Empire Line: recipes from our Reigning in Russian issue

Shashlik Skewered Lamb with Pomegranate & Onion Salad

Shashlik Skewered Lamb

Serves 4

2 onions
1 clove garlic, chopped and crushed under the flat of a knife with 1tsp salt
2tbs pomegranate syrup, or 100ml pomegranate juice
juice of half a lemon
1kg lamb, cut into chunks
salt and pepper
1tsp paprika
2 red peppers

Peel the onions and grate half of one 
into a large bowl. Add the garlic, pomegranate syrup, lemon juice 
and lamb. Sprinkle with a teaspoon of salt, a good grinding of pepper, and the paprika. Toss well together and leave to marinate for at least 3 hours or overnight. Chop the remaining 1½ onions into large chunks. Trim the peppers and cut each into 8 pieces. Thread the meat and vegetables onto metal skewers. Cook over (or under) 
a hot grill, turning occasionally, 
for 12-15 mins.

Pomegranate & Onion Salad

1 red onion
1 pomegranate, seeds removed
juice of half a lemon
2tbs chopped fresh coriander
salt and pepper

Peel and thinly slice the onion. Place in a bowl with the pomegranate seeds, lemon juice and coriander. Sprinkle with salt and a grinding of black pepper and toss well.

Borscht

Serves 4-6

1 large white onion
1 large carrot
1 celery stalk
350g fresh raw beetroot
2 potatoes, approximately 300g
50g butter
1 bay leaf
1.5 litres good beef stock
½ a small cabbage, finely shredded
3 cloves garlic, chopped and crushed under the flat of a knife with 1tsp salt
2tbs red wine vinegar
salt and pepper
sour cream and dill to serve

Prepare the vegetables; keeping them separate, as they go into the pot at different stages. Peel and finely chop the onion, carrot and celery. Peel 
and trim the beetroot and potatoes and dice into 1cm cubes.  

Melt the butter in a large pot over a low to medium heat. Add the onion, and soften, stirring occasionally, for 
5 mins. Add the carrot, celery, and beetroot and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for another 10 mins. Add the potatoes, bay leaf, and the stock and simmer for 15 mins. Add the cabbage and garlic and continue 
to cook until all the vegetables are tender. Finally, add the vinegar, a good grinding of black pepper, and salt to taste. Serve with dollops of sour cream and a sprinkling of chopped dill.

Sole with Vodka Sauce

Serves 4

4 sole or plaice fillets, about 600g
300ml fish stock
50g butter
1 echalion shallot, peeled and 
very finely chopped
60ml vodka
150ml double cream
salt and pepper
1 small jar salmon caviar

Season the fish lightly with salt. Roll 
up the fillets and secure with cocktail sticks. Pour the fish stock into a lidded sauté pan and bring to the boil. Place the fish in the pan, cover and simmer for about 8 mins, until the fish is just cooked. Remove the fish from the pan and keep warm. Discard the cocktail sticks, and strain the cooking liquid into a jug.

Melt the butter over a medium flame, add the shallot and cook, stirring, for 5 mins or so, until soft and golden but not browned. Add the reserved fish stock, the vodka, and the cream, bring to the boil, turn down the heat and simmer until the mixture has reduced to the consistency of single cream. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. At this point you may wish to blend the sauce until smooth, in a food processor or with a hand-held blender.

Pour ¾ of the sauce onto a serving plate. Arrange the fish on top and pour over the remaining sauce. Spoon 1tsp of caviar onto each fillet. Serve with boiled potatoes or rice.

Pelmeni

Serves 4-6

500g plain flour
1tsp salt
2 eggs
250-300ml water
1 large onion
1 clove garlic
250g minced pork
250g minced beef
black pepper
butter
sour cream
vinegar
fresh dill

To make the dough: Place the flour 
in a pile on the work surface and sprinkle with half a teaspoon of salt. Make a hollow in the centre of the flour mound, and break the eggs into it. Add a little water, and begin to mix, drawing the flour towards the egg in the centre, adding more water gradually, until you have a firm, un-sticky dough. Knead the dough for a few minutes until smooth and elastic. Wrap in plastic and leave to rest in the fridge for at least an hour. (Alternatively you could make the dough in a food processor.)

To make the filling: Chop the onion and garlic very finely and place in a bowl with the beef, pork, the other half a teaspoon of salt, and a good grinding of black pepper. Mix thoroughly with your hands.

Cut off about a quarter of the dough, leaving the rest wrapped to prevent 
it from drying out, and roll out to 2-3mm thickness. Using a cutter or an upturned glass, punch out rounds about 6cm in diameter. Place a teaspoon of the mixture on each round. Lightly wet the edge with a finger dipped in water, and fold the circle of dough around the filling to make a half moon shape, pinching the edges together to secure them. Pinch the two points of the half moon together with another dab of water. Continue with the remaining dough and filling, placing each batch in the freezer as they are finished.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to the boil and drop in the frozen pelmeni. They will rise to 
the surface after a few minutes. Simmer for a further 3 mins, cooking for about 7 mins in total. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and serve hot with melted butter, sour cream, a dash of vinegar, 
and chopped dill.
 

Cassata Bombe

Serves 8

60g mixed peel, chopped
60g glacé cherries, chopped
3tbs rum
150g caster sugar
120ml water
4 egg yolks
300ml double cream
50g shelled pistachio nuts, chopped
about 100ml raspberry sorbet

Line a 1 litre bombe mould or bowl with cling film. In a small bowl soak the chopped peel and cherries in the rum.

Put the sugar and water into a pan and boil rapidly for 5 mins. Place the egg yolks in the bowl of an electric beater and whisk for a minute until they begin to thicken. Slowly pour the hot syrup into the moving beater, in a thin stream, until the mixture is thick and fluffy. Allow to cool for a few minutes. In a separate bowl, whip the cream to soft peaks. Fold the whipped cream and rum into the egg mixture, followed by the soaked fruit and nuts. Carefully pour ¾ of the mixture into the mould, reserving the rest in the fridge. Drop a small cup into the centre of the filled mould, so that its rim just rests on the surface. Secure with tape to prevent sinking, and place in the freezer for 
at least 6 hours, or until very firm. Release the cup by filling it with hot water and lifting it out. Fill the cavity with raspberry sorbet. Pour the remaining cassata mixture on top, filling the mould. Place in the freezer for another 3 hours.