Tag: entertaining

Indulge in a delicious twist on a brunch classic with these Savoury Eggs Benedict Pancakes with Crispy Bacon. Fluffy, parmesan-infused pancakes replace traditional English muffins, creating the perfect base for layers of crispy streaky bacon, perfectly poached eggs, and a rich, velvety hollandaise sauce. With a hint of chives and a touch of cayenne for added flavour, this dish is a showstopper for any breakfast or brunch occasion.

  1. Start by making the pancake batter. In a large bowl mix together the self-raising flour and salt. Then in a small jug mix the milk and beaten egg. Create a well in the middle of the flour, then slowly add the milk mixture ensure to whisk it in thoroughly after each addition – this is the best way to ensure you don’t get any lumps.
  2. Once all the milk and egg are added and you have a smooth batter, add the grated parmesan and finely chopped chives and whisk again. Set aside.
  3. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  4. Next you want to make your hollandaise sauce. Get a small glass bowl that fits comfortably over a pan so that the base of the bowl won’t touch the water. Add some water to the pan so it comes up approximately 1 inch up the side. Then in the glass bowl add the egg yolks, the vinegar and 1 cube of butter. Place the bowl on top of the pan of water and heat it so the water is gently simmering. Constantly whisk the egg yolks until they thicken slightly.
  5. Then add the remaining butter a cube at a time, whisking all the time. Don’t add the butter too quickly ensure each is incorporated before adding the next. Once all the butter is added you should have a thicken and creamy sauce. Squeeze in the lemon juice and then season with Maldon Sea Salt and cracked black pepper, taste it and adjust it if necessary. Turn the heat off the pan but allow the bowl to sit on the pan still while you prepare the rest of the dish. The residual heat from the pan will ensure your sauce doesn’t split but give it a whisk every now and then.
  6. Place the streaky bacon on a tray and then into the preheated oven to cook for roughly 15 minutes – depending on how crispy you like it.
  7. While the bacon is cooking, place a medium nonstick frying pan on a medium low heat. Melt a little butter in the pan, then fry the pancakes – spooning on some batter so they are roughly 12cm in diameter. Fry each pancake for 2 minutes on each side then flip and cook the other side – they should be lightly golden and fluffy inside. Set them aside on a plate while you cook the remaining.
  8. While you are frying the pancakes, place a pan of water on to boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and then poach two eggs. We like to add a splash of white wine vinegar to the water, then swirl the water before dropping the eggs in – this helps ensure a good shape to the poached eggs.
  9. When you are ready to serve, place 3 or 4 pancakes onto each plate in a stack. Then top with some rashers of streaky bacon, followed by the perfectly poached egg. Then finally spoon over the hollandaise sauce and garnish with a pinch of cayenne pepper and some finely chopped chives. Serve immediately.

Every year Julia Busuttil Nishimura makes this Ligurian Easter pie without fail. Nourishing, delicious and fun to make, we are grateful Julia has shared her secret family recipe with us! The dough is rolled out until transparent and then layered to create a unique flaky pastry which is so crunchy and golden and the perfect envelope for the greens and eggs.

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C fan-forced. Grease a 23 cm loose-bottomed or springform round tin with olive oil.

2. Combine the flour and Maldon Sea Salt in a large bowl. Pour in the olive oil and water and mix with your hands until the mixture forms a shaggy ball. Tip onto a lightly floured work bench and knead for 5 minutes or until smooth. Divide into four balls and cover with a clean tea towel.

3. For the filling, blanch the silverbeet and spinach, refresh in cold water then squeeze out the excess moisture. Blitz to a puree in a food processor and place in a bowl with the ricotta, eggs, marjoram and Parmigiano Reggiano. Mix to combine and season to taste.

4. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out one of the balls of dough to a very thin circle, as thin as you can roll it, stretching with your hands to help it along. Drape the pastry into the prepared tin and brush with olive oil. Roll out another ball of dough, repeating the draping and brushing. There should be about 4 cm of dough overhanging the tin.

5. Spoon the filling into the tin and spread to level the mixture. Using the back of a spoon, make four deep indentations in the mixture and crack an egg into each of them. Repeat the rolling, draping and brushing with the two remaining balls of dough to make a top for your pie. Trim the overhanging pastry to just 2cm, then fold in the dough edge, crimping as you go, to seal the pie.

