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Neil Perry's tapas-style feast

Simple corn fritters form the cornerstone of a tapas-style feast – olé!

Neil Perry
Neil Perry

Tear off small cherry-tomato-sized pieces of the fritter mix and deep fry them to create rustic-looking mini fritters.
Tear off small cherry-tomato-sized pieces of the fritter mix and deep fry them to create rustic-looking mini fritters.William Meppem


MANCHEGO AND CORN FRITTERS

Capsicum jam

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 medium brown onion, thinly sliced

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3 tbsp caster sugar

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup good-quality sherry vinegar

2 large deseeded red capsicum, thinly sliced

Béchamel

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1 cup milk

1 fresh bay leaf, gently bruised to release aroma

1/2 thyme sprig

1 small clove garlic, crushed with back of knife

1 whole clove

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2 tbsp unsalted butter

1/4 cup plain flour

1 heaped tbsp unsalted butter

1 medium brown onion, finely chopped

1 large cup fresh corn kernels

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1/3 cup manchego cheese, finely grated

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

plain flour, for crumbing

1 egg beaten with 2 tbsp milk, for crumbing

panko crumbs

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vegetable oil, for deep-frying

Makes about 18 fritters


For the jam,
heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and stir occasionally until soft and just starting to colour - about 5 minutes. Add sugar and salt and cook until it starts to caramelise. Deglaze with vinegar, and then add the capsicum, stirring frequently on low heat for about 1-11/2 hours until the mixture is jammy in consistency. Check seasoning. The jam is best served at room temperature but can be made ahead of time and refrigerated.

To make the béchamel, combine milk, herbs, garlic and clove in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Stand for 1 hour and let flavours infuse. Strain into a clean saucepan and warm over low heat.

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, add flour and stir constantly for a few minutes, until sandy in colour. Gradually add infused warm milk, a ladleful at a time, whisking after each addition, to incorporate. Then cook, beating vigorously with a wooden spoon until thick and smooth. This will take 3-5 minutes. Set aside and keep warm covered in cling film or baking paper to avoid a skin forming on top.

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To make the fritters, melt butter in a frying pan over low heat and cook onion until soft and translucent. Add the corn and cook for a further 5 minutes or until soft. Process two-thirds of corn mixture in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a bowl, and fold through the remaining corn mixture, manchego and béchamel. Season to taste. Spread on a tray and refrigerate for 1-2 hours until firm.

Place flour, egg mixture and crumbs in separate bowls. Once fritter mix is firm, roll into egg-sized pieces and flatten slightly. Dip into the flour, then egg mix and then crumbs, shaking off excess. Repeat with remaining mix.

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or deep saucepan to 180°C. As soon as fritter mix is placed into the oil, it should start to bubble. Fry in batches for 2-3 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towel. Serve with capsicum jam and bocadillos (see Hot Tips).


SPICY OCTOPUS SALAD

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1 celery heart, finely chopped

2 spring onions, julienned

1 small carrot, julienned

1 small cucumber, deseeded and julienned

1/4 daikon radish, julienned

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1/4 Chinese cabbage, finely shredded

sea salt

400g baby octopus, cleaned

1 tbsp vegetable oil

2 tsp roasted sesame seeds

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Dressing

1 tbsp ginger, finely chopped

1 tbsp garlic, finely chopped

2 tbsp hot bean paste

freshly ground black pepper

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1 tsp chilli powder

2 tsp sesame oil

2 tbsp caster sugar

2 tsp sea salt

Serves 4

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Mix all the dressing ingredients in a bowl with 1 tbsp water and allow the flavour to develop.

Place the celery, spring onions, carrot, cucumber, radish and cabbage in a bowl and sprinkle generously with sea salt. Toss together and leave for 10 minutes, then rinse under cold water and squeeze dry.

Toss the octopus with the oil and season with a little sea salt, then barbecue over high heat until just cooked through. Set aside to cool slightly and halve if large.

To serve, mix together the vegetables, warm octopus and dressing and sprinkle with sesame seeds.


HOT TIPS

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• Turn a relaxed Sunday lunch into a tapas party by adding a delicious fresh bocadillo (baguette) filled with mortadella, salami or prosciutto, bitter radicchio leaves or shaved cos, and a sharp citrus dressing or a dollop of aioli. Don't forget the sangria!

• Instead of forming the fritter mix into disc-shaped patties, tear off small cherry-tomato-sized pieces and deep fry them to create rustic-looking mini fritters - perfect for serving at parties.

• The capsicum jam is terrific served with just about anything - barbecue lamb cutlets, roast chicken or on a steak sandwich.

• To add a further layer to the octopus salad, add a little chipotle chilli.


SOMETHING TO DRINK

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Albariño
A dry, crisp and fresh white wine from the Rias Baixas region of Galicia in north-west Spain, the 2009 Albariño D Fefiñanes (about $35) features yellow peach, orange rind and honeysuckle notes, with a lingering finish on the palate.


Photography by William Meppem. Styling by Hannah Meppem. Food preparation by Kirsten Jenkins.

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Neil PerryNeil Perry is a restaurateur, chef and former Good Weekend columnist.

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