Beans with crisp eschallots and mozzarella
Making your own crisp eschallots takes a bit of practice - it's all about the timing of when to remove them from the hot oil. Once you master it, it's a cinch.
Ingredients
350g green beans
3 eschallots
200ml vegetable oil
1 tbsp grain mustard
1 tbsp honey
50ml sherry vinegar
100ml extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 buffalo mozzarella balls
Method
Top and tail the beans, steam until they are just cooked and put aside.
Slice the eschallots into very fine rings, less than 1mm thick – this is best done on a mandolin.
In a small saucepan, heat the vegetable oil until it reaches 160C. You can test it with a cooking thermometer or by dropping in a small piece of eschallot – it should bubble and change colour.
Don't add all the eschallots at once or the temperature of the the oil will drop. Add half of them gradually then stir gently to keep them moving. When they turn a light golden colour, remove saucepan from heat, lift them out with a slotted spoon and drain on absorbent paper. They will keep cooking, which is why you remove them from the oil when they are just coloured.
Repeat with remaining eschallots. Mix the mustard, honey, vinegar and olive oil and season well.
Dress the beans and place on a serving plate, tear the mozzarella into pieces and distribute on top, top with crisp eschallots and serve.
TIP
Keep the crisp eschallots in an air-tight container to use in other dishes, they will last for a few days.
Appears in these collections
The best recipes from Australia's leading chefs straight to your inbox.
Sign up- More:
- Beans
- Lunch
- Side dish
- Entree
- Summer barbecue
- Dinner party
- Family meals
- Picnic
- Vegetarian
- Contemporary
- Entertaining
Frank Camorra is chef and co-owner of MoVida Sydney and Melbourne's MoVida Bar De Tapas.
