Canapés

by Daphne Lambert

 

Cauliflower bread crostini with beetroot relish

Sundried tomato polenta with Jerusalem artichoke hummus

Toasted buckwheat bread with labneh & fermented wild garlic

Sauerkraut sushi

Butternut squash and walnut börek

Broccoli & kale appetisers

Beetroot crisps

 

Cauliflower bread crostini with beetroot relish
cauliflower bread

300g (finely chopped cauliflower (resembling rice)
100g ground almonds

2 tablespoons psyllium husk
50g chia seeds
¼ teaspoon chilli powder
¼ teaspoon cumin powder
1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary
1 teaspoon of sea salt
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons olive oil

1 oiled loaf tin, lined with parchment approx 12 x 22 cm

 

oven 160°C/320°F

Place all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix until well combined and smooth.

Transfer the dough to the prepared loaf tin, spreading it out evenly and pressing down firmly to level the surface.

Bake for 50 minutes, or until firm and golden. Cool in the tin before turning out.
Store wrapped in parchment paper in the fridge.
For canapé, slice cut into triangles, brush with olive oil, arrange on a lightly oiled baking sheet and pop into

a 200°C oven for 12 minutes until crisp & golden, flipping over half way through.

Cool, top with a spoonful of relish and finish with a herb flourish.

 

beetroot relish
1kg raw beetroot, peeled and coarsely shredded
2 red onions finely sliced
500ml cider vinegar
500g rapadura sugar
2 tbsp grated ginger
3 garlic cloves crushed
1 chilli finely diced
1 teaspoon cumin
zest and juice 2 oranges
2 apples cored and coarsely grated

 

Place all the ingredients into a large stainless steel preserving pan.
Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for an hour until thick and syrupy.
Bottle into warm, sterilised jars and store in a cool dark place, once opened store in the fridge.

 

Sun-dried tomato polenta with artichoke hummus

2 onions, finely chopped

1 clove garlic finely chopped

1 litre vegetable stock

6 sun-dried tomatoes, finely diced

200g polenta

2 tablespoons olive oil & extra for oiling the tin

 

Make the polenta first. Gently cook the onion and garlic in the olive oil until soft add the stock and sun-dried tomatoes

and bring to the boil.

Slowly, in a continuous stream, pour in the polenta beating all the time.

Cook gently for 1 minute, cool slightly then pour into a well-oiled tin and allow to cool. At this stage you can cover the polenta

and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Turn out and cut into triangles. Place the triangles on an oiled baking sheet and roast in a hot oven 200°C/400°F for

about 10 minutes, top each triangle with a spoonful of artichoke hummus.

 

artichoke hummus

350g peeled and roast Jerusalem artichokes

2 tablespoons tahini

3 cloves garlic crushed

juice and zest of 2 lemons

black pepper & salt

 

To make the hummus, pulse the cooked artichokes to a smooth consistency add the remaining ingredients and blend

adding water if necessary until you have a smooth cream.

 

Toasted buckwheat bread with labneh & fermented wild garlic

buckwheat bread

400g hulled whole buckwheat

250ml water + extra for soaking

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon honey

 

Place the buckwheat in a bowl, cover with water and leave overnight, in a cool-warm place covered with a cloth.

Strain off excess water, keeping the liquid, but do not rinse. Pop ½ the buckwheat into a blender with the water and

salt & blend until very smooth, tip in the remainder and pulse 2 or 3 times to mix well.

Stir in the thyme and honey.

Pour into a well-oiled bread tin and leave, covered with a cloth in a warm place for 18 hours

If the loaf begins to rise more than 1inch bake before 18 hours

 

Heat the oven 220°C/425°F and place in the middle to bake for 35 – 45 minutes until firm

Store wrapped in parchment paper

 

For canapé, slice, lightly toast and cut into triangles
Place a spoonful of labneh on each triangle and top with your favourite ferment.

