In Italy antipasti are served before a meal, along with an aperitif. Antipasti are anything that will whet the appetite; often something salty like olives, nuts, or as in Sicily, this crisp fried panelle. Here we’ve accompanied it with slices of salami and a bowl of olives.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup chick pea flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary
2 cups water
¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
To cook
vegetable oil for frying
METHOD
Grease and line a loaf tin with baking paper.
Sift the chick pea flour into a medium saucepan and stir in the salt, pepper, cumin and rosemary. Gradually whisk in the water to make a smooth batter.
Place over a medium heat and bring to the boil, whisking constantly until the mixture is thick. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 8-10 minutes to cook out the raw flour, stirring occasionally to prevent it sticking on the base of the saucepan.
Remove from the heat and stir in the flat-leaf parsley and Parmesan. Tip into the loaf tin, cool and refrigerate until ready to cook. The panelle can be made 2 days ahead.
To cook: Turn the panelle out onto the bench and slice ½-1 cm thick. Cut each slice into 3 triangles.
Heat 1 cm of vegetable oil in a sauté pan. Cook the panelle in batches for 5 minutes until golden brown on both sides. Drain on kitchen towels and sprinkle with sea salt. Serve hot.
Makes about 20 pieces.
Chick pea flour: (also called besan, gram, ceci, chana or garbanzo bean flour) is available from good supermarkets, specialty food stores and health food shops.
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This winter issue of dish is about comfort and connection. Celebrating the best of New Zealand and Australian produce, it brings together recipes from some of our most-loved chefs, including Moroccan Chicken Soup, Mint-glazed Roasted Leg of Lamb, Slow Cooker Braised Red Wine and Miso White Chocolate Cheesecake. Find plenty to carry you through the colder months, from flaky sausage rolls and mushroom pie, to soul-soothing pasta, nostalgic baking, weekend market inspiration and dinner party menus. There’s a spotlight on the Outstanding Food Producer Awards, recipes from Caroline Griffiths’ Midnight Spaghetti, and a deep dive into the difference between Kiwi syrah and Aussie shiraz.







