My Italian Starters (Starters)

Member Name: sweetpea01

Product:	Starters
Date:	19/01/09 (677 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quick and Easy

Disadvantages: None

As always in an Italian family there are always starters to a meal!! Normally a varied selection always goes down well with the family and friends. It's important to have a wide selection but the most important this is that they must taste fantastic.

I thought I'd share a few with you which have been produced many times for a big family meal!!

Goats Cheese & Mortadella Parcels

Ingredients:-

Slices of mortadella, they should have a diameter of at least 15 cm/5,9 in
Fresh goat's cheese
Chives

Method:-

1. Put a small amount of goat's cheese in the middle of the mortadella slice and fold it into a small parcel.
2. Tie the chive in the manner of a cross or maybe I should say, make it into a little gift parcel!
3. Fry it on both sides in a non stick frying pan on very gentle heat.
4. Serve and eat immediately

Prosciutto & Figs

Ingredients:-

Fresh figs, any colour goes
Prosciutto in thin slices

Method:-

1. Peel of the outer layer of the figs and divide them lengthwise in two.
2. Wrap a slice of prosciutto around each fig half and grill them, either on a real grill or a grill pan (a normal frying pan with any grease is ok too) for 1 ½-2 minutes on each side.
3. Serve.

Rosemary & Lentil Crostini

Ingredients:-

Brown lentils
Sprig of fresh rosemary
Black olives
Lemon, optional
Salt
Extra-virgin olive oil

Method:-

1. Boil the lentils and save some of the water.
2. Blend the lentils together with the fresh rosemary until it's a puree, add a little olive oil and lemon juice, and if it is needed a little of the cooking water as well to make it smoother.
3. Chop the olives and either mix them with the lentil puree or do as I did and put them on top of it when spread on the crostini.
4. Serve

Pear Phyllo Parcels

Ingredients:-

4 sheets of phyllo pastry
2 pears. mature ones
soft goat's cheese, mature and a bit runny if possible
almonds
(eggwhite)

Method:-

1. Toast the almonds in the oven until dark brown. But not burnt. Grind them finely in a mixer or a spice grinder.
2. Core the pears and slice the pears finely.
3. Cut the phyllo pastry into squares, 12-15 cms/4,7-5,9 in, and put a slice of pear in the middle of each. Next you put some cheese on that and then sprinkle the ground almond over it. Repeat this for 3 more times and then fold the phyllo pastry into a small envelope. Fix each fold with a little eggwhite if needed.
4. Bake in a pre-heated oven (175°C/350°F) for 8-10 minutes but you better check often!

The above are just a selection of wonderful little starters which will go well with most main meals!!

Most are easy and quick to prepare so are ideal for a night of entertaining!!

Enjoy!!

Summary: A selection of Italian favourites