COOK PINE RECIPES

Steps:

• To make the fried courgette, cut the courgette into slices the thickness of a pound coin.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the courgettes in a single layer and season with salt and pepper. Make sure they don’t overlap. Cook for 3–4 minutes, then turn them over and cook for a further 3–4 minutes, until golden. Remove from the heat and transfer to a warm plate.
• Mix the sweet chilli sauce and soy sauce together in a cup. Pour over the warm courgettes and serve immediately.
• To make the baked courgette, heat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Cut each courgette in half across the middle, then cut these pieces in half lengthways, and then lengthways again to make wedges.
• Mix the oil, chilli flakes, salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Add the courgette wedges and toss to coat.
• Arrange the courgettes skin side down on a baking tray and cook for 20–25 minutes, until soft and starting to brown. Remove from the oven and serve warm, garnished with the fresh chopped mint.
• To make the spiralised courgette, spiralise each courgette on a hand held (pencil sharpener type) spiraliser or using the large noodle attachment of a free-standing mixer or food processor.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the courgette and cook for 1–2 minutes, until slightly softened. Stir in the pesto and cook for a further 1 minute to warm through.
• Serve on a warm serving plate sprinkled with toasted pine nuts and grated Parmesan, if using.

Steps:

• 1. Stuffing a leg of lamb is a great way to transform a regular cut into something a bit special for Easter, and this recipe ensures it’ll be bursting with flavour. If you’ve never made homemade gravy before, give it a go – you can’t beat it!
  2. Preheat your oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6. Turn the leg of lamb upside down on a chopping board and very gently cut halfway down into the leg along the bone so the meat opens out, creating a pocket.
  3. Make your stuffing by peeling a couple of garlic cloves and popping them into a food processor. As it’s whizzing away, add the parsley and rosemary leaves, then the anchovies. Scrape this mixture into a bowl, then add the ciabatta and pine nuts to the processor. You want it to be quite coarse so just pulse it a few times, then tip it into your bowl of herbs along with the chopped olives and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper, then get your clean hands in the bowl and scrunch everything together. If it looks too dry, add a little lemon juice.
  4. Pack this stuffing into the pocket of the lamb, then wrap the meat back over and tie it tightly with string, pushing the remaining rosemary sprigs underneath the string. Drizzle over a little olive oil, pat this into the lamb and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Place your roughly chopped onion, carrot and celery in a roasting tray with any remaining unpeeled garlic cloves and lay your lamb on top. Roast for about an hour and a half. In Italy, they’ll start basting the lamb after 30 minutes by pouring a swig of wine over the meat and veg every 15 minutes or so until the meat is cooked. Trust me – it is well worth doing and makes it juicy and delicious! When cooked, transfer the lamb to a board or platter to rest while you make your gravy.
  6. Spoon off most of the fat from your tray, then put it on the hob over a low heat. Add the flour and mash everything together with a potato masher. Add a glass of red wine and bring to the boil, to cook off the alcohol. Pour in the stock and bring back to the boil, scraping all the goodness from the bottom of the pan as you go. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
  7. Sieve your gravy into a jug or pan, using a ladle to really push all the goodness through. Discard any veg or meat left behind. At this point, your lamb will have been resting for around 15 minutes and will be perfect for serving. Dish it up and tuck in!