River Cottage Sorrel Pesto With Goats Cheese Recipes

LITTLE WILD SORREL AND HERB TARTS WITH MELTED GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 170C (325F, Gas mark 3). For the pastry, rub the butter into the flour and bind with the egg, then allow it to rest for half an hour. Roll out the pastry and line six individual tart tins or 1 large tin.
• Wash the spinach, sorrel and herbs if necessary and dry them well. Shred the spinach and sorrel. Heat a pan with a little oil and stir fry the spinach and sorrel until it collapses. Remove from the pan and spread out on a plate to allow it to cool quickly.
• Chop the herbs, crush a sliver of garlic and place in a bowl with the eggs and cream. Add the spinach and sorrel, the seasoning and the nutmeg. Spoon into the tarts. Cook in the oven until the egg mixture is just set, about 15-20 minutes. They do not need to be fully cooked. Allow to cool.
• To serve, take the tarts out of the tins and place on an oven tray. Increase the oven heat to 200C (400F, Gas mark 6). Place a thick slice of the goat's cheese on the top of each tart and put them back in the oven for about 10 minutes. Serve on a bed of dressed salad leaves.

COTTAGE CHEESE PESTO

Steps:

• Put the garlic into a food processor and process until finely chopped. Scrape down sides of the bowl.
• Add the basil. Process until finely chopped and scrape down sides of the bowl.
• Add cottage cheese, yogurt, olive oil, and parmesan. Process until smooth and cream.
• If using as a pasta sauce, dilute with a spoonful of the pasta cooking water.

SORREL PESTO

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender puree the sorrel, the parsley, the garlic, the parmesan, the pine nuts and the oil, transfer the pesto to a jar with a tight fitting lid and chill it, covered. The pesto keeps, covered and chilled, for 2 weeks. Makes about 1 cup.
• To use the pesto: For every pound of dried pasta cooking in a kettle of boiling water, stir together in a heated serving bowl 3/4 cup of the pesto and 2/3 cup of the hot cooking water. When the pasta is al dente, drain it in a colander, add it to the pesto mixture, and toss the mixture until the pasta is coated well. Vermicelli works very well with this recipe.

PESTO-GOAT CHEESE TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Place bread slices on a baking sheet; top with cheese., Bake until cheese begins to brown and bread is toasted, 10-12 minutes. Top with pesto. Serve warm.

RISOTTO WITH PEAS, ARTICHOKES, BASIL AND GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and butter together in a large pan. Meanwhile, put the stock in a saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer.
• Add the onion and garlic to the pan and cook until golden. Add the rice and continue to cook for another 2 minutes, stirring.
• Ladle a little stock into the pan, stir well and when absorbed, continue until all the stock has been added. Add the peas and artichokes. After 20 minutes, test the rice. It should be a little firm to the bite but not chalky. If you need to add more liquid, use hot water.
• Tear the basil leaves and add with the goat cheese, stir through and season.