Tagged with chèvre

Quinoa and Beetroot Salad with Walnuts and Chevre


Quinoa and Beetroot Salad with Walnuts and Chevre

1 cup uncooked Quinoa
1 each medium/large golden and red beetroot
1/2 red onion, finely diced
1/2 cup walnuts, lightly toasted
1 cup green beans, blanched and french cut
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp grainy mustard
1/2 a bunch of Freshly chopped parsley
Chevre frais
Salt and Pepper

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit. Wash and trim the beetroot and place them in an aluminum packet, sealed up on a baking tray, in the oven for about an hour. Remove from the oven and open packets so that the beets can thoroughly cool before peeling them with the backside of a spoon and dicing into quarter inch pieces. Place a pot on the stove with two cups of lightly seasoned water, or vegetable stock, and add quinoa. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to low, cover with the lid until all the moisture absorbs, 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile add onions and vinegar to another pot on medium heat and reduce the liquid by half. At this point add a good tablespoon of grainy mustard and olive oil and salt and pepper. Mix well until the mixture emulsifiers. To assemble the salad first add the cooled quinoa to a large bowl, gently toss in the beets, sweet onion vinegar dressing, then the green beans, parsley and walnuts. To serve, add some crumbled chevre to the salad.

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Holy Crepes!

Montreal’s food scene is as varied and diverse as any other major city. However as it stands crepes are something that I thank the Franco gods for. In general, making crepes is possibly one of the easiest things one can make a lasting impression. Thank you Jessi for my new love for all things crepe, this recipe is dedicated to you!

crepes

Rolled Crepes with Chardonnay poached chicken, Prosciutto, Chevre and Chardonnay cream sauce. Served with a Seared Pesto Marinated Salad.

Crepes

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup of flour
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 3/4 cup of milk
  • 2 tablespoons of melted butter
  • 1 pinch of salt, 1 pinch of sugar
  • Melted butter for brushing a pan between each crepe

Combine all ingredients in a blender until a smooth batter is formed. Remember to scrape down the sides to avoid any lumps. Transfer into a container and refrigerate for an hour.

Heat a small pan over low heat and brush with a small amount of melted butter. Add approximately one oz to the middle of the pan and swirl the batter around to achieve an even layer. Cook for thirty seconds and gently turn over to the other side for another fifteen. Remove to a wired rack to cool. Continue until all the batter is gone, or reserve remaining batter for up to two days covered in the refrigerator. Alternatively, once the crepes are cooked and cooled they can be stored in a plastic freezer bag with wax paper in between each crepe for a week, or frozen for a month in the same way.

Chardonnay Poached Chicken

  • 2 chicken breast
  • 1/2 cup chardonnay
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 shallot, finely sliced
  • 1 clove of garlic, slightly smashed.

Melt the butter in a shallow pan over medium heat, add shallot and garlic. Add chicken and sear on both sides. Reduce temperature to low, add wine. Cover with a piece of parchment paper cut to fit inside the pan right on the surface of the chicken and wine. Place lid on the pan and let simmer for 20 minutes. Set chicken aside to cool and reserve liquid for sauce.

Chardonnay Cream Sauce

  • 1 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • Reserved liquid from chicken poaching
  • 1/4 cup Chardonnay
  • 1/2 cup of cream
  • 1/4 cup of Parmigiano reggiano

Melt butter over low heat in a saucepan, whisk in flour and constantly stir for approximately five minutes until the flour and butter have become a roux. Whisk in wine, reserved liquid and cream and increase the temperature to medium low. The sauce should start to thicken immediately. Continue to whisk, add Parmigiano. Once the sauce has finished thickening and is smooth finish it off by whisking in another half tablespoon of butter to add a nice shine to the sauce.

Seared Marinated Pesto Vegetable Salad

  • 1/2 each yellow and green courgette, sliced thick
  • 1/2 red pepper, large slice
  • 4 tablespoons pesto
  • Spinach and pea shoots

Sear Courgettes and red pepper over high heat in a lightly oiled pan. Remove from pan into a bowl and toss with pesto. Marinade for about an hour. Build Spinach, pea shoots and arrange marinated veg around.

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Baked Eggs Chez Darren Andrew

IMG00166-20090630-1157

Simplicity is key when making a quick elegant breakfast. This recipe is per serving.

  • 2 eggs
  • 4 slices of hot capocolli cured ham; alternatively you could use pancetta, prosciutto, serrano etc.
  • 2 red pepper rings
  • chevre. fresh unripened goat cheese
  • parmesiano regiano
  • sunflower sprouts
  • NK Bread toast

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In either a ramekin or nonstick muffin tin, line with capocolli overlaping to take into account shrinkage.  Add eggs to the cups, place pepper rings on top, then cover with crumbled chevre. Bake between 15-20 minutes (15 for very soft eggs or 20 for very firm yoke). Toast bread, cover generously with sunflower sprouts. Place egg cup on top and finish off with some Parmesan. 

Voila - Quick, simple and delicious baked eggs.

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Goat Cheese and Walnut Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette

Chevrewalnutsalad(Salade de chèvre et noix de grenoble avec le vinagrette de dijon-miel)

  • Fresh baby spinach
  • 1 tomato, cubed
  • 1/3 cucumber, cubed
  • 1/4 cup split walnuts
  • 1/8 cup of crumbled fresh goats cheese

Dressing

  • 3 tbs extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbs white balsamic vinegar
  • 1tsp grainy Dijon mustard
  • 1tsp honey
  • Salt and pepper to taste

…et voila!

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