Roasted Beets And Labneh Food

GABY'S ROASTED BEETS AND LABNEH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Scrub and trim the beets and slice them into wedges (about 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick on the widest edge). Toss the beets and shallots with the olive oil and season with the red pepper flakes (go easy on the flakes if you're sensitive to spice), salt and pepper. Transfer the seasoned beets and shallots to the prepared baking sheet (it's ok if they overlap) and roast for 40 to 50 minutes, until fork tender. Remove from the oven and set aside to come to room temperature.
• To make the basil vinaigrette: In a high-powered blender or food processor, combine the shallot, basil, garlic, red pepper flakes, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and salt. Blend for 1 minute, or until very smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spread the labneh on a large platter, dollop with basil vinaigrette, and scatter with the beets and avocado wedges. Sprinkle with fresh mint leaves, dill, and flaky salt (don't hold back) and serve.

LABNEH WITH ROAST BEETROOT, PRESERVED LEMON & GREEN ROMESCO SAUCE

Steps:

• First, make the labneh. Mix the yogurt with a pinch of salt. Line a sieve with muslin, a clean J-cloth or a few sheets of kitchen paper and rest over a deep bowl. Spoon in the yogurt, then cover and put in the fridge to strain for about 4 hrs. You'll be left with a firmer, soft cheese-like substance - this is your labneh.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss the beetroots in the olive oil with salt, pepper and the thyme leaves. Wrap each beet loosely in foil, then place in a roasting tin. Roast for 1 hr, or until tender. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Peel off the skins, then slice into wedges. Dress with olive oil and season.
• Meanwhile, heat the grill to high. Toss the green pepper and chilli with a little oil on a baking tray and grill, turning halfway, until blackened all over (about 10-12 mins). Transfer to a bowl, cover with cling film and leave to cool. Remove and discard the skin and any seeds, then set aside.
• To make the sauce, put the pumpkin seeds, most of the herbs and hazelnuts (reserving a few to serve), coriander seeds and cumin seeds in the bowl of a food processor with the garlic and preserved lemon and blitz to coarse crumbs. Add the green pepper, chilli and 1 tsp flaky sea salt. Blitz again to a coarse paste, then add the honey, bread and olive oil. Whizz gradually, adding 100-150ml water, until you have a spoonable sauce. Pour into a bowl, season and add the lemon juice 2 tsp at a time, until it's balanced and not too sharp.
• Smooth a spoonful of labneh on each plate and top with the dressed beets. Spoon over the sauce, then scatter over the remaining hazelnuts and the herbs and drizzle over some more oil.