Thursday, 13 July 2023

Artisanal Italian food brand, Seggiano, has revealed five of its best alfresco-inspired eats – perfect for alfresco dining.

These unique recipes are guaranteed to make you the talk of the dinner party – while catering for flexitarians and vegetarians alike. 

Please see the recipes below and attached as well as high res imagery found here. 

Pea, Asparagus and Artichoke tart 

Green Pea Fusilli with Grilled Artichokes, Peas and Lemon Pangritata 

Beetroot, Lentil and Feta Salad  

Sweetcorn & Spinach Fritters 

Gin Rose on the Rocks


Here are five alfresco inspired eats from Seggiano

 

With the British summer in full swing, what better way to celebrate our summer than with fresh foods and alfresco eats created by artisan Italian food experts Seggiano?


Whether you are looking for a cool summer salad to match those hearty-BBQ dishes, a delectable drink featuring seasonal summer fruits, or a tasty tart to share with friends, then they have it all covered. 


They’re taking seasonal and delicious produce to an entire new level with unique recipes which are guaranteed to make you the talk of the dinner parties, which cater for flexitarians and vegetarians alike. There are creative twists on fantastic salads, nutritious risotto dinners and delightfully indulgent platters to entertain guests over sun-filled weekend get-togethers. 


Pea, Asparagus and Artichoke tart


Difficulty: Medium

Cooking time: 50 mins

Serves: 8

Vegetarian


A Seggiano twist on the King’s coronation approved dish for the upcoming bank holiday – Britain’s much-loved quiche – this pea, asparagus and artichoke tart is a delicious option to wow guests at your street party, with the beautiful contrast between crunchy filo and soft, melt-in-the-mouth interior.


Ingredients Method

For the filling: 

6 eggs 

4 tbsp creme fraiche

2 tbsp Lunaio Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

2 shallots, halved lengthwise and sliced 10g grated parmesan 

125g asparagus tips 

160g peas 

4 Seggiano artichoke hearts, drained and quartered*


For the tart case: 

250g pack filo 

30g buttermelted 

2 tbsp Lunaio Extra Virgin Olive Oil*


To serve: 

Pea shoots 

Lunaio Organic Lemon Oil


*Seggiano works best, but any high-quality alternative purchased from an independent retailer will suffice.

1. Preheat the oven to 160ÂșC and place a baking tray inside to heat up.


2. Whisk together the eggs and creme fraiche until smooth, season with salt and pepper then set aside.


3. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan then cook the shallots over a low heat, stirring often, until softened and golden. Set aside to cool.


4. Meanwhile, blanch the asparagus and peas in a pan of boiling water for 2-3 minutes then drain and tip into a bowl of iced water.


5. Now prepare the tart base. Stir together the melted butter and olive oil. Unwrap the filo pastry and lay between 2 damp tea towels to prevent it drying out as you work.


6. Brush a 20cm loose bottomed tin with the butter and oil mixture then lay a sheet of pastry into the tin, sticking it to the sides. Don’t worry if it doesn’t cover the whole surface, you can cover any gaps with the next sheet of pastry. Brush with more butter and oil then repeat the layers until you have used all of the pastry. Use scissors to trim the pastry into an even edge just above the tin. You may find it best to cut the pastry sheets in half to better fit your tin.


7. Stir the cooled shallots, peas and artichokes into the egg mixture then tip into the tart case. Lay the asparagus on top then sprinkle over the parmesan.


8. Slide the tin onto the hot baking tray in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the filling is just set then leave to cool in the tin.


9. Serve with pea shoots and a drizzle of lemon oil.


Green Pea Fusilli with Grilled Artichokes, Peas and Lemon Pangritata


 


Difficulty: Easy

Cooking time: 20

Serves: 2

Vegetarian


A delicious, quick and protein-rich pasta dish with green pea fusilli and roasted artichokes, great as a sharing main for summer garden parties.


Ingredients Method

250g Seggiano Organic Green Pea Fusilli

200g frozen peas

380g artichoke hearts*, quartered and drained

60ml Lunaio Organic Lemon Oil

80g finely grated parmesan and extra to serve

Pea shoots, to serve

15g butter

80g sourdough breadcrumbs

1 garlic clove


*Seggiano works best, but any high-quality alternative purchased from an independent retailer will suffice.

1. Heat half of the oil and all of the butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat, until it becomes foamy. Add breadcrumbs and garlic and fry, stirring until golden and crispy. Season and set aside to cool.


2. Cook the fusilli pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions for al dente, adding the peas for the final 2 minutes of cooking time. Drain but reserve 250ml of cooking water. Return pasta and peas to the pan and place over a low heat.


