Yoghurt panna cotta with watermelon and rosewater

Your guests will think you've spent hours - not minutes - creating this sweet sensation. Great on its own, this delicate fruit tastes divine teamed with rosewater and strawberries to adorn a creamy Mediterranean-inspired treat. 

Preparation Time

20 minutes

Cooking Time

5 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4)

• Vegetable oil, to grease
• 250ml honey-flavoured yoghurt
• 250ml (1 cup) thickened cream
• 2 tbs caster sugar
• 1 tbs hot water
• 2 tsp gelatine powder
• 500g seedless watermelon, peeled, cut into 5mm pieces
• 10 strawberries, washed, hulled, cut into 5mm pieces
• 3 tsp rosewater
• Honey, to serve

 

Method

1. Brush four 125ml (1/2-cup) capacity dariole moulds with vegetable oil to lightly grease. Place the yoghurt in a large heatproof bowl.
2. Place the cream and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is heated through.
3. Place the hot water in a small heatproof bowl and sprinkle with the gelatine. Place the bowl in a small saucepan and add enough boiling water to come three-quarters of the way up the side of the bowl. Use a fork to whisk until the gelatine dissolves.
4. Add the cream mixture and gelatine mixture to the yoghurt, whisking until well combined. Strain through a fine sieve into a large jug. Pour evenly among the prepared moulds. Cover each mould with plastic wrap. Place in the fridge for 6 hours or overnight until set.
5. Combine the watermelon, strawberry and rosewater in a medium bowl.
6. Turn panna cottas into serving bowls. Spoon the watermelon mixture over each panna cotta. Drizzle over honey to serve.

 

Notes

With a twist: Yoghurt panna cotta with watermelon & passionfruit: Omit strawberries, rosewater and honey. Combine the watermelon with 1/3 cup fresh passionfruit pulp.

Mediterranean pasta salad

Spicy Italian sausages are the hidden delight in this traditional Mediterranean salad. 

Preparation Time

10 minutes

Cooking Time

10 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 250g San Remo Large Shells No. 29
• 4 Italian-style sausages
• 2 green zucchini, halved lengthways, thinly sliced crossways
• 100g bought chargrilled capsicum, drained on paper towel, thinly sliced
• 180g (1 cup) sun-dried tomatoes drained on paper towel, thickly sliced
• 145g (1 cup) pitted kalamata olives
• 150g feta, crumbled
• 1/2 cup loosely packed finely shredded fresh basil
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 2 tbs red wine vinegar
• Salt & freshly ground black pepper

 

Method

1. Cook the San Remo pasta in a large saucepan of salted boiling water following packet directions or until al dente. Drain. Refresh under cold running water, then drain.
2. Meanwhile, heat a medium non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the sausages and cook, turning occasionally, for 5 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate. Add the zucchini to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat and set aside for 5 minutes to cool.
3. Thinly slice the sausages diagonally and place in a large serving bowl. Add the pasta, zucchini, capsicum, sun-dried tomato, olives, feta and half the basil, and gently toss to combine. Drizzle with the oil and vinegar, and season with salt and pepper. Gently toss to combine. Sprinkle with remaining basil and serve immediately.

Mediterranean chicken casserole

If it's comfort food you're after, look no further than this easy and tasty chicken casserole. Taste.com.au members love it! 

Preparation Time

30 minutes

Cooking Time

60 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 8 chicken lovely legs
• 1 large brown onion, halved, thinly sliced
• 3 celery sticks, trimmed, cut into 2cm-thick slices
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 200g button mushrooms, thickly sliced
• 2 x 400g cans diced Italian tomatoes
• 1 chicken stock cube (Massel brand)
• 150g (1 cup) frozen broad beans, thawed, peeled
• 1 tbs fresh thyme leaves
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 200g dried spiral pasta, optional, to serve

 

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning occasionally, for 5 minutes or until brown all over. Transfer chicken to a 2L (8-cup) capacity ovenproof casserole dish.
2. Add onion and celery to the frying pan and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until soft. Add garlic and mushroom and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until mushroom is tender. Add tomato and stock cube and bring to the boil. Remove from heat. Add to casserole dish with the chicken.
3. Cover the casserole dish with a tight-fitting lid or foil. Bake in oven for 35 minutes or until chicken is tender. Add broad beans and half the thyme and cook for a further 10 minutes or until broad beans are tender. Remove from oven. Taste and season with pepper.
4. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling water following packet directions or until al dente. Drain well.
5. Spoon casserole into a large serving bowl. Sprinkle with remaining thyme and serve with pasta, if desired.

Mediterranean pickled lemons with paprika

Preparation Time

15 minutes

Makes

20 slices

Ingredients

• 2 lemons
• 21/2 tbs table or sea salt
• Sweet paprika, to sprinkle
• Olive oil, to fill jar

 

Method

1. Cut the lemons into 5mm-thick slices and place in a single layer on a wire rack over a tray. Sprinkle each slice generously with the salt. Place in the freezer for 2 hours or until frozen.
2. Remove the lemons from the freezer and set aside at room temperature for 12 hours to draw out the moisture.
3. Preheat oven to 100°C. Wash a 250ml (1-cup) jar well and then rinse. Place upside down in the oven for 5 minutes or until completely dry.
4. Remove jar from oven. Layer the lemon slices in the jar, sprinkling with a little paprika after each layer. Fill the jar with olive oil, making sure the lemons are completely covered.
5. Seal the jar and set aside at room temperature for 3-4 weeks to mature - the lemon rind will become soft and the flavours will mellow.

 

Notes

• makes: about 20 slices (enough to fill a 250ml/1-cup jar)
• prep: 15 mins (+ 2 hours freezing, 12 hours standing and 3-4 weeks maturing time)
• This pickle has quite a bite to it - a pleasant tartness from the lemons with a salty slant. If you find the salty flavour too overpowering, simply rinse the slices before using. Use this pickle sparingly to accompany chargrilled or barbecued chicken, lamb or fish, or finely chop a small amount and combine with butter to spread under the skin before roasting chicken.
• Freezing the lemons before salting them speeds up the maturation process by 2-3 weeks - a trick that can also be applied to traditional Moroccan-style preserved lemons. This pickle will keep, unopened, for up to 1 month. Once opened, keep in the fridge for up to 2 months.