The best of summer ITALIAN RECIPES FROM THE EXPERTS
There are innumerable reasons why Italian food is so popular with British cooks – seasonality, simplicity and variety being just some of them. We asked six chefs to share recipes that best show off the charms of this much-loved cuisine. It’s a roll-call of summer magic
PHOTOGRAPHS CHARLIE RICHARDS FOOD STYLING JEN BEDLOE AND LOTTIE COVELL STYLING WEI TANG
Giorgio Locatelli’s cod, parsley sauce and lentils with broccoli & almond salad
Cod, parsley sauce and lentils with broccoli & almond salad
SERVES 4 WITH LEFTOVER DRESSING. HANDS-ON TIME 1 HOUR, PLUS SOAKING
MAKE AHEAD
Make the lentils up to 24 hours ahead, cover and chill. Heat as in the recipe. Store the dressing in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 2 months. Shake well before using.
FOOD TEAM’S TIPS
If you don’t want to discard the pancetta (step 4), slice it up and serve with the lentils. No chilli/garlic oil? Fry a pinch of chilli flakes and chopped garlic in olive oil as a substitute.
• 4 thick skinless cod fillets, about 220g each
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 50g unsalted butter, diced
FOR THE LENTILS
• 250g brown or green lentils (preferably castelluccio)
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 carrot, finely chopped
• 1 celery stick, finely chopped
• 1 small leek, finely chopped
• 100g piece unsmoked pancetta
• Fresh rosemary sprig
• 2 bay leaves
• Small bunch fresh sage
• 1.5 litres vegetable stock
• Small handful fresh flatleaf parsley, chopped
• 50g unsalted butter, diced
FOR THE PARSLEY SAUCE
• Small bunch fresh parsley
• 100ml extra-virgin olive oil
FOR THE SALAD DRESSING (MAKES 375ML)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 300ml extra-virgin olive oil
FOR THE BROCCOLI & ALMOND SALAD
• 1 broccoli, cut into small florets
• 1 tbsp chilli oil (see tips)
• 1/2 tbsp garlic oil (see tips)
• 1 red chilli, cut into fine strips
• 1 green chilli, cut into fine strips
• 100g whole blanched almonds: toast in a dry pan, then roughly chop 25g (keep the rest whole)
YOU’LL ALSO NEED…
• Kitchen string to tie the herbs
• Bowl of iced water for the broccoli
1 For the lentils: put in a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Set aside for 30 minutes, then drain.
2 Heat the 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pan and add the chopped onion, carrot, celery, leek and the pancetta. Cook for 10-15 minutes until the veg are soft but not coloured.
3 Tie the rosemary, bay leaves and sage together with string and add to the pan with the lentils. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring, until the lentils start to stick to the base of the pan. Don’t season at this point, as salt will make the lentils harden.
4 Add around a litre of vegetable stock (enough to cover the lentils by 2cm) and keep the rest hot on the hob in case you need it. Bring the pan to the boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 45 minutes until the lentils are soft, adding more stock if they get too dry. Remove and discard the pancetta (see tips) and herbs, then set aside; keep the stock warm.
5 For the parsley sauce, put the bunch of parsley and 100ml olive oil in a mini food processor and pulse to a green sauce (or pound in a pestle and mortar or finely chop by hand).
6 For the dressing, put the salt in a bowl, then add the vinegars and stir to dissolve the salt. Whisk in the olive oil and 4 tbsp cold water until the mixture emulsifies (see Make Ahead).