Another Nigel Slater Success

I just had to share this, even though I only posted yesterday. It’s one of the most fantastic salad dressings I’ve ever had and it’s so simple to make.

With all credit to Nigel Slater, this is it.

Tarragon vinegar or white wine vinegar – 1 tbsp
Dijon mustard – 1 tsp
One egg yolk
Olive oil – 100 ml
Grated Parmesan – 3 tbsps
Lemon juice – 2 tsps
Thick slices white bread – 2
Olive oil for frying bread
One medium fennel bulb
4 large handfuls salad leaves – rocket, watercress
Parmesan shavings

For the dressing, whisk vinegar, mustard, egg yolk, olive oil and a grind each of salt and black pepper. Beat in the grated Parmesan, stir in lemon juice and put aside.
Cut the bread into squares and fry until golden. Mix salad leaves together with the fennel, add dressing and croutons and top with parmesan shavings.

I added finely sliced wet garlic and chopped chives to my salad. Also, having just bought some very good bacon, next time, I’m going to smoke a couple of rashers over hickory chips, cut it into cubes and add that as well. Bliss.

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Lovely Lunch – Smoked Mackerel On Toast

In order to create the lunch that I wrote about in my previous post  I went shopping and spent the best part of an hour trying to find herring fillet.  Eventually, I had to give up and chose mackerel instead, unsmoked, as I was going to do that myself.  When I got home I decided to double check the recipe and discovered that it was mackerel I was supposed to be using anyway.  Considering the grumpy mood I was in it didn’t help – I’ve always prided myself on being able to memorize my shopping lists – is this a sign of deep middle age, that I need to list all the lists that I need to make?  Depressing.

Anyway, I digress.

It’s been ages since I used my smoker, and the mackerel, smoked for half an hour over oak chips, was gorgeous – I could have quite happily just eaten it on it’s own. Anyway, here is the recipe, fully credited to Nigel Slater, and it made a very generous lunch.  I should have been sociable and invited someone over but …

Smoked Mackerel On Toast

200g smoked mackerel

3 tbsps grated Parmesan plus a little extra

3 tbsps double cream plus a little extra

6 chives

black pepper

2 slices decent bread

 

Put the mackerel in dish and flake with a fork.  Add the Parmesan, double cream, chives and a grind of black pepper and mix.

Lightly toast the bread on both sides.  Pile on the mackerel mix, add a little more Parmesan on top and a little bit more cream.  Put back under the grill for a few minutes until the Parmesan is melted.

Enjoy, with the obligatory glass of white wine!

 

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Simple Things Are Best

Monkfish Presentation (Photo credit: Kevin H.)

Just a very nice supper this evening – monkfish fillet baked in foil with a tiny piece of fish stock cube sprinkled over the top, plus miniature potatoes and spinach.
Tomorrow is shopping day. My austerity episode is over so it’s all systems go. I’ve found a very nice Nigel Slater recipe for smoked herring, mixed with Parmesan, chives and double cream on sourdough toast so that’s my lunch sorted.  Now I’m just eyeing my recipe books so that I can plan dinner.  I bought a new one today,  just a little one in a bargain bookshop, called ‘Sauces – 100 everyday recipes’.  It has instructions for flavouring oils and vinegars which I know is pretty straightforward really, but it’s good to have a point of reference.  It also gives me a great excuse to buy those really nice glass bottles with stoppers.

This weekend is definitely going to involve making basil pesto.

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‘The Kitchen Diaries’ Is My New Favourite Book

Cover of The Kitchen Diaries

Had a very productive morning,  once I’d consumed the obligatory gallon of coffee.  Shocked myself by actually paying money into my bank account – am surprised the computer system didn’t crash.  Then I went up to the sorting office to get my book, ‘The Kitchen Diaries‘ by Nigel Slater.   I have to say that I’ve already read it  from cover to cover, when I was away the other week but that hasn’t dampened my enthusiasm.  I bought it from Amazon,  and the seller stated that it was ‘new, unused, with light damage to the cover’.  Well, the only damage I can see  is some vague scratches on the front that can be spotted if I hold the book up to the light and squint.  So, 5 stars to you, Bookworld of Bradford – I will definitely be buying from you again.

Anyway, after picking up the parcel I did exactly as planned and walked down to Sharrow Vale Road, via the Co-operative Supermarket where I had a small cheese shopping binge – Parmesan Reggiano, which I needed, plus Gruyère and Manchego, which I didn’t, but I care not.  Then I called in at the grocers, Sharrow Marrow, which is just the loveliest shop.  I only went in to buy shallots and garlic, but came out with those two items plus a pomegranate, dried porcini, (grown and dried  in Yorkshire, top marks), tomatoes,  smoked garlic and ground coffee.

I’ve decided against posting the ragoût recipe because there are so many already on the internet.  I’m going to be cooking something from Claudia Roden‘s ‘Arabesque‘ later this week so I’ll post that instead.  I’m now going to make myself another gallon of coffee and read my new book.

Wishing you all a good week,

Nina

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