Author: Padraic Guilfoyle

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Gillian Hegarty’s Home-made Pasta

 wild-garlic-pasta_0

Makes approx. ¾lb (350g) fresh pasta, feeds approximately 3-4.

You will need:

300g (10oz) ’00’ flour

25g (1oz) semolina flour and extra for dusting

A good pinch of salt

1 whole egg and 3 large egg yolks

1 dessertspoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon cold water

Sift the ’00’ flour, 25g (1oz) of the semolina flour and the pinch of salt into a bowl. Make a well in the centre of the flour, break in one whole egg and two egg yolks into the centre, together with the extra-virgin olive oil and the cold water and mix everything together.

When the dough is at a crumbly stage (before you form it into a ball) check to see if there is enough moisture in it. If there is not, add the remaining egg yolk and maybe even an extra egg white. It is difficult to be exact with the quantity of liquid, as it depends on the size of the eggs and the brand of flour.

Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes or until it is really smooth and silky, see my Tip, above left. Wrap it well in cling film and let it rest for 30 minutes before rolling. Divide the dough into three pieces – keep two covered in cling film while you roll the other piece into a length that is 1-2mm (about 1/8in) thick. As a guide, you shouldn’t be able to read the lettering on a matchbox through the pasta. If the pasta is rolled too thinly it will be too sloppy and won’t be strong enough to hold the sauce.

Using a knife or pizza wheel, cut into ¼in (5mm) strips for noodles or tagliatelle. Pappardelle are the widest of the noodles, they should be cut to a width of 15mm (about »in) with a crimped-edge cutter. Toss the cut pasta in the extra semolina flour and then place them on a tray that is also sprinkled generously with semolina flour. Repeat with the remaining pasta dough.

The pasta is best if the strips are allowed to dry out for at least an hour in the fridge or cool place.

It can be kept for up to three days in the fridge.

http://www.rachelallen.com/post/gillian-hegartys-home-made-pasta

 

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Flahavans Mushroom Risotto Porridge

flahavans mushroom porridge

Did you know that oats are so versatile and that they can be used to create delicious breakfasts as well as flavourful dinners? This month, why not challenge yourself to create one savoury oat-based recipe like our Mushroom Oatsotto Porridge?
Follow our recipe below and let us know how you get on!

Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 30 mins
Difficulty Level: Medium

You’ll need:
• 1 L vegetable stock
• 115g unsalted butter
• 1 banana shallot, peeled and finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 175g portobello mushrooms, roughly chopped
• 175g chestnut mushrooms, roughly chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 100ml white wine
• 100g Flahavan’s Organic Porridge Oats
• 50g Flahavan’s Organic Jumbo Oats (plus a handful toasted for garnish)
• 100g Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
• sautéed baby spinach and fried wild mushrooms, for garnish

Method:
1. In a medium saucepan, heat the vegetable stock over medium heat until simmering, then reduce heat to low and keep covered.
2. Meanwhile, melt 100g of the butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat before adding the shallot and salt. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to 180ºC.
3. Add all the mushrooms, garlic and thyme and cook (stirring frequently) until mushrooms are deeply browned, stirring frequently. Add the wine and cook for 1 minute.
4. Reduce heat to medium and add the Flahavan’s Organic Jumbo and Organic Porridge Oats then cook for a minute while stirring. Add 2 ladles of hot stock and cook, stirring until oats have absorbed almost all of the liquid. Continue adding stock, 1 ladle at a time, and stirring until absorbed (approx. 20 minutes)
5. While this is cooking toast the extra handful of jumbo oats in the oven for approx. 10 mins until golden then set aside.
6. If needed, add some water to the risotto until all oats are tender. Once tender, turn off the heat.
7. To finish, stir in the 100g parmesan cheese and the remaining butter. Serve in warm bowls and top with the parsley, toasted oats and extra Parmesan if desired.
#OatsForDinner
#Versatility