Coverwithfoilandbakeuntilcheesehas
meltedandeverythingis warmedthrough,
15-20minutes.Removefoilandcontinueto
bakeuntiltheshellsaresizzlingaround the
edges,andthemushroomshave
miraculouslybecomeevendarkerand
morecaramelisedlooking,15-20minutes.
Meanwhile,combinetheparsley,chives,
tarragonandlemonzestin a smallbowl.
Seasonwithsaltandpepper and drizzle
witha littleoliveoil.
Toppastawiththeherbmixture,grating
orshavingmorepecorinoover,andserve.
DOAHEADThecheesemixturecanbe
madea dayahead.Thedishcanbe
assembleda dayahead,wrappedtightly
andrefrigerated.I wouldn’trecommend
bakingthistoofarin advance,though,and
reheatingit, as the cheese has a tendency
todryout.
NOTEAskingyourfriendstofilltheshells
willsaveyoua lotoftime,plusit willgive
themsomething to do other than eat all
your snacks.
LABNEWITHSIZZLED
SPRINGONION AND CHILLI
MAKES 2 CUPS
(^1) / 3 cup(80ml)oliveoil
4 springonions(scallionss)orgreengarlic
(garlicshoots),whiteand light green
partsthinlysliced
1 tspchilliflakes
2 tbsfinelychoppedcoriander or chives,
plusextratogarnish
Flakyseasalt and freshly ground black
pepper
500glabne,full-fatGreek-style yoghurt
orsourcream
2 tbs lemon juice
Heattheoliveoil,springonion,chilliflakes
andcorianderin a smallpotovermedium–
lowheat.Cook,swirlingoccasionally,until
thespringonionandchilliflakesstartto
visuallyandaudiblysizzleandfrizzleand
turntheoila brightfieryorange.Remove
fromtheheatandleaveuntilcoolenough
totaste,thenseasonwithsaltandpepper.
Combinethelabneandlemonjuice
in a mediumbowl and season with salt
and pepper.
Preheattheovento260°C,oritshighest
setting.Thismayseemexcessive, but
I assureyouit is not.
Usinga fork,piercethepotatoes
allaround.Thisis kindofa violentact,
I’lladmit,butit’snecessarysothatthe
steamcanescapethepotato,allowing
theinsidetocookevenlyandtheskinto
crisp.Youcouldusea smallsharpknife,
butI don’twant anyone ending up
in hospital.
Drizzlea littleoilontoeachpotato,or
ontoyourhands,andjustlikeyou’reoiling
yourselfuponsomefantasticbeach,rub
thepotatoeswitha thin,evenlayerofoil.
(Mymumwoulddo this with a paper towel;
alsoanoption.)
Seasonthepotatoesalloverwith
saltandpepper,andplacedirectlyonto
theovenracks(placea trayunderneath
therackstocatchexcessoil)andbake
untilthepotatoesaredeeplycrispy,
reallydarkbrownontheoutside,and
totallybakedthrough,60-70minutes.
Carefullyremovethepotatoes
andtransfertoa largeservingplatter.
Oncereadytoeat,slicethemopen
lengthwaysandfilltoyourheart’scontent
with all the toppings in the land.
ESCAROLEWITHMUSTARDAND
SPICYGUANCIALE BREADCRUMBS
SERVES 4-6
1 shallot,thinlyslicedintorings
2 tbsredwinevinegaror
whitewinevinegar
Saltandfreshlygroundblackpepper
85gguancialeorpancetta, cut into
1cmpieces
(^3) / 4 cup(60g)fresh breadcrumbs
orpanko
(^1) / 2 tspchilliflakes
1 garlicclove,finelygrated
1 largeheadofescaroleorchicory
(endive/witlof),tornintolargepieces
1 largehandfulparsley, tender leaves
andstems
3 tbswholegrain mustard
3 tbsoliveoil
3 tbsnutritionalyeast(from health food
shops – optional)
Spoonintoa bowlandswirlin thesizzled
springonionmixture.Garnish with extra
coriander,if youlike.
DOAHEADSizzledspringonionoilcan
bemadeuptoa weekahead,wrapped
tightlyandrefrigerated.Labnecanbe
seasoned1 weekahead,wrappedtightly
andrefrigerated.Combine the two just
before serving.
BAKEDPOTATO BAR
SERVES 4 -10
4-10mediumrussetorotherroasting
potatoes,scrubbed well and patted dry
Canolaoil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
ACCEPTABLETOPPINGS INCLUDE (BUT ARE
NOTLIMITEDTO)
Sourcream,lotsofit (sure,goaheadand
useGreek-styleyoghurt,butdon’t
blamemewhen you wish you’d used
sourcream)
Chivesand/orspringonions(scallions)
Finelychoppedunsaltedbutter,
preferablyatroomtemperature
Flakyseasalt and coarsely ground black
pepper
Troutorsalmonroe
Finely chopped dill and/or parsley
NOTEDon’tcutthepotatoesopenuntil
you’rereadytoeatthem,orelsethesteam
willescapeandtheywillloseheat,andthe
butterwon’tmeltwhenyouputit on.
(Tragedy!)WhileI frequentlyenjoyonefor
a solodinner,bakedpotatoesaregreat
whenyou’rehavingpeopleover.Notonly
aretheycrowd-pleasingandrequirealmost
zeroworkonyourpart,buttheyarealso
theperfectopportunitytoassemblea
ReallyCoolToppingsBar,a.k.a.thetheme
formywedding,shouldI everhaveone.
EventhoughI findit hardtoimproveonthe
simple‘lotsofbutter,saltandtoomany
springonions’combo,I dolovetoget
dressedupforcompanyandbreakoutthe
pickedherbs,sourcreamandfancyfish
eggs.Butdon’tletthepresenceofcaviar
intimidateyou– thefollowingtoppingsare
justsuggestions,anddonot have to be
obeyed, by any means.
EXTR ACT.
98 delicious.com.au