Ingredients

3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
a 4-5 cm piece of leek, cleaned and cut into thin slices
3-4 tablespoons filtered water
20 g dried porcini mushrooms, to be soaked in filtered water for about 10 minutes then drained and chopped
200 ml vegetable cream, unflavoured and unsweetened
whole sea salt, just enough to taste
a pinch of chilli powder
freshly ground white pepper, to taste
freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
160-170 g pizzoccheri
1 jerusalem artichoke, peeled and thinly shaved (use a mandolin or potato peeler)
fresh parsley leaves, cleaned

Makes 2 servings.

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a heavy bottomed pan over medium heat and sauté the leek for a couple of minutes. Add the water and keep cooking for another minute or so. Throw in the porcini and toss them around by shaking the pan. Pour the vegetable cream into the pan, season with a little salt, add the chilli pepper, white pepper and nutmeg, turn the heat to low and cook for another ten minutes. In the meantime, bring a large saucepan of filtered water to a boil, add some salt and cook the pizzoccheri until al dente. Drain the pasta and transfer it into a large bowl or in the saucepan you used to cook the pasta. Stir in the porcini sauce and divide the pizzoccheri into individual plates. Top with the shaved jerusalem artichoke, drizzle some olive oil over, sprinkle some more white pepper and nutmeg on top and garnish with parsley leaves. Serve warm.

Ingredients

1 dark chocolate bar (100 g), preferably Fairtrade, 80% cacao
2 teaspoons hazelnut butter
a pinch of cinnamon
a pinch of chilli powder
a pinch of whole sea salt
8 fresh figs, ripe but firm, washed and pat dried with kitchen paper
2 handfuls unsalted pistachios, shells and skins removed, very coarsely chopped

Directions

First, break the choicolate bar and melt it in a bain-marie (or double boiler), over low heat, stirring as it melts. When the chocolate is melted, add the hazelnut butter, cinnamon, chilli and salt and mix thoroughly. Transfer the chocolate in a cup and start dipping the figs, holding them by the stems. Cover with the chopped pistachios and place the figs on a sheet of parchment paper on a tray. Refrigerate for 30-40 minutes and enjoy. They can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 day.

Ingredients

200 g pearled or semi-pearled farro, rinsed under running water (plus natural mineral or filtered water, and a pinch of whole sea salt to cook it -use 1 part farro, 2 parts water)
the juice of 1 lemon
2 large handfuls of  fresh green beans, ends trimmed, washed and cut into pieces (plus natural mineral or filtered water and a pinch of whole sea salt, to cook them)
5-6 sun dried tomatoes, soaked in natural mineral or filtered water for about 30 minutes
a handful of capers, soaked in natural mineral or filtered water for about 10 minutes
2 cloves of garlic, peeled
a small handful of fresh mint
a couple leaves of fresh basil
10-12 cherry tomatoes, washed
extra virgin olive oil, to taste
whole sea salt, just enough to taste
chilli powder, to taste

Makes 4 servings.

Directions

Put the farro and the water in a pan. Add the salt and bring to a boil over medium heat. Turn the heat down a little, cover with a lid and let cook. The farro should be ready in about 30 minutes (about 15 if you are using a pressure cooker). As soon as the farro is cooked al dente, drain well and transfer it into a large salad bowl. Pour half of the lemon juice over it, stir well and let cool (first at room temperature, then in the fridge).
In the meantime, cook the green beans in boilig salted water (5-6 minutes should be enough, do not overcook). Drain the green beans, rinse them under cold running water, pat dry and transfer them into a bowl. Add the remaining lemon juice and let cool (first at room temperature then in the fridge). Once the soaking time is over, rinse the sun dried tomatoes, pat dry them and chop or cut them. Rinse the capers and pat dry them. Mince the garlic, mint and basil. Cut the cherry tomatoes into halves or wedges. When both the farro and the green beans are cold mix them together in the salad bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Toss, sprinkle with oil, salt and chilli powder and toss once more just before serving.

Thoughts, tips, ideas

Pearled or semi-pearled farro can be substituted with whole farro or barley (pearled or whole). If you use whole grains, they need to be soaked first and of course the cooking time varies from grain to grain.