Warm Lemon Lime And Lovage Prawns With Pineau Des Charentes Food

PUMPKIN, CARROT AND LOVAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Cook onion in olive oil until softened.
• Add pumpkin and carrots; continue to cook for about 5 minutes more.
• Stir in the lovage or parsley, bay leaves, and stock; bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until all veges are tender.
• Allow soup to cool slightly, then remove bay leaves.
• Blend in blender or with a stick-blender until smooth.
• Return soup to the pan.
• Thin slightly with more stock if too thick.
• Check seasoning, and serve with a generous swirl of cream.

SEARED PAN-FRIED LIMED SCALLOPS WITH BACON, CHIVES AND CHERVIL

Steps:

• First, make the dressing - this can be made up to one day in advance.
• Mix the walnut vinegar, olive or sunflower oil, honey & Dijon mustard together in a jar. Add salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste. Seal and set to one side.
• About 1 hour before you want to serve the scallops, wash them, pat them dry, and then leave them to marinate in the zest and juice of the lime. Mix them around, ensuring that they all get a coating of the lime.
• Then, cook the streaky bacon in a large frying pan until very crispy and well coloured. Set the one side.
• When you wish to serve the salad, arrange all the leaves into attractive individual salad bowls or plates.
• In a large frying pan or skillet, add a mere dash of olive oil to grease the pan and set it over a very high heat. As soon as the frying pan is very hot, add the scallops - watch them VERY closely, they need about 2 minutes EACH side depending on the size and thickness of them - you must NOT overcook them!
• When they have been seared & cooked both sides, take them out of the frying pan & arrange them over the top of the salad leaves. (Six scallops per person for a main meal and four per person for a starter.).
• Pour the dressing over the top and then crumble the bacon over - keeping fairly large pieces. (Three rashers per person for a main meal and 2 rashers per person for a starter.).
• Finally, liberally sprinkle the chopped chervil and chives over the top of the salad; garnish with cherry tomatoes & a slice of lime if you wish.

MINTY FRESH FRENCH APERITIF AND APPETISER CHARENTAIS MELON BOWLS

Steps:

• To prepare: Halve and remove the pips and fibres. Cut a small piece from the bottom of each melon so they sit upright in a bowl.
• Run a knife carefully around the top edge of the melon, as you would prepare a grapefruit. Then cut the flesh in to segments - going as deep as you can without damaging the outer skin - almost like a sunburst pattern - like rays of the sun! Wiggle the knife around to make them quite deep - the liquor will seep into them whilst they are chilling. Place the melon halves in attractive individual serving bowls.
• Pour in the pineau, sherry or port until the centre of the melon is filled - making sure that it is not too full as it will run over. Place the filled melon halves in the fridge for about 4 hours to chill before serving. Place a mint sprig into each melon half to serve.
• To store - Keep uncut melons at room temperature until fully ripened, then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cut melon should always be covered with Clingfilm and used within 3 days.

KING PRAWNS IN SWAHILI SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the washed basmati in a heavy-based medium saucepan. Add the juice of 3 limes, the chopped coriander stalks, 400ml coconut milk and salt to taste. Add just enough water to make the liquid in the pan come level with the rice.
• Bring the rice to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Cover tightly, remove from direct heat and set aside for 15 minutes by which time the liquid will be absorbed and the rice cooked through.
• Toss the prawns with the remaining lime juice and set aside to marinate briefly.
• Heat the oil in a heavy-based saucepan. Add the lemon grass, ginger, garlic, shallot, chillies, garam masala and turmeric and fry, stirring often, until the shallot has softened.
• Add the remaining coconut milk and the plum tomatoes. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Increase the heat and add the king prawns. Cook for a further 2 minutes, turning the prawns to ensure even cooking.
• Serve the prawns with the coriander rice, garnished with the coriander leaves.

GRILLED PRAWNS IN BUTTER

Steps:

• Clean prawns and butterfly (Slit the back open).
• Put in a rectangular pan, single layer.
• Season with salt, pepper and garlic. let rest 1 hour in refrigerator.
• Pour the 7up on the prawns.
• Let marinate for 2 hours.
• Grill while preparing the basting sauce.
• In a bowl, combine butter, the remaining marinade with garlic.
• Brush on prawns while you grill.
• Yummo!

JUMBO SHRIMP SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add the jumbo shrimp and cook until they turn pink and curl up.
• Drain the jumbo shrimp, plunge at once into a large bowl of iced water and set aside to cool. Peel the cooled shrimp.
• Toss together the peeled shrimp, tomato, green pepper and onion.
• Dry-fry the cumin seeds in a small, heavy-based frying pan stirring often until slightly browned.
• Sprinkle the dry-fried cumin seeds over the jumbo shrimp salad.
• Mix together the olive oil and red wine vinegar. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Toss the shrimp salad with the olive oil dressing. Serve.