3829. CITRUS PRAWN CEVICHE with BACON DUST

Makes: 6 as canapés or 4 as starters


200 g small prawns, deveined and shelled
1 spring onion, finely chopped
½ tsp (2.5 ml) chillies, finely chopped
¼ tsp (1.25 ml) smoked paprika
pinch of cayenne pepper
zest and juice of 1 orange
zest and juice of 1 grapefruit
1 orange segmented
3 Tbsp (45 ml) lemon juice
½ C (125 ml) coriander leaves, chopped
1 avocado, diced
2 Tbsp (30 ml) cultured cream
6 slices streaky bacon, fried until crispy and finely chopped
micro herbs, for garnish

Toss the prawns, spring onion, chillies, paprika, cayenne pepper, orange juice and zest, grapefruit juice and zest, orange segments and lemon juice together. Place in the fridge for 20-30 minutes. The acidity of citrus juices will ‘cook’ the prawns. They are ready once they are firm and opaque in colour. Stir in the coriander and diced avocado. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

To serve, use a slotted spoon to spoon the mixture into serving glasses. Add a spoonful or two of the citrus liquid. Add a dollop of cultured cream, some bacon bits and garnish with micro herbs.


bacon recipe source: Illanique Van Aswegen, Crush Magazine (@crush_online), (Issue 47), 5th Floor Jaga House, 61 Wale Street, Cape Town, South Africa, 8001

2040. SQUID INK PASTA with PRAWNS, SQUID and BACON

100 grams plain flour
1 egg
1 egg yolk
pinch sea salt
1 teaspoon squid ink
1 teaspoon olive oil

300 grams cleaned squid tubes, sliced 1/2 cm thick
2 tablespoons diced speck or smoky bacon
12 medium green prawns, peeled, de-veined and cut into thirds
1 wild green chili
1 teaspoon squid ink
1/4 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon fish sauce
pinch sea salt
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 punnet cherry tomatoes sliced in half
2 tablespoons coriander leaves

To make the pasta, sift the flour in to a large bowl, add the salt, egg, additional egg yolk, olive oil. Mix the squid ink with a tablespoon warm water then add to the bowl. Mix everything into a dough and knead gently, then wrap in gladwrap and rest for 30 minutes.

Once rested, pass through a pasta machine (keep well floured) until at the desired thickness, then slice in to strips about 1.5cm wide. Set aside.

Bring a pot of water to the boil.

Heat a large frying pan, add a dash of olive oil then add the squid, speck (bacon), prawns, chilli and garlic. Toss quickly for about a minute then take the pan off the heat.

Blanch the noodles until al dente and add them to the pan & return the pan to the heat. Add the squid ink, chicken stock, fish sauce, salt & lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Turn off the heat, add the coriander & cherry tomatoes & serve immediately.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Rockpool, 107 George Street, The Rocks NSW 2000, Australia, adapted by Nicholas Leach, June 13, 2010

1244. BACON-WRAPPED FIGS with GOAT'S CURD, SPINACH and WALNUT DRESSING

serves 4


200 grams toasted, chopped walnuts
half a bunch coarsely chopped coriander leaves
a quarter of a red onion
1 tablespoon lemon juice
12 fresh figs
12 slices bacon
100 grams trimmed baby spinach leaves
100 grams fresh goat's curd

For dressing: Combine 200 grams toasted, chopped walnuts, half a bunch coarsely chopped coriander leaves, a quarter of a red onion, finely chopped, half a seeded red chili, finely chopped, 50ml extra virgin olive oil and 1 tbsp lemon juice in a small bowl and stir well.

Take 12 fresh figs, make a criss-cross incision in the top of each and wrap in a slice of trimmed shortcut rindless bacon. Bake at 180C for 10-12 minutes or until bacon is cooked and figs are warm.

To serve: Divide 100 grams trimmed baby spinach leaves between four serving plates and top with walnut dressing. Dollop 100g fresh goat's curd on each plate. Place figs on top of curd, season with salt flakes and cracked black pepper and drizzle each plate with 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil.


courtesy of: Whip It Up, by Lynne Mullins