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Posts Tagged ‘Tapenade’

These little savoury diamonds are perfect with aperitifs.

Cheese & tapenade puffs – makes 28-32

  • 1 x 320g ready-rolled puff pastry sheet
  • 2 tbsp black olive tapenade
  • 55g mature Cheddar, grated
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 55g Parmesan, grated

Place the puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured work surface.

Spread the tapenade over one half of the pastry. Sprinkle the Cheddar cheese over the tapenade then fold the other side of the pastry over to encase the tapenade.

Dust the top of the pastry with a little flour then reroll to the oringal size and shape. Brush the surface with beaten egg and sprinkle over the Parmesan. Very gently roll the rolling pin over the top just to press the cheese into the pastry. Transfer to a tray lined with baking paper and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Heat the oven to 200C/180C/Gas 6.

Line 2 baking sheets with non-stick baking paper.

Trim the edges of the rectangle to make it neat, if needed, then divide the pastry into 4 strips vertically. Remove a small triangle from each end, then slice each strip into 6-7 diamond shapes. Chill in the fridge again for just 10 minutes.

Put the diamonds the prepared baking sheets and bake in the hot oven vor about 15 minutes, or until golden brown . Leave to cool slightly on a wire rack and serve warm.

(Original recipe from Mary’s Foolproof Dinners by Mary Berry, Penguin: Random House UK, 2024.)

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This is something we’ve bought loads, either in a deli or in a restaurant. Easy, tasty and fresh; don’t know why it has taken so long for us to make our own! Provided you keep it in the fridge with a thin film of olive oil covering the top it will last for ages. A really nice topping for bruschetta or slices of crusty bread.

Green olive paste  – makes enough to fill a jam jar

  • 40 stoned green olives
  • 1 tsp capers
  • 1 tbsp ground almonds
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • ¼ tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp ground paprika

Put all the ingredients in a food processor and blend to make a purée.

Wine Suggestion: The influence here is clearly Spanish and as you’re likely to serve this before a meal we suggest the ultimate Spanish aperitif – a glass of Sherry. We would choose either a Fino or Manzanilla where the salty-savoury freshness would really compliment the tangy olive flavours and add a texture that really works. It is super important that you pick a recently bottled version (ask your wine merchant to explain the lot numbers! … or me if you are in Mitchell’s) as these sherries really lose freshness and vitality if it has been bottled too long.

(Original recipe from Real Fast Vegetarian Food by Ursula Ferrigno, Metro Publishing Ltd., 2002.)

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