OTAGO FARMERS MARKET

Wrap up warm for another wintery Saturday (better being safe than sorry). Every week i think to myself when walking around the market what will be on the menu for the following week? And then some delicious product, stall or vendor catches my eye and the menu starts to unfold.  This week Simon from Rosedale Orchards gave me a glorious crown pumpkin and suggested i think of other ways to utilise his fresh fruit juice other than to simply drink it....(next week) then i bumped into Sue from Waitaki Bacon and Ham and now Naked Beef as well so of course i will be demonstrating how to cook an amazing steak.  Donald from Butlers Berries offered me some raspberry jam and i got my hands on some freshly ground walnuts from the fabulous Nut Company goes without saying that i am going to partner these two up and make my market version of the delicious Bakewell tart.  I also have one of the unsung heroes of the market - Cauliflower and i have proudly transformed this vegetable into a bowl of velvety delight. 
I have a lot to do and you guys have a lot to eat!! Look forward to seeing you all soon at the market.

Alison doing her thing in the mobile kitchen

just a snippet of the vast array of organic produce from Wairuna Organics (located on platform)

CAULIFLOWER SOUP

This is one of those surprising soups, especially when you think of the main ingredient – cauliflower! The final product is velvety smooth, creamy, nourishing and economical on the pocket.

1 large cauliflower (about 1kg), stalks discarded and florets chopped
1 large potato, peeled and chopped into large chunks
1 medium onion, chopped
1 ½ tsp curry powder
25g butter
4 Tbsp olive oil
1 litre light chicken or vegetable stock
600ml milk
100ml cream (optional, but highly recommended)

Method

Put the cauliflower, potato and onion in a large saucepan with the butter and half of the oil. Gently heat the contents until they start to sizzle add the curry powder then cover with a lid and sweat over a low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The vegetables should be softened but not coloured.

Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, then pour in the milk and return gently to a boil. This way, there will be no scum forming from the milk. Season to taste then simmer, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Pour in half the cream.

Blend everything in a food processor or blender, in batches. If you would like it extra creamy, pass it through a fine sieve.

Always reheat your soup before consuming.  Serve in warm bowls or large cups (I like a few finely cut chives on top and a generous grind of pepper).

BARLEY RISOTTO WITH PUMPKIN AND PARSLEY

Barley is wholesome, filling and easy on the pocket it also has a wonderful texture which compliments the sweet roasted pumpkin and fresh parsley.

Serves 4

850g pumpkin, skinned and de-seeded

5 Tbsp olive oil or any good quality oil

150g butter
1 medium onion, or leek, finely diced
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
350g barley
1.5 litres hot vegetable stock
75ml dry white wine or vermouth (optional)
75g parsley, finely chopped
100g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Method
Preheat the oven to 220C

Peel the pumpkin and cut into 3 cm chunks and place into a bowl along with 3 tablespoons of the oil and season with salt and pepper.  Pour onto a baking tray and roast in the oven for about 30 minutes or until browned on the outside and tender on the inside. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Melt half the butter and the remaining olive oil in a large, heavy based saucepan and cook the onion without colouring until soft and transparent (about 5 minutes).  Add the garlic and barley and continue to cook so that every grain gets coated in butter.  I like to almost toast the grains of barley for a few extra minutes so that the flavour goes a little nutty.

Turn the heat up and add the wine (if using) stir well and let the liquid reduce.  Once that has reduced add one ladleful of hot stock at a time and stir well so that it can absorb into the barley.  Continue adding ladleful by ladleful of hot stock until the barley is becoming plump and tender (30 minutes).  Add the cooked pumpkin and fold through. 

Season well with salt and pepper add the parsley and a generous handful of the grated parmesan cheese, mix gently to combine. 

Serve with a little more grated parmesan on top and a grind or two of pepper.

BEETROOT SALSA (great with steak)

4 cooked small-medium beetroot
8 spring onions,  or 1 medium red onion sliced thinly
1 seeded green chilli, sliced thinly
2 Tbsp fresh mint, tarragon or coriander
1 Tbsp balsamic, red wine or malt vinegar
5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp sugar
sea salt flakes and freshly ground pepper

Method

Put the diced cooked beetroot into a bowl along with the vinegar, sugar and salt flakes, mix gently to combine and let sit whilst your prepare the other ingredients. 

 Add the spring onions or onion, green chilli, fresh herbs, and olive oil. Season and stir well. Allow the flavours to marinate for a few minutes (if possible) and then serve.  It works well with red meats but it would go equally as good with a wedge of cheese or even tossed through a salad.