6. Whisk 1 teaspoon of water into the remaining egg to make a wash and brush the top of the pie and the crimped edge. Using a fork, poke a few steam holes in the middle of the pie and sprinkle with extra Maldon Sea Salt.

7. Bake for 45-50 minutes until the pastry is golden and the pie is piping hot in the middle. Check by inserting a metal skewer into the pie; it should come out very hot to the touch. Allow to cool briefly, then remove the pie from the tin and transfer to a serving plate or board.

Helena Moursellas’ Salted Walnut and Cinnamon Kataifi brings together the perfect balance of sweet and savoury, topped off with Maldon Sea Salt. Enjoy with a Greek cup of coffee!

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C. Grease the base and sides of a 22cm x 16cm rectangular baking dish with some of the melted butter.
  2. For the syrup, combine the ingredients and 250ml (1 cup) of water in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes, until the sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool completely.
  3. In a mini food processor, whizz the pistachios and walnuts until the nuts are finely chopped. Place in a mixing bowl along with the salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and sugar and mix to combine.
  4. Unroll the kataifi pastry and, using your hands, gently separate the pastry. Be careful when handling kataifi pastry – it is very fragile.
  5. Tear off a piece of kataifi, 4 cm wide and 14 cm long, brush with melted butter and place 1 tablespoon of the nut filling on top at the short end. Roll the pastry tightly to form a 7cm cylinder. Place on the prepared dish and repeat the process with the remainder of the pastry and filing. Any remaining butter, pour over the kataifi.
  6. Brush the tops of all the kataifi rolls with butter, and bake in the oven for 45 minutes.
  7. Once the kataifi are cooked, evenly pour the cold syrup over the top and allow to cool to room temperature and all the syrup has been absorbed.

Winter entertaining made easy with Helena Moursellas’ feta, pumpkin, and honey filo pita. Infused with Maldon Sea Salt, it’s the perfect blend of Greek flavours for your next gathering.

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a large roasting tray with baking paper.
  2. Place the pumpkin, garlic, rosemary onto the tray, drizzle with olive oil and honey, season with Maldon Sea Salt flakes and cracked pepper. Roast in the oven for 25 minutes until tender.
  3. Remove pumpkin from the oven, discard skin from garlic and roughly smash with a fork. Place into a bowl along with the feta, herbs, cheese and egg.
  4. Grease a 20cm x 30cm baking tray.
  5. Place 1 sheet of filo pastry, with the long edge facing you, on a clean work surface. Brush with butter and place another sheet on top. Spread 4 tablespoons of the mixture along the side closest to you and roll up to fully enclose. Carefully cut in half. Place into the prepared baking tin and continue with remaining filling and filo pastry. Brush with butter, scatter with sesame seeds and place into the oven for 40 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Slice and serve hot.

These moreish lemon and dill yoghurt flatbreads are topped with creamy havarti cheese and fermented chilli, but feel free to top yours with whatever you fancy. If you don’t have access to a wood fire, a hot oven will do the trick! Recipe by Helena Moursellas.

  1. Heat a wood oven to 400°C or if using an oven preheat oven to 250°C.
  2. For the confit garlic, place ingredients into a saucepan over high heat and cook until 60°C on a kitchen thermometer. Reduce heat to low and cook gently for 20 minutes or until garlic is softened.
  3. Place the flour, baking powder, dill, lemon zest and Maldon Sea Salt flakes in a large bowl and mix to combine. Make a well in the center and add the yoghurt and mix to combine until a dough forms.
  4. Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and dust with a little extra flour. Knead the dough for 3–5 minutes, then divide into 4 equal pieces and roll out to ½ cm thick. Working with one flatbread at a time, drizzle with confit garlic and oil and carefully place into the pizza oven for 2 minutes or until crispy and puffed. If using the oven, place the flatbread onto a baking dish or pizza stone and drizzle with confit garlic oil and cook for 8-10 minutes or until crispy and puffed.
  5. Remove flatbread from the oven and scatter with a quarter of the Havarti, cavolo nero, fermented chili and confit garlic oil and cook for a further 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Season with Maldon Sea Salt and serve.