July 2016 - Tastetickler

I thought avocado toast was pretty wonderful until I tried mashing the avocado with Greek feta crumbles and my gosh, the flavor shot up like crazy.
This is especially lovely on sourdough toast. If you don’t feel like having the eggs on top, just have the avocado-feta toast on it’s own.

For 2 people (can easily be augmented)

2 ripe avocados
1/4 to 1/2 tsp chili flakes, depending on how much kick you like
3 to 4oz Greek feta cheese, crumbled
salt and ground black pepper
good olive oil
2 slices of sourdough toast
2 large organic eggs

Firstly, add about 1 inch of water to a frying pan and bring to a simmer.

Mash the avocados in a bowl with a few drops of olive oil (about 1 tsp) salt, pepper and chili flakes, then add the feta and mix through but don’t mash the feta too much, just enough to blend.

Toast the sourdough bread.

Drop the eggs gently into the simmering water, then turn the heat down so you barely see the bubbles. As you poach the eggs, gently gather the white of the eggs around the eggs and keep spooning the hot water over the top of the eggs so they cook. (Poaching eggs is something you just learn to do over time. I don’t use vinegar like many chef’s do, as I don’t like the flavor)

Spread the avocado mixture over the toast and season.

Remove the eggs with a spatula when they start to lose that “snotty” look (that’s the only way I know how to describe an under-cooked poached egg!)

Place an egg on top of each piece of toast and season with salt pepper and chili flakes.

This has got to be the simplest, fastest and lightest spaghetti dish I know.
It’s so easy to throw together and always surprises people as the flavor of the chicken broth permeates the pasta while cooking, making it more intense.
There are countless variations of this recipe and you can certainly experiment but try this version first.
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Serves 4

4 good swirls olive oil (about 4 to 6 tbsp)
4 big cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 tsp dried chili flakes (or more or less to taste, depending on how much of a kick you like)
1 box spaghetti or fettuccine (1lb)
Salt and ground black pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
a good sized bunch Italian parsley leaves, roughly chopped

Fill a good-sized saucepan with water, add two large handfuls of salt and a couple of glugs of olive oil. Bring to a rolling boil and add the spaghetti, stirring occasionally. While the water is coming to the boil, prep the garlic and parsley. About 4 minutes before it’s “al dente”, drain it and set the pasta aside.

In a good sized saute pan over medium heat, give 4 good swirls of olive oil.
Add the sliced garlic and saute gently with some salt, pepper and chili flakes until fragrant, stirring for about 2 – 3 minutes.
Dump in the par-cooked spaghetti, the parsley and the chicken broth and stir well. Once the broth is bubbling, turn it down a little and allow the spaghetti to simmer in the broth, finishing it’s cooking.
The chicken broth will be absorbed into the spaghetti and reduce. You can add a few tablespoons of grated parmesan at this point, stirring well, and it will create a light, creamy sauce. (Test the pasta to see if it’s al dente, taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.)
Plate the spaghetti and add more grated parmesan cheese.

Month: July 2016

Poached eggs on avocado-feta toast

Garlic, parmesan spaghetti