 

Labneh
500 ml plain whole yogurt

Drape a square of muslin over a strainer set over a bowl and pour the yogurt into the middle.
Gather up the sides of the cloth tie the ends together with the yogurt in the middle. Leave a cool, dark place to drain for

24 hours.
Unwrap & turn the labneh into a bowl. Store covered in fridge for up to 3 days
Save the whey for fermenting or baking.

 

Sauerkraut sushi
serves 4 - 6 or more if part of a selection of canapé
300g brown sushi rice
600ml water
1 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp tamari

4 toasted nori sheets

6 tbsp sauerkraut

handful alfalfa sprouts

1 carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks

1 tbsp grated horseradish

 

handful flat-leaf parsley, stems removed

Put the rice in a small pan with the water. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and cook until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Stir through the vinegar and tamari and leave to cool.

Lay a nori sheet on a sushi mat, shiny-side down. If you do not have a mat you can use greaseproof paper.

Cover with rice leaving a 1 cm border at the top and bottom. Put a layer of sauerkraut over the rice then alfalfa, carrot, horseradish and parsley.

Fold the bottom edge of the seaweed over the filling, then roll it up firmly. Dampen the top border with a little water to help seal the roll. Repeat to make four rolls.
If you do not want to serve the sushi immediately leave in the refrigerator for a few hours. With a sharp knife cut each roll into 5 or 6 pieces.

 

Butternut squash and walnut börek

plenty for 6

2 medium butternut squash
25g butter
4 shallots, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp cumin
200g chopped walnuts zest of 1 lemon
12 sheets filo pastry olive oil

 

preheat oven 200°C/400°F

 

Cut the butternut squash in half lengthways, remove the seeds, and place cut side down on an oiled baking sheet.

Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes or until tender. Cool, remove the flesh, place in a bowl and mash.

Gently cook the shallots and garlic in the butter for two to three minutes, add the paprika and cumin, stir well and add to the

butternut squash with the walnuts and lemon zest.

Lay the filo sheets on the table and cut into 10cm x 25cm wide strips. Stack the strips on top of one another and cover

with a damp cloth to prevent them drying out.

Take one strip and lay it on the table, brush with olive oil and place another strip on top.

Place a tablespoon of the butternut squash mixture near the end of the strip and fold the end of the strip over the filling

diagonally to form a triangle.

Continue folding up the strip until you have a small, stuffed, triangular pastry. You will be able to make two from each strip.

Place the borek on an oiled baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Repeat until all your filling is used up.

Bake for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

 

Broccoli & kale appetisers

2 medium heads of broccoli

2 large handful kale

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 red onion, chopped

100ml vegetable stock

4 cloves garlic - peeled & finely chopped

l" knob ginger - peeled & finely chopped

1 small chilli - finely chopped (with or without seeds)

175g chickpea flour

salt and black pepper

 

oven 200°C/400°F

​

Remove broccoli from stalk (save and add to roast vegetables) and finely chop

Remove stalks from kale (save and add to a juice) and very finely shred the leaves

Gently cook the red onion in the olive oil for 5 minutes or until soft and just caramelising.

Add the broccoli and kale with a splash of water and allow to wilt for 5 minutes.

Stir in the garlic, ginger and chilli and cook for a further minute, add the stock.

 

Tip into a bowl stir in the chickpea flour and season well. The mixture needs to be stiff enough to hold its shape when squeezed into a patty. Add more chickpea flour if too wet or more liquid if too dry.

Shape into a patty, set on an oiled baking tray, trickle over a little olive oil and bake in a hot oven for 7 minutes. or until golden.

Serve hot as they are or with your favourite dip - chilli sauce would be perfect!

 

Beetroot crisps

4 medium - large beetroot
coarse sea salt
freshly-ground black pepper
olive oil
teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F

two or three baking trays line with parchment paper

Peel the beetroot, and cut into thin slices.

Place the beetroot, 1½ tablespoons of olive oil, a teaspoon of salt and the balsamic vinegar into a bowl and using your hands gently ensure all the slices are evenly coated with oil.

Arrange the beetroot slices in a single layer on the baking trays. Bake until crisp and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Keep a close eye on them. Remove, sprinkle with black pepper and more salt Allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.