Bönsallad med tomater 
6 port

Ingredienser
1 vitlöksklyfta
1/2 dl olivolja
1,5 msk balsamvinäger
1 burk kikärter (240 gram)
1 burk bönor (240 gram)
1/2 liten rödlök
Havssalt
18 st solmogna tomater
10 repade basilikablad

Gör så här
Skölj bönor och kikärtor noggrant i kallt vatten i ett durkslag.
Pressa vitlök och skär rödlök i fina strimlor.
Blanda olja, vitlök och balsamvinäger med bönor och kikärtor.
Salta och smaka av.
Tillsätt lökstrimlor och basilika.
Låt detta stå och dra en timme innan servering.
Skär upp tomaterna och servera ihop på assietter.

The post Tomater från himlen! appeared first on Under the Almond Tree.

Yoghurt med sommarfrukt och rostade nötter
2 port

Ingredienser
10 st sötmandlar
6 valnötskärnor
1 stor söt persika
1 stort fikon
1 dl yoghurt ( helst riktig grekisk)
2 msk flytande honung

Gör så här
Torrosta nötterna i stekpanna på spisen och hacka dem grovt.
Skär frukten i bitar.
Ta fram två stora glas och varva alla ingredienserna.
Servera direkt!

The post Sommarfrukost i värmen appeared first on Under the Almond Tree.

Ciaki Ciuka

Ingredienser
4 medelstora skalade potatisar
3 vitlöksklyftor
Torkad mortlad chili efter smak
1 stor rödlök
2 paprikor
1 aubergine
1 zucchini
25 små cocktailtomater
1/2 dl kapris från Pantelleria (finns här)
1 dl olivolja att steka i
5 basilikablad
1 msk torkad oregano från Pantelleria (finns här)
Havssalt efter smak.
Till servering, lite extra god olivolja.

Gör så här
Skala potatisen och skär i tärningar.
Skala och hacka vitlök och lök.
Skölj paprikor, zucchini, aubergine och skär även dem i bitar.
Dela tomaterna på mitten.
Skölj av överflödigt salt på kapris och låt rinna av.

Ta fram en gryta eller en tjockbottnad sauteuse och hetta upp olivolja.
Börja med att bryna potatisen ca 8 minuter tillsammans med vitlök, chili och en nypa havssalt.
Sätt åt sidan.
Ta fram en stekpanna och bryn en ny omgång med rödlök och paprika tills det är mjukt.
Häll över till grytan/ sauteusen med potatis.
I nästa omgång bryn aubergine och zucchini tills de är gyllene och häll över i grytan.
Sätt grytan nu på låg värme och lägg i tomaterna och kaprisen.
Låt puttra i 20-25 min och se till att röra då och då så det inte bränner vid i botten på grytan.

Smaka av!

Om du vill ha mer hetta, så lägg i mer chili eller salta, om du tycker det behövs mer av detta.
Hacka ner basilikan och smula ner oreganon och rör om.

Låt ciaki ciukan svalna helt innan servering
Godast att serveras rumstempererad med lite extra god olivolja ringlat över.

The post Ciaki Ciuka appeared first on Under the Almond Tree.

Aprikoser i och honungssirap
4 port

Ingredienser
24 st fina mogna aprikoser

Spad
2,5 dl flytande honung
Citronzest av en hel citron
Citronsaft av en 1/2 citron
1 liten kanelstång
2 tsk mald kardemumma

Till servering
Myntablad och grekisk yoghurt eller vaniljglass

Gör så här:
Ta fram en tjockbottnad kastrull och blanda i alla ingredienserna till spadet.
Koka upp spadet på spisen och låt det reducera till hälften.
Med en liten skalkniv skär ett litet kryss i varje aprikos.
Sänk värmen och lägg i aprikoserna några i taget och låt sjuda i vätskan ca 5 min eller till det mjuknat.
Ta upp med en hålslev och lägg i nästa omgång.
Låt aprikoserna svalna och pilla av skalet med en liten skalkniv och ta ur kärnan.

Sila av spadet och lägg tillbaka aprikoserna sirapen.
Servera med några mynta blad, ett par skedar av sirapen och en stor sked grekisk yoghurt.

The post Aprikoser i maj! appeared first on Under the Almond Tree.

Method
Wash and remove all the cherry’s stones.
In a saucepan, combine all ingredients excluding the cherries and the Passito allowing them to come to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the cherries and simmer for 8-10minutes. Remove from heat, add the Passito and let cool.
Transfer the cherries and liquid into clean jars and cover tightly and refrigerate for two weeks.

Almond Bar’s Whiskey Sour
Ingredients
1 part Bourbon whiskey
2 part simple syrup, recipe for simple sirup here
1 part lemon juice
1 Passito spiced cherry
Ice

Method
Mix all the ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake and serve with a cherry on the top. If it’s a hot summer day serve with some extra ice.

The post Passito spiced summer cherries appeared first on Under the Almond Tree.

Panzanella is a traditional Tuscan bread salad. Here is a local version with anchovies and the Rolls Royce, the Bentley, rather, of capers “Capperi di Pantelleria.”  This panzanella is a perfect light and satisfying meal to enjoy on a hot summer’s day. Invite some friends for lunch, pop a chilled bottle of prosecco and dig in.

