to the boil, making sure the sugar dissolves before the mixture boils. Once the it starts boiling, remove the strawberries with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl. Boil the sugary mixture until it reaches about 105° C on a sugar thermometer. If you don't have a thermometer, another way to test if the jam is ready is by placing a saucer in the freezer until cold. Spoon a little of jam on the saucer and return to the freezer until the jam is cold. Run a finger through the jam - if it hold itself and wrinkles, you know that it has reached the right temperature.

In the meantime, place a few jars in a 180° C oven until heated through and sterilized, about 10 minutes. Allow them to cool slightly.

Return the strawberries with the basil to the pan and bring to the boil. Taste to see if enough basil flavor has infused through. Remove the basil and ladle the jam into the jars. Seal with the lids and turn the jars upside down to cool. This helps with the air pocket and ensures good distribution of the fruit. Allow to cool completely before using.

The jam can be kept, unopened for at least 6 months. Refrigerate once opened. These also make fantastic gifts to give away to family and friends.

 

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

 


Rhubarb and Basil Syrups

Flavoured syrups are great ways to make mocktails or other flavoured drinks. They keep well for a few weeks in the fridge and only require a few ingredients.

Here are 2 recipes, one for a rhubarb syrup and one for a basil syrup. Great flavours for spring and also here are great mocktail ideas .

Rhubarb syrup 

Ingredients

1,25 kg fresh or frozen chopped rhubarb
500 ml water
500 g sugar
1 vanilla pod

Place the rhubarb in a pan with the sugar, water and vanilla. Bring to the boil, simmer for a few minutes and strain so that you have a clear pink syrup. Cool, pour into a bottle and store in the fridge.

To make a cocktail, mix 30 ml of the syrup with about 120 ml sparkling water. Add ice and garnish with mint leaves.

Basil syrup
500 g water
500 g sugar
50g  basil

Kombucha and basil mocktail

1 bottle ginger kombucha
slices ginger
Black pepper

Place water and sugar in a saucepan, heat until boiling, then cool. Add basil to the syrup and blend.

Peel the ginger and cut into slices about 5mm thick.

Put two slices of ginger and the 30 ml basil syrup into a glass. Add ice cubes. Pour in about 150 ml kombucha. Mix it all through and grind black pepper on top. Serve immediately.


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.


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


Halibut with Seaweed Salad

Serves 4 

Ingredients
4 halibut fillets, about 150-175 g each
1 shallot
200 ml white wine, plus a little extra for the fish
60 g butter, at room temperature
small bunch basil
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
1 bag dried mixed seaweed (about 50 g in weight)
30 g pickled ginger, finely chopped
mixed cresses, to garnish
olive oil, for greasing
salt
pepper

Method
Preheat the oven to 180° C. Finely chop the shallot and add it to a small pot with 200 ml white wine. Bring to the boil and cook until the liquid as reduced down to 1 tablespoon. Allow the shallot and wine to cool down. Soften the butter in a bowl. Finely slice the basil into thin strips (chiffonade), add it to the butter along with the shallot and white wine mixture, salt and pepper.

Mix the ingredients well. Spoon the butter on to a piece of cling wrap, shape into a cylinder and refrigerate until the butter has firmed up.

Place the seaweed in a bowl and add enough hot water from a recently boiled kettle so that the seaweed is completely covered. Stand for 15 minutes until the seaweed has softened. Drain off and set aside. Make the dressing for the seaweed salad; finely chop the pickled ginger. Add to a small bowl with the soy sauce and sesame oil. Set aside.

Grease a roasting tray with a few drops of olive oil. Lightly season the brill fillets with salt and pepper. Place in the tray, pour 50 ml white wine around the fish, cover with aluminium foil and place in the oven for about 8-10 minutes or until the fish is just cooked.

Dress the seaweed salad with the dressing and divide between 4 plates. Set the fish on top of the salad and sprinkle over the cresses.

Thinly slice the butter. Lay a slice on each piece of fish and serve straight away.

Tip: If there is any butter over, this can be stored in the freezer for use again.
To give the dish extra crunch, you can top the fish with rice vermicelli noodles which have been deep-fried until they have      puffed up and become crispy.

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