3. Add the artichoke hearts, Parmesan, remaining lemon oil and pasta cooking water, season and toss to combine.


4. Divide the pasta between the 4 serving bowls, top with the Pangritata, pea shoots and finely grated Parmesan to taste.


Beetroot, Lentil and Feta Salad 

 

Difficulty: Easy

Cooking time: 45 minutes

Serves: 2

Vegetarian


This refreshing light lunch is a simple dish to prepare and a great way to keep calories low and increase your daily dose of vitamins and nutrients. It is also a great addition to an al fresco spread, giving colour and freshness to dinners or BBQs.


Ingredients Method

5 beetroots 

1 tbsp Seggiano white wine vinegar*

2 tbsp dried green lentils

1 tbsp red quinoa, or other grain of choice

1 tbsp plain yoghurt

Dill leaves

Thyme

Feta

Salt & pepper

Lunaio Extra Virgin Olive Oil*



Seggiano works best, but any high- quality alternative purchased from an independent retailer will be fine


1. Preheat your oven to 200°C/Gas 6


2. Place the beets in a baking dish, add 5mm of water, then cover with foil. Place in the oven and roast for about 45 minutes until tender. 

When they are cool enough to handle, peel them and cut into wedges. Alternatively, if you’re using pre-cooked beetroots simply cut into wedges and drizzle over some of our white wine vinegar for added flavour.


3. Cook the quinoa and lentils by bringing to the boil, covering, and reducing the heat. Simmer for 15 minutes, cover and place to one side.


4. Combine the beetroots, quinoa and lentils with our Seggiano white wine vinegar, dill, salt and some of our organic olive oil.


5. Spoon some yoghurt onto a plate, top with the beetroots lentils and quinoa. Top with feta and more dill.




Sweetcorn & Spinach Fritters


 


Difficulty: Easy

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Serves: 4

Vegetarian


A healthy side dish to add intrigue to any buffet or dinner party with friends, these sweetcorn and spinach fritters are best accompanied by a zingy pesto dip to perfectly complement the spinach centre.


Ingredients Method

For the fritters:

100g spinach

250g sweetcorn (drained)

3 spring onions (finely sliced)

3 medium eggs

30ml milk

75g self-raising flour

50g cheddar cheese (grated)

salt and pepper

vegetable oil for frying


For the dip: 

200g plain greek yoghurt

60g Seggiano Raw Basil Pesto

Salt and pepper to taste


Seggiano works best, but any high- quality alternative purchased from an independent retailer will be OK.

1. Wilt the spinach by placing the spinach in a large saucepan with a splash of water, cover with a lid and cook over a medium heat until wilted – it should only take a few minutes. Tip the wilted spinach into a colander or sieve and squeeze out as much excess water as you can.


2. Transfer the wilted spinach into a mixing bowl along with the sweetcorn and spring onions.


3. Whisk together the eggs and milk and pour over the vegetables and mix together. Sift in the flour and stir into the mixture along with the cheese and a generous pinch of salt and pepper.


4. Heat a frying pan over a medium heat and add a splash of vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot, spoon heaped tablespoons of fritter mixture into the pan and cook for 2 minutes on each side.


5. Whilst the fritters are cooking, make the dip by mixing the yoghurt and pesto together and seasoning to taste.



Gin Rosé On The Rocks


Difficulty: Easy

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves: 1


This quick and easy cocktail recipe created by Seggiano and recipe developer Monica Patiño is bound to quench your thirst and refresh you pronto. If you don't have a cocktail shaker, use a sealable container like a mason jar!


Ingredients Method

1 tsp Seggiano Organic Rosé Balsamic Vinegar

2 oz gin

1/2 oz Campari Bitter

1 diced grapefruit

4 crushed juniper berries

8 ice cubes

1 fresh sprig of oregano or rosemary (optional)


Seggiano works best, but any high-quality alternative purchased from an independent retailer will suffice.


1. Place 4 ice cubes in a cocktail shaker with all the ingredients

2. Beat 10 to 15 times very hard and strain into a glass with the other 4 ice cubes

3. Decorate with a grapefruit slice, the fresh oregano sprig or rosemary and serve


Frantoio Franci launches brand new organic olive oil

Frantoio Franci Delicate Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml (2022/2023 harvest) is a brand new addition to the Franci organic selection. 

It's a delightfully tasty light fruity extra virgin olive oil, with ripe vegetal notes of tomato and artichoke leaf. 

It offers a sweet taste with a touch of mild bitterness and spiciness and is in good harmony. 

It's recommended for employment in soups, vegetables purées, salads, raw and cooked vegetables which have delicate flavours and in fish and meat dishes.

It is produced by Frantoio Franci, one of Italy’s most renowned olive oil producers. 

The farm, which is based near Montalcino in Montenero d’Orcia is currently managed by Giorgio Franci, who has taken over running the business from his father, Fernando. 

Incidentally, the olive mill quickly became famed through its flagship Villa Magra Grand Cru, which has long been regarded as the pioneer on the segment of olive oils of the highest qualities.

www.artisanoliveoilcompany.com

Limoncello di Capri

I first became aware of  Limoncello di Capri at a high end genuine Italian restaurant in London a while back and it's truly a stunningly good drink.

Limoncello di Capri is distributed in the UK by Mangrove Global.  

Legendary leading Italian drinks company Molinari has recently taken the step to relaunched its world-renowned liqueur, Limoncello di Capri, with a bold new look.

Molinari’s Limoncello di Capri is sitting in a class of its own and this is due entirely to the fact that they only employ authentically sourced ingredients. 

The liqueur is made from 100% Sorrento, ‘I.G.P’ lemons, this is a special type of fruit that is specific to the region which gives the drink its utterly outstanding, delicious flavour. 

The process of making it has remained unchanged throughout the years and the production of the liqueur takes place only on the Gulf of Sorrento itself , so it's a truly genuine taste of the Sorrento Coast. 

Originally designed as a post-meal digestif, this adaptable drink is now enjoying a renaissance amongst all types of drinkers with a variety of different serving suggestions. Though it's still a crackingly good post-meal digestif!

The first signature serve makes for the perfect aperitivo, the Limoncello Spritz, which includes 50ml of Limoncello di Capri, 75ml of prosecco, and 25ml of soda (over ice, naturally!) accompanied by a sprig of fresh mint and a slice of lemon as a garnish. Or you can mix 50ml of Limoncello di Capri with 100ml of tonic water and pour over ice, if you'd prefer.

ABV: 30%|50cl

£14.50 from Majestic.

https://www.majestic.co.uk/spirits/limoncello-di-capri-50cl-49460

Heinz is launching a new Culinary Tomatoes range, celebrating its iconic sun-ripened tomatoes

Absolutely ideal for both scratch cooks and those who are requiring a bit of a culinary helping hand, this absolutely new range from Heinz brings its passion for the finest of tomatoes straight into their kitchens, opening up its most loved ingredient in ways never before seen.

From finely chopped tomatoes to pizzas, curries and chilli tomato bases, the new range will help cooks create and whip up a vast array of world cuisines at home, with tomato inspiration that goes beyond just Italian dishes.  

Introducing Heinz’s Culinary Tomatoes range: opening up Heinz’s tomatoes to everyone. 

Using only the finest Heinz tomatoes, these are all sun-ripened and grown in Italy for truly unparalleled flavour, the brand-new range includes chopped and peeled tomatoes, a classic pizza sauce and tomato puree, as well as a range of tomato bases for cooking sauces (passata, chilli, curry and frito), helping cooks to dish up a range of cuisines from around the world with convenience.  

With recent research highlighting that seven out of the UK’s top 10 favourite dishes are tomato based, the new range will allow cooks to give their best-loved meals – from a pizza Margherita to shakshuka or chicken bhuna - a uniquely Heinz twist.  

Caio Fontenele, Heinz New Ventures Director said: “We’re really delighted to give Heinz tomato lovers even more access to our finest tomatoes, while offering real inspirations to all cooks to create new and delicious recipes in their kitchens."

He went on to say: “We’ve developed our brand new tomato collection to offer something for everyone, regardless of the level of their cookery skills. 

“For those who love cooking from scratch, we have our delicious Heinz tomatoes in peeled, chopped or purĂ©ed formats. And for those who require an extra culinary hand and want to skip the basic preparation stages, we have our tasty, ready-to-use tomato based cooking sauces, too.

“Our Heinz Passatas are perfect for creating classic pizzas and pastas, while our Chilli and Curry bases will help home cooks to explore cuisines, beyond Italian . We also have our signature Heinz Tomato Frito, containing fresh garlic and onions, cooked in olive oil to extract the best flavour, and already a success in other European countries”. 

Discussing Heinz’s tomato history, Caio went on to say: “When it comes to tomatoes, it really just has to be Heinz. Ever since Henry J. Heinz first grew the seeds for the tomatoes that would become a staple in Heinz products all over the world, from our iconic Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup, to our new Heinz Pasta Sauces, we’ve been truly in love with our tomatoes. 

“Our Heinz tomato masters’ obsession with quality and agricultural excellence inspired us to offer our tomatoes directly to customers, allowing everyone the chance to create their own pizzas or tomato curries with the unmistakable taste of Heinz”. 

Of the launch, Gary King, Global Agricultural Developer at Heinz, said: “As one of many Heinz Tomato Masters around the world, I’ve had a lifelong passion and dedication for our tomatoes, always searching for new ways to further improve their quality.

“Heinz’s tomatoes are truly, incredibly unique. They are one of the most viscous tomatoes in the world, giving them their delicious, rich, thick, unmistakeable Heinz flavour. We’ve always grown our tomatoes using traditional methods and we’re as passionate about doing this today as we were back when it all began in 1869. As we say at Heinz, our tomatoes are grown, not made”. 

The launch of the Culinary Tomatoes range is part of Kraft Heinz’s larger transformation to bring insight-driven innovation to consumers faster than ever before and grow its taste elevation platform around the world. 

The full new Heinz Culinary Tomatoes range includes: 

●          Heinz Chopped Tomatoes (400g) – RRP £1.25 

●          Heinz Chopped Tomatoes multipack (4x 400g) – RRP £4.75 

●          Heinz Peeled Tomatoes (400g) – RRP £1.25 

●          Heinz Classic Pizza Sauce (400g) – RRP £1.75 

●          Heinz Classic Passata (500g) – RRP £1.75 

●          Heinz Passata with Basil (500g) – RRP £1.75 

●          Heinz Curry Tomato Base (500g) – RRP £1.75 

●          Heinz Chilli Tomato Base (500g) – RRP £1.75 

●          Heinz Double Concentrated Tomato Puree (130g) – RRP £1.40 

●          Heinz Frito Tomato Base (500g) – RRP £1.75 (available in August) 

●          Heinz Finely Chopped Tomatoes (400g) – RRP £1.25 (available in August) 

Of course, the entire range has absolutely no added preservatives, additives, or sugar. 

The new Heinz Culinary Tomatoes range is available now from ASDA stores all over the country, expanding to other retailers later this year. Prices will be at the sole discretion of the retailer. 

For more information, visit www.heinz.co.uk/heinz-tomato-products 

Making the 2000 Year Old "Pizza" from Pompeii

 


I subscribe to the YouTube channel of Max Miller and I was so impressed by his video of making a pizza style meal form 2,000 years ago that I decided to share it with you.

You can follow Max here:- https://www.youtube.com/@TastingHistory.

Wednesday, 12 July 2023

Sustainable strawberries pollinated by AI influenced hover-flies

Strawberries and cream are synonymous with the Wimbledon tennis fortnight, running this year from 3rd-16th July. UK agtech startup Olombria is partnering with the UK’s largest fruit growers to ensure the volume and traditional quality of fruits are preserved as the industry experiences many pressures.

Fruit farming has many modern challenges, and the need to control pests and enhance pollination of berry flowers is a constant management challenge. In the past, bees have been strong allies in the pollination of fruit, but bees are in jeopardy, and their numbers are diminishing fast. 

New farming techniques beyond open fields utilising poly-tunnels and closed environments used in vertical farming techniques create challenging environments for hive-based bees to operate in, and their stress can also increase stinging hazards for farm workers. Consequently, bees are no longer the ‘top seeds’ in the pollination game.

Instead, Olombria raises a combination species of hoverflies (natural bee-mimics that don’t sting) with larvae that are voracious consumers of aphid pests. 

When given the right coaching, these fast-flying hive-less insects are better performers in modern farming pollination situations, so Olombria uses advanced AI vision systems and natural semiochemical lures to encourage the hoverflies to the right part of the crop at the right time. The result is strawberry fruit yields that are 20% heavier and raspberries that are 56% heavier - and aphid outbreaks are brought under control within the optimal timeframe.

Olombria's Integrated Pest and Pollination Management (IPPM) approach both eliminates the continuous threat of aphid infestations and enhances pollination in the changing environments of modern farming. 

As chemical pest control options become more restricted, farms are turning to biocontrols to seek and destroy bugs that weaken the plants and deform their leaves but putting these controls in the right place is something Olombria’s AI vision systems are trained for. The same system ensures that hoverfly adults get busy pollinating the plants when the bloom is right, using lures to increase their activity and targeting them in the correct area.

Just as Hawk-Eye gives the tennis Umpire unambiguous play information, Olombria also provides Berry Gardens growers with valuable enhanced data on the condition of their plants at every stage of their maturity, whilst Olombria’s systems use that data to adapt to deliver the best IPPM results for the crop.

Tashia Tucker, who is the CEO and Founder of Olombria said, “We are delighted to work closely with progressive organisations such as Berry Gardens to show how nature can be empowered by new technology to help enhance natural growing environments without the use of chemical sprays and to deliver the best fruit possible. 

"Our combination of skills in AI, semiochemical lures, and insect rearing and release, places us in a unique position to support growers around the world.”

As we prepare for exciting battles on the Wimbledon courts, spare a thought for the battles in the berry fields of the UK, where insects compete to bring you the perfect tennis accompaniment. It’s game, set and match to the hoverflies.

(Image courtesy of Fonthip Ward from Pixabay)