Sweet and salty nuts
- 500 g unsalted mixed nuts (I used walnuts, almonds and cashews)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- pinch ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp curry powder
- 1tsp freshly ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Preheat over to 180°. Spread the nuts on a large baking tray and bake for 5-10 minutes, until they are crisp and slightly coloured. Remove and allow to cool.
Combine the sugar, spices, salt and pepper and mix well.
Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat and add nuts. Sprinkle spice mixture over nuts and stir for 5 minutes, or until nuts turn golden. The sugar will melt and coat nuts. Gently shake frying pan to ensure even cooking. If nuts stick together, separate with a wooden spoon. When nuts are cooked, remove from heat and spread them on a lightly oiled baking tray to cool.
The nuts will keep for a few weeks in a tightly sealed jar. (Though not if Paul finds them.)
[From The Little Tapas Book, Murdoch Books]
Lamb and filo cigars
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1 small brown onion, finely chopped
- 235 g lean minced lamb
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tsp freshly ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- pinch cinnamon
- pinch saffron threads, soaked in a little warm water
- 2 tbs coriander, chopped
- 2 tbs Italian parsley
- 1 egg
- 8-12 sheets filo pastry
- 90 g butter, melted
- 1 tbs sesame seeds
Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the ions and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, or until the ion ion is soft. Increase the heat, add the lamb and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, breaking up any lumps with the back of a wooden spoon. Add the spices, coriander and parsley. Season to taste and then cook for 1 minutes, stirring to combine.
Transfer the lamb mixture to a sieve and drain to remove the fat. Put the mixture in a bowl and allow to cool slightly. Mix in the egg.
Count out 8 sheets of film pastry. Stack on a cutting surface with longer side in front of you. Measure and mark pastry into three equal strips and cut through the stack with a sharp knife to give strips 12-14cm wide and 30cm long. Stack strips in the folds of a dry cloth.
Place a strip of film on the work surface with the narrow end towards you and brush with melted butter. Top with another stip. Place 1 tbs of the filling 1cm in from the base and sides of the strip. Fold the end of the film over the filling, fold in the sides and roll to the end of the strip. Place on a greased baking tray, seam side down. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Brush the rolls with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Preheat the over to 180°. It is best to do this after the rolls are completed so that the kitchen remains cool during shaping. Bake the briouats for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Serve hot.
[From The Little Tapas Book, Murdoch Books]
Potatoes with allioli (garlic mayonnaise)
- 750 g potatoes, cut into 4cm cubes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Allioli:
- 2 egg yolks
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup mild olive oil
To make allioli, put egg yolks, garlic and half the lemon nice in a bowl. Using a balloon which, whisk until well combined. While you continuously whisk, gradually add the oil in a slow stream until a thick mayonnaise forms. It if becomes too thick, add remaining lemon nice and continue adding the rest of the oil. Season well.
Preheat oven to 200°. Season the potato cubes and toss in olive oil and put on a baking tray in the over for 45 minutes, or until golden.
Serve hot with allioli.
Allioli will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
[From The Little Tapas Book, Murdoch Books]
