swedes recipes

This quantity serves 6 people and is delicious although it sounds very unlikely, given the ingredients. No cooking required and prepares a day ahead. Have made half quantity and it works fine.

Ingredients:

• 200gms stale white breadcrumbs, no crust.
• 800 ml cold water
• 15 grams fresh garlic sliced.
• 150ml good olive oil
• 150gms ground almonds
• 3-4 tbsp wine vinegar
• 1 tsp salt

Method:

1. Soak the bread in half the water for about 15 minutes, put it into a blender  jug-  food processor just doesn't do this as efficiently – add the garlic and half the oil and the almonds.
2. Blend on high for about 3 minutes until it becomes silky smooth. Add in the rest of the water and the vinegar and salt. Blend again. That's all there is to it!
3. Chill overnight and before serving add a  drop more water  if  necessary to give a creamy but not gloopy consistency. Add more vinegar to taste if liked.

Serve with croutons or cubed cucumber or green pepper or seedless grapes and a drizzle of oil.

You can use half the water only and then the soup becomes a lovely dip! Also be careful to use skinned almonds.

Zuppa di fagiuoli

(Zuppa di fagiuoli)

One cup of dried beans, kidney, navy or lima is to be soaked over night. Then boil until tender. It is preferable to put the beans to cook in cold water with a pinch of soda. When they come to boil, pour off this water and add fresh

Chop fine ¼ onion, one clove of garlic, one sprig of parsley and one piece of celery and put them to fry in ¼ cup of oil with salt and a generous amount of pepper. When the vegetables are a delicate brown add to them two cups of the broth from the beans and 1 cup of tomatoes (canned or fresh). Let all come to a boil and pour the mixture into the kettle of beans from which some of the water has been drained, if they are very liquid. This soup may be served as it is or rubbed through a sieve before serving. Croutons or triangles of dry toast make an excellent addition

.

The bean soup is made without meat or chicken broth, and it belongs consequently to that class of soup called by the Italians "Minestra di Magro" or "lean soup," to be served preferably on Friday and other days in which the Roman Catholic Church prohibits the use of meats

Panata

(Panata)

This excellent and nutritious soup is a godsend for using the stale bread that must never again be thrown away. It is composed of bread crumbs and grated bread, eggs, grated cheese, nutmeg (in very small quantity) and salt, all mixed together and put in broth previously prepared, which must be warm at the moment of the immersion, but not at the boiling point. Then place it on a low fire and stir gently. Any vegetable left over may be added.Tagliate a pezzetti il pane e mettetelo in una casseruola coperto da un litro e mezzo di brodo.

Insaporite con due cucchiai di olio, un pizzico di sale, cannella e noce moscata e lasciate macerare per un'ora.
Mettete la casseruola sul fuoco e cuocete per 30 minuti mescolando spesso.
Quando il composto risulterà cremoso scodellatelo dopo aver incorporato il parmigiano grattugiato.

french onion soup

First make the croutons – begin by drizzling the olive oil on to a large, solid baking-sheet, add the crushed garlic and then, using your hands, spread the oil and garlic all over the baking sheet. Now place the bread slices on top of the oil, then turn over each one so that both sides have been lightly coated with the oil.

Bake them in the oven for 20-25 minutes till crispy and crunchy. Next place the saucepan or casserole on a high heat and melt the oil and butter together. When this is very hot, add the onions, garlic and sugar, and keep turning them from time to time until the edges of the onions have turned dark – this will take about 6 minutes. Then reduce the heat to its lowest setting and leave the onions to carry on cooking very slowly for about 30 minutes, by which time the base of the pan will be covered with a rich, nut brown, caramelised film. After that, pour in the stock and white wine, season, then stir with a wooden spoon, scraping the base of the pan well.

As soon as it all comes up to simmering point, turn down the heat to its lowest setting, then go away and leave it to cook very gently, without a lid, for about 1 hour. All this can be done in advance but, when you're ready to serve the soup, bring it back up to simmering point, taste to check for seasoning – and if it's extra-cold outside, add a couple of tablespoons of Cognac! Warm the tureen or soup bowls in a low oven and pre-heat the grill to its highest setting. Then ladle in the hot soup and top with the croutons, allowing them to float on the top of the soup. Now sprinkle the grated Gruyère thickly over the croutons and place the whole lot under the grill until the cheese is golden brown and bubbling. Serve immediately – and don't forget to warn your