WAITAKI NAKED BEEF - SEARED STEAK WITH PARSLEY AND GARLIC SAUCE

One of the most frequently asked questions’ being a chef is how to cook a great steak! It has to start from the beginning - the meat! It needs to have had a good life, (a bit like us, stress free), hormone free and a good environment from start to finish.

HOW TO COOK A GREAT STEAK - When selecting your meat, have a look at the colour, you don’t want bright red, it needs to be aged. Fine marbling is an indicator of flavour, and lean meat should be tender. The cut depends on what you want it for - thick / thin - lean/ fatty…

Varieties - Fillet
- Rib-eye (scotch fillet)
- Sirloin
- Rump/porterhouse
- T-bone

Have steaks out of fridge for at least ½ an hour before cooking. Season well with cracked black pepper and only season with salt just before you cook it as it will draw out the moisture from the meat. A little drizzle of oil and do the same to the other side.

Heat up a good heavy-base fry pan or griddle pan until almost smoking. You need it super-hot as you want the meat to sear instantly.

Once your pan is HOT carefully add the steak. If you are cooking for the family try not to over crowd the pan. If necessary use two pans! Try not to prod and prick the steak, leave it so is sears and caramelises - depending on how well you like your steak. You only need to cook an average steak for 3-4 minutes on both sides. The next vital step is to let the meat rest, simply remove the meat from the pan and transfer on to a warm plate and cover with foil. Quickly return the pan back to the heat and add a glug of red wine, beef stock or even water, swirl around pan so all the delicious little caramelised pieces of flavour are removed from the bottom and get incorporated into you sauce. Once the liquid has bubbled and reduced remove from heat and add a couple of knobs of cold butter, swirl round to emulsify into your sauce, you may need salt and pepper. Simply drizzle your sauce over the steak and enjoy every mouthful….!

(BAKEWELL) TART – MARKET STYLE

This is my version of the fabulous Bakewell tart – not much has changed except I am using Butlers wonderful raspberry jam and freshly ground walnuts from the Nut Company and if you want you can even use shop bought pastry (I won’t tell).

Serves 8 (20cm round tart tin) or the tart can also be made as individual portions. Use a 12-hole muffin tin instead of a tart tin and follow the methods as above.

For the Pastry

150g plain flour (see tip below)

pinch of salt

80g butter, cubed or an equal mix of butter and lard

2-3 tbsp cold water

For the Filling

2 Tbsp raspberry jam

150g butter

3/4 cup/ 150g caster sugar

3 medium eggs plus 1 yolk,, beaten

1 1/2 cups/ 150g ground walnuts

Zest of 1 medium orange

2 Tbsp lightly crushed fresh walnuts

1 egg white, lightly beaten

Method

Preheat the oven 170C
PASTRY - Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean bowl.

Rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, working as quickly as possible to prevent the dough becoming warm.

Add the water to the mixture and using a cold knife stir until the dough binds together, add more cold water a teaspoon at a time if the mixture is too dry.

Wrap the dough in gladwrap/ Clingfilm and chill for a minimum of 15 minutes, up to 30 minutes.

Tart - Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured board to 5mm thick. Grease and then line a 20cm deep tart tin with the pastry. Prick the base all over with a fork. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

Line the tart case with baking/greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans. Cook for 15 minutes or until the pastry is a pale golden color. Remove the baking beans, lightly brush the inside of the pastry case with a little egg white, cook for a further 5 minutes. Spread the raspberry jam onto the base of the pastry case. Leave to cool.

Filling - Cream the butter and sugar together until pale in color using an electric hand whisk. Add the beaten eggs and egg yolk a little at a time. Gently fold in the ground walnuts and orange zest.

Pour the mixture in to the pastry case and gently level the surface to ensure the whole case is filled. Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the lightly crushed walnuts on to the surface and bake for a further 20 minutes or until golden and set.

Leave to cool and serve with cream.

ALISON WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING VENDORS FOR THEIR FANTASTIC PRODUCE

WAITAKI BACON AND HAM / BEEF – beef

ROSEDALE ORCHARDS – pumpkin and fruit juice

BUTLERS BERRIES – jam
NUT COMPANY – fresh walnuts and walnut products
SUNRISE BAKERY – fresh bread
ETTRICK GARDENS – cauliflower
WAIRUNA ORGANICS – beetroot
JUDGE ROCK WINES – wine