Panzanella Pantesca
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
1/2 Loaf of old white bread
1/2 Cup (1.2 dl) extra virgin olive oil
3 Each cloves of garlic
2 Pounds (1 kilo) of mixed variety of tomatoes
1 Red small sized onion
1 Fresh red chili pepper minced
1/3 Cup ( 0.8 dl) black olives
4 Tablespoon rinsed and drained salt packed capers ( Capperi di Pantelleria)
20 Small fillets of anchovies packed in oil (reserve oil for dressing)
1 Bunch of basil leaves
1 1/2 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 Tablespoon of the oil that contains the anchovies
Sea salt flakes and fresh ground pepper to your taste

Method
Break bread into bite sized pieces, in a saute pan over medium heat, warm the oil add crush the cloves of garlic add to the pan, then add in a little sea salt flakes. Toast the bread in the pan with seasoned garlic oil until it’s golden. Remove toasted bread from the pan place on top of a paper lined tray and set a side. Let any left over oil cool and reserve to use in the dressing.

Wash and remove the outer skin of the red onion. Cut off the stem side, lay flat on the cut surface and proceed to cut the onion in half. Remove the root core then length wise cutting stem to root cut the onion into strips.

Finely chop the chlli pepers, wash, core and cut the tomatoes into wedges.

Combine in a large bowl the bread, tomatoes and onions, capers, olives, anchovies and basil leaves.

In a small bowl whisk together, balsamic vinegar, rest of the olive oil, 2 Tablespoon of anchovies oil, the red chili, pepper and sea salt.

Pour dressing over the top of the bread, tomatoes and onions in the large bowl. Toss all ingredients as to combine everything, then, let the bread soak up the juice from the tomatoes and olive oil.

Get your Capperi di Pantelleria here!

The post Panzanella Pantesca appeared first on Under the Almond Tree.

Lemonade

The recipe will make around 6 cups  (14 dl) of lemonade concentrate

Ingredients

2 cups  (4.8 dl) caster sugar

2 cup (4.8 dl )water

12-14 lemons or enough lemons for 3 cups ( 7.4 dl) of fresh lemon juice

To serve : Still mineral or soda water and ice

Method:

Start by making a simple syrup.

Warm sugar and water in a small saucepan on the stove, stir until the sugar has dissolved and incorporated into the water, set a side.

Squeeze the juice from the lemons, if you so desire you can strain the pulp from the juice or leave it in.

Combine the lemon juice and the simple syrup stirring to make sure they are full incorporated.

Fill a pitcher or glasses halfway  with ice cubes and lemonade concentrate.

Add either sparkling or still mineral water to dilute.

Server  immediately!

The post Summer lemonade appeared first on Under the Almond Tree.

Zucchini salad
Serves 4

Ingredients
marinade
3 Tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 Garlic cloves crushed
2 Chilies cut in small pieces and seeds removed
2 Tablespoons shredded lemon zest
1/2 Cup (1.2 dl) extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and fresh grounded black pepper

11/2 lbs (700 gram) zucchini
A handful of basil leaves

Method
Mix all ingredients for the marinade.
Cut the zucchini thinly and add to the marinade, toss to coat the zucchini evenly.
Let the zucchini rest in the marinade for at least 20 minuets.
Mix with basil leaves and serve.

The post Zucchini salad appeared first on Under the Almond Tree.

The season for blackberries in Pantelleria is long. It begins in early July and ends in early September. The berries ripen, dry up and are then scorched by August’s heat. As soon as the weather begins to cool a bit, after the middle of August, the bushes bloom again and in come new berries. During my morning walks in Ghirlanda I pick them and eat them as a breakfast on the go. Sometimes I bring a basket to fill because Igor, the dog who usually refuses both fruits and vegetables, ADORES blackberries. He munches them up in seconds wagging his tail the whole time. Then he looks up at me as if to say, “Thanks! Can I have some more?” and his mustache is all purple. Watching him so happy fills my heart. I just love this guy!

Once in a while I make a cobbler that’s not too bad either. Served with vanilla ice cream, it is basically heaven on a plate.

Blackberry Cobbler
Serves 8
The recipe fits a baking pan of 9.5 in (24 cm) in diameter.
Grease the baking pan with butter.

Ingredients
9 oz (250 grams) room temperature soft butter
1 Tablespoon bourbon vanilla sugar
1 pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup (1.2 dl) almonds roughly chopped
1 cup (2.4 dl) caster sugar
1.5 cup ( 3.6 dl) of flour
4 cups (1 lit) of black berries

Method
Mix all the ingredients for the dough using your hands.
Pour in the black berries in the baking pan and add the dough in dots or lumps around the berries
Bake at 400 degrees F (200C) for about 15 minutes.
Serve the cobbler with a good vanilla ice cream

The post Blackberries for Igor appeared first on Under the Almond Tree.

Fennel with almond and cheese crust
8-10 bites

Ingredients
1 pound (450 grams) fennel bulb slices
1/2 cup (1,2 dl) raw almonds
9 (oz) 250 gram of cheese that melts and browns well, I used a 50/50 combination of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese
Olive oil to saute fennel
Salt and pepper
1 teaspoon of Origano di Pantelleria (dried oregano)

Method
Set the oven at broil 530 F degrees (275 C).
Rinse and clean the fennel, cut slices about 0.3 inches (0.75 cm) thick.
In a saucepan saute the fennel in olive oil, salt and pepper.
They are cooked enough when the slices softens and produces a slightly golden.
Since the pieces will be different in size, they will have different cooking time, pay attention to remove the smaller pieces from the pan first.

Coarsely chop the almonds, in a bowl grate the cheeses and combine together with the almonds. Arrange fennel pieces on the baking sheet, give the portions enough space on the tray cover with cheese and almond mixture then into the oven fennel portions. Place baking pan in the oven 3/4 of the way not quite directly under the broiler in the oven for about 3-5 minutes. When golden brown remove tray from oven and sprinkle oregano on top allow to cool slightly to let the cheese set before serving.

The post Fennel bites with almond and cheese crust appeared first on Under the Almond Tree.