I like to be challenged in the kitchen, and that is why I thought it was a good idea to cook for my friend Jenny and her boyfriend James on NYE before heading to a party. Last time I invited James I cooked a whole lot of mezze dishes inspired from my trip to Syria and Ottolenghi’s book Plenty.
I wanted the NYE menu to be quite traditional, nice and vegan and because it was just for the three of us I kept it quite simple.
~ The New Year’s Eve menu 2011 ~
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Jerusalem artichoke soup with coconut milk and fried chestnut mushrooms
Rustic baguette, olive oil and balsamico
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Butternut squash risotto with spinach
Salad with romaine lettuce, romano peppers, avocado and pomegranate
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Vanilla pannacotta with soy cream and passionfruit
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We had champagne to start as well, and thanks to Waitrose I got a great bottle of bubbly half price. At the champagne tasting at Harrod’s I tried some champagnes from Duval-Leroy, but not thiis one; their regular Brut NV, but because I liked the others and it is a good quality champagne house I bought this bottle and it was really good.
Vega Jerusalem artichoke soup with coconut milk, serves 3 as a starter
1 shalot, finely chopped
1 tbsp oliv oil
500 g Jerusalem artichokes, peeled
water
2 tsp concentrated vegetable stock
50 ml coconut milk
salt, white pepper
Topping: fried, sliced chestnut mushrooms
Fry the onion until soft in the oil. Add the artichokes to the pan and fry for a minute or so, Add hot water to cover and add salt. Bring to the boil and cook until very soft. Remove half the water, but keep it on the side, and puré the rest with the artichokes. Add the coconut milk and then adjust the thickness with the left over water. Add concentrated stock, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil again and serve.
Vegan butternut squash risotto with spinach, serves 4
1/2 butternut squash
1/2-1 onion
olive oil
100 ml dry white wine
1 litre vegetable stock
400 g aborio rice
2 handfuls fresh spinach
salt, white pepper
Peel the squash and remove the seeds. Cut it into chunks and place them in a roasting tray, add oil, salt and pepper and mix. Place in 200C for 35 minutes or until soft.
Fry the onions in olive oil in a casserole dish or large saucepan but don’t let it brown. Add the rice and stir for a minute or two. Add the wine and watch most of it evaporate. Then add a ladle of the hot stock and continue to stir while it cooks in. Add another ladle and repeat the procedure until all the stock is used up and the rice is soft. it usually takes 18-20 minutes depending on the type of rice. Add the spinach and stir until it is wilted. Season with salt and pepper and add the butternut squash. Feel free to serve with parmesan if you’re not vegan.
Vegan vanilla pannacotta with soy cream and passionfruit, serves 3
400 ml soy cream
2-3 tbsp vanilla essence
50-75 ml jelly sugar, or the same amount of caser sugar + enough veggie set or agar flakes for the amount of liquid
3 passionfruits
I tried my way through when I cooked this, to get rid of the particular aftertaste soy products have, and I recommend you do the same.
Add the cream to a sauce pan and the smaller amount of sugar and vanilla and heat it up. Then add the sugar and vanilla little by little until you are satisfied with the taste. Add the jeling agent if not using jelly sugar. Bring to the boil and stir so the sugar melts. Pour into dessert coupes or ramekins and leave to cool. Place in the fridge for a minimum of four hours to set.
Before serving, place the inside of the passionfruits in a bowl and place enough on each pannacotta to cover the top. Serve and enjoy.
Scandelights 