Wilted Chicory With Melted Taleggio Cheese Food

RADICCHIO PASTICCIO (ITALIAN CHICORY LASAGNA)

Steps:

• Peel and finely chop the shallots. cut the taleggio cheese into cubes. Wash the radicchio and cut it into thin strips.
• In a frying pan or iron skillet, heat the extra virgin olive oil. Cook the peeled and finely chopped shallots until they start to soften. Add the radicchio and cook for 10-15 minutes over a very gentle heat. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

SAUTEED CHICORY

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add anchovies, and cook 1 minute. Add radicchio and chicory; saute until slightly wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving platter, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

POTATO, TALEGGIO & SPINACH TART

Steps:

• Tip the flour and the yeast into a bowl and mix well. Stir in ½ tsp salt, then make a well in the centre and add 200ml hand-hot water and the oil and mix to a soft dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 mins until the dough is smooth and silky. Return to the bowl, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise for 1 hr.
• Meanwhile, boil the potatoes, then drain. Leave until cool enough to handle, then peel and cut into thin slices.
• Put the spinach into a metal colander and pour over boiling water from a kettle to just wilt the leaves. Press out excess water using the edge of a saucer.
• Knead the risen dough and roll out to line a 30 x 36cm shallow rectangular tin. Arrange the spinach over the pastry to within 2cm of the edges. Arrange the potatoes and Taleggio alternately over the top and scatter with rosemary. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the filling and the pastry edges and drizzle with a little olive oil. Leave to rise again for 20 mins. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake for 20-25 mins until the pastry is golden and the topping melted and golden brown. Serve cut into squares.

TALEGGIO & TARRAGON CAULIFLOWER CHEESE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a heavy-based pan until foaming, and stir in the flour to make a thick paste. Cook for a few minutes until it smells nutty. Gradually add the milk, a splash at a time, stirring continuously until you have a smooth, glossy saucy. Season.
• Stir in the bay, cheddar, parmesan, half the taleggio and the whole tarragon leaves. Heat gently, stirring continuously for 6-8 mins until all the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse until ready to bake. To make ahead, leave to cool completely, cover the surface with a piece of baking parchment, and chill for up to 24 hrs. Reheat before using.
• Cook the cauliflower florets in a steamer for 8-10 mins until just tender when pierced with the tip of a knife. If you don't have a steamer, steam in 3cm water in a tightly covered pan. Tip into a baking dish and pour over the cheese sauce. Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Stir in the chopped tarragon, then dot with the remaining taleggio. Bake for 20-25 mins until golden.