Saturday 4 June 2011

Fine herbs and tahini millet patties


I've been stuck, almost glued, to my pc this morning.
Writing reports and papers is not one of my favourite tasks, and it usually ends up at the bottom of my to-do lists, until a deadline approaches and I know I have no excuse to delay my sitting in front of my laptop computer.
And this is the case.
I am at home, struggling with words and thoughts that seem to slipper through my fingers like a fleeting fish!
I don't feel particularly happy on such occasions, but still, when I stop writing, I hear rain pouring and drumming in the courtyard and this watery sound melts beautifully with Chick Corea's piano notes.
It's a soothing music, and I feel I could rest in this very moment and be content of what I am and what I have...right here, right now.

Give a few hours and I'll be moving to the kitchen for a quick lunch. Luckily enough I have some leftovers to nibble at: chard and spring onion tartelette (I'll post the recipe on this blog sooner or later) and millet patties.
I found this recipe in the Italian cooking magazine 'Cucina Naturale' (January 2010 issue) and it appealed to me immediately, being particularly versatile, both in winter – served with a hot and spicy tomato sauce – and in summer – with crisp green salad topped with tahini, lemon and olive oil dressing.
I've just changed some ingredients to provide you with a vegan version of it, using tahini sauce to thicken the millet and herbs batter and to add some extra flavour.

My daughter M. loves these patties so much that I usually cook some whenever we go to a picnic. Not these days, of course.
Not with this heavy rain pouring down...



Ingredients (serves 6):

uncooked millet: 200 gr
green onion: 1 – finely chopped
vegetable broth: 800 ml to 1lt
marjoram: 1 sprig
parsley: 3 sprigs
basil: 4 leaves
sage: 4 leaves
extra virgin olive oil: 4 tablespoons
tahini: 2 tablespoons
sea salt
coarse cornmeal (for coating): 5 spoonfuls
Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Heat one spoonful of extra virgin olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add millet and onion. Stir well. Toast for a few minutes, until the millet is golden, then add 800 ml of vegetable broth, one pinch of salt and stir.
Simmer for about 30 minutes - add more broth if necessary - until the grains are cooked and liquid has been completely absorbed (you should get a polenta-like consistency). Remove from heat and let sit uncovered until cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile wash, drain and finely chop the fine herbs.
Add tahini and minced herbs to the cooked millet and mix well.
Adjust seasoning.
Form the mixture into patties and coat them with coarse cornmeal.
Place the millet patties on a baking sheet previously greased with 2 spoonfuls of extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil over the patties and bake them for approximately 25-35 minutes, turning them halfway through, until light brown and crisp on both sides.



6 comments:

Graal77 said...

PIACERE DI CONOSCERTI...E COMPLIMENTI PER I TUOI PIATTI.BUONA CUCINA E BUONA VITA

Roberta said...

Grazie, piacere tutto mio!
Se ti capita d provare una di queste ricette fammi sapere il risultato, ;-)
Buona Cucina e BuonaVita anche a te!

Shaheen said...

I've not cooked with millet, so this recipe intrigues me and it looks quite good.

Roberta said...

Hello Shaheen, thank you for posting a comment! Millet is a very versatile grain... you could also try a vegetarian version, adding one egg and 100 gr of parmesan cheese to the millet mixture. Let me have your feedback once you've tried one of the recipes!

Nurit said...

Hi Roberta,
I want to say: "Thank You!". This recipe just turned around everything I ever thought about millet. And the millet - tahini combo has just become my favourite. The patties were tasty way above my expectations, and I'm glad I found it on your blog.
Thank You again. I would explore your blog more for such delicious revelations.

Roberta said...

Welcome on the wise asparagus!
Thanks for the positive feedback Nurit, you really made my day ;-)
I am so glad you tried out the recipe and you liked it!

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