Name: Fennel with goat’s curd
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 40 gram unsalted butter; 1/3 cup (80 ml) extra virgin olive oil; 1 large, plump fennel bulb, trimmed and quartered, fronds reserved; 4 fresh bay leaves; 1 meyer lemon (optional), cut in to six wedges; sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper; 1/2 cup (125 ml) verjuice or fruity white wine; 80 gram goat's curd; baby purple basil or freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley, to serve

Fennel with goat’s curd

This fennel with goat's curd salad, featured in Maggie Beer's "Autumn", is ideal for a light meal for two, or as a delicious accompaniment to a main course.

Serves 2

Cook

30M

Ingredients

40 gram unsalted butter

1/3 cup (80 ml) extra virgin olive oil

1 large, plump fennel bulb, trimmed and quartered, fronds reserved

4 fresh bay leaves

1 meyer lemon (optional), cut in to six wedges

sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup (125 ml) verjuice or fruity white wine

80 gram goat's curd

baby purple basil or freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley, to serve

Method

1.Melt the butter over low heat in a heavy-based frying pan until nut-brown, then add a splash of the olive oil and gently seal the fennel quarters on both sides.

2.Add fennel fronds, bay leaves and lemon, if using, then season with salt and pepper.

3.Add the verjuice or white wine and remaining olive oil, then cover and simmer for about 20 minutes or until cooked through. Remove the lid, then increase the heat to high and cook for another 5 minutes, or until fennel is coloured and pan juices are reduced to a syrup.

4.Remove the fennel, season to taste and serve as a warm salad, topped with spoonfuls of goat’s curd and baby purple basil or chopped parsley.