On the Menu: Lemons
Starter: Lemon and Ricotta Tortellini with Lime Butter
Ingredients:
(for 6 servings)
For the tortellini:
150g flour
150g Durum wheat semolina flour
10 egg yolks
3 tbsp olive oil
salt
For the filling and sauce:
300g buffalo ricotta cheese
50g grated Parmesan cheese
2 lemons
3 limes
1 egg yolk
200g butter
Method:
1. Begin by making the pasta dough. Whisk both flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the eggs and olive oil.
2. Carefully whisk all the ingredients and gradually combine until a smooth, compact mixture appears. Wrap the dough in cling film and let it rest for 30 minutes.
3. For the filling, mix the ricotta cheese with grated lemon and lime zest, then add the Parmesan and the egg yolk. Season it with salt and pepper and put it in a cool place.
4. Roll the dough either by hand or through a pasta roller to 2-3mm-thick sheets. Using a circular 3-inch cutter, cut out pasta rounds.
5. Spoon 1 teaspoon of filling into the centre of each pasta round. Moisten the edges with water and fold over tightly into a half-moon shape, taking care to remove any air pockets.
6. Draw the corners together, pinch and seal. Toss the completed tortellini in a little flour so it doesn’t stick.
7. Cook the tortellini in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Heat butter in a pan with a squeeze of fresh lime and grated lime zest. Lightly toss the tortellini in the butter, then serve hot. Garnish with a grating of Parmesan and fresh basil to taste.
Main: Escalope with Lemon - Scaloppine al Limone
Ingredients:
800g thinly sliced veal breast
1 lemon
1 garlic clove
flour
extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp butter
salt
pepper
parsley
Method:
1. Start by placing the slices of veal breast between two sheets of parchment paper and beat using a meat pounder. Flour the slices on both sides and cook them evenly over a high heat, in a saucepan with the garlic, oil and butter.
2. Grate the lemon zest and keep aside for the topping. Squeeze the lemon and pour the juice, filtered through a strainer, over the escalopes. Season with salt and pepper, then lower the heat and continue cooking for a few minutes.
3. Serve the lemon escalopes with a sprinkling of freshly ground pepper, grated lemon zest and parsley to taste.
Dessert: Amalfi Lemon Tart
Ingredients:
Pastry:
250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
75g icing sugar, sifted
180g unsalted butter, chilled
2 egg yolks
1 egg, beaten
Lemon Filling:
5 lemons, preferably Amalfi lemons
300g caster sugar
300g unsalted butter, chilled
6 eggs
9 egg yolks
Method:
1. Begin by making the pastry. Blitz the flour, sugar and butter together in a food processor, pulsing until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolks and blitz again for 10 seconds to combine, then transfer the mixture to a bowl and bring together by hand to form a dough. Cover the bowl with cling film and transfer to the fridge to rest for 1 hour.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the lemons for the filling. Grate the zest from all 5 lemons into a bowl and set aside, then juice the lemons into a separate bowl. Measure out 150ml of the lemon juice and discard the rest.
3. Once rested, lightly dust a clean surface with flour and evenly roll out the pastry. Press the pastry into the tart tin and leave to rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Once rested, place a piece of baking parchment on top of the pastry and fill with baking beans. Blind bake the tart case in the oven for 15–20 minutes until golden in colour, then remove the paper and baking beans and continue to bake for a further 5 minutes.
5. Remove the tart case from the oven and, using the beaten egg as an egg wash, brush the pastry evenly all over to seal. Return to the oven to bake for a final 5 minutes, then set aside and leave to cool a little.
6. To make the filling, combine the lemon zest, juice, butter and sugar in a large, heavy-based pan and place over a low heat. Gently melt the butter, stirring well until the sugar has fully dissolved.
7. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and yolks until well combined. Pour the egg mixture into the saucepan and stir over a medium heat until the custard mixture thickens – take care not to let the custard boil as this will cause the eggs to curdle. Pour the filling into the tart case and lightly shake the tin to create a smooth, even surface
In the same way that eating lemons promotes good health from the inside out, we also promote good skin from the outside in by applying Lemon topically. The following products contain Lemon:
