Garlic And Fennel Infused Oil Food

GARLIC-INFUSED OIL AND DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the garlic oil, in a small saucepan, gently heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until it is fragrant but not colored, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Cover and let steep for 1 hour. Strain into a sterilized bottle or jar and discard the garlic. Use within 24 hours. (Or store in a sterilized container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.)
• To make the dipping sauce, place the oil at room temperature in a shallow bowl or decorative plate. Swirl a drizzle of balsamic decoratively into the center. Sprinkle with the pepper flakes, salt, and ground black pepper, and top with a light coating of cheese.
• Serve as a dip for hot bread.

GARLIC OIL

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring the garlic and oil to a boil, then turn the heat to low, and cook for 5 minutes, until the garlic is lightly browned. Turn off the heat and set aside. The garlic will continue to cook.
• Remove the garlic cloves from the oil and slice them. Place them in a bowl and pour the oil over them.

ROMAN-STYLE BRAISED FENNEL

Steps:

• In a 12-inch high-sided skillet, melt butter over medium. Add shallots, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Add oil and garlic, and stir until fragrant, 1 minute. Add fennel, wine, lemon juice, oregano, parsley and 1½ cups of water, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high, stirring to evenly coat the fennel in the liquid. Arrange the fennel in an even layer.
• Cover, reduce heat to medium and braise until fennel is tender, about 30 minutes, stirring and flipping halfway through.
• Transfer fennel to a serving platter, and spoon over the shallots and sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley, and serve warm or at room temperature.

GARLIC OIL

Steps:

• Place the oil, garlic and thyme sprigs in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook uncovered over low heat for 10 minutes, until the garlic is browned and tender. Turn off the heat. Carefully remove the thyme sprigs and discard. Add the red pepper flakes. Immediately pour into a heat-proof container to stop the cooking. Allow to cool to room temperature.

SPICY FENNEL LINGUINE WITH SARDINES & CAPERS

Steps:

• Cook the pasta following pack instructions until al dente. Meanwhile, drain the oil from the sardines into a large frying pan set over a medium heat. Add the fennel, garlic and lemon zest, then cook for 10 mins, stirring often, until the fennel is tender and starting to colour.
• Drain the pasta, reserving a little of the cooking water. Tip the sardines (and the whole chillies from the can, if you like) onto the fennel. Break the fish up a little with a wooden spoon, then add the capers, parsley, pasta and 2 tbsp lemon juice. Season to taste. If the pasta seems a little dry, add 2 tbsp of the cooking water and stir gently. Pile onto plates and drizzle with the extra virgin olive oil, if you like.

FLAVORFULLY INFUSED OILS

Steps:

• Combine ingredients in a saucepan over low heat. Gently warm mixture until it bubbles, then continue to cook until oil is very fragrant, another minute or two.
• Cool, then use a funnel to pour oil into a clean bottle or other container. Refrigerate and use within a month or so.