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“Grandma in the Mountains” ANZAC Biscuits

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

Named for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), these “bickies,” or cookies, were created for soldiers fighting in World War I because they could withstand a long sea journey—ANZAC’s first major military action was in Gallipoli, Turkey. This version, a chewy inside with a crisp outside, comes from Annie Paterson. “It’s my grandmother’s and mother’s recipe that I have been making since I was a child,” she said. If you want a crisper cookie, leave out the coconut. Golden syrup, also popular in British and Irish treats, is a sweetener made from cane sugar; it’s available online, but you can substitute maple syrup.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup coarse rolled oats
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsweetened (desiccated) coconut flakes
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons boiling water
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons golden syrup

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

Step 2

In a large bowl, mix the oats, flour, coconut, and sugar. In a small bowl, mix the baking soda and boiling water; place next to your stovetop.

Step 3

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter, then whisk in the olive oil and syrup. Whisk in the baking soda mixture, then pour over the dry ingredients and mix well. Wait 5 minutes, then stir again.

Step 4

For jumbo cookies, use a 2-inch ice cream scoop and drop them on the prepared sheet pan. Bake for 16 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, or until the cookies turn golden. Let cool to room temperature before storing in a cookie tin.

Makes twelve 3-inch cookies

Australian Zucchini Breakfast Slice

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

This frittata-like dish is beloved by Australians young and old. Cut into squares, a “slice” can be eaten out of hand and served hot, cold, or warm for breakfast, a main course, side dish, or snack. Though not traditional, I like the salty tang of pickled banana peppers or olives.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for the pan
  • 2 cups grated zucchini, excess moisture squeezed out with a clean kitchen towel
  • 1 cup grated peeled butternut squash
  • 4 slices meaty bacon, sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces
  • 1/2 large onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
  • 1/3 cup chopped pickled banana peppers or olives (optional)
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 5 large eggs
  • Crushed red pepper flakes, for serving

Directions

Step 1

Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Brush with olive oil. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the zucchini, squash, bacon, onion, cheese, and banana peppers or olives, if using.

Step 3

In a second bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder.

Step 4

In a third bowl, beat the eggs well. Whisk in
the flour mixture, then add the 1/4 cup olive oil. Pour over the zucchini mixture and stir gently to combine. Pour into the prepared pan.

Step 5

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the tip of a sharp knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool slightly. Cut into squares and serve with crushed red pepper flakes.

Serves 8

Cicchetti

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

Called cicchetti in Venice, their birthplace, these appetizers are a favorite around the world, especially among the large Italian population in Australia. They’re also quick to assemble from pantry ingredients. For more recipes popular Down Under, check out the Pressing Report in this quarter’s shipment of fresh-pressed olive oils.

Ingredients

  • 1 baguette, sliced crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces, about 24 slices
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more for topping
  • One 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • One 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped basil, divided use
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
  • Coarse sea salt 
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Make the crostini (toasts): Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on the pan and brush both sides of each slice with olive oil. Bake, turning once, until the bread is golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Step 2

Heat a wide saucepan over medium-low heat. When hot, add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pan along with the garlic. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the garlic is soft but not brown. Stir in the pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute more. Reserve about 1/2 cup chickpeas and add the rest along with the beans to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the beans are warmed through, then mash them with the back of a wooden spoon, a potato masher, or a fork. Stir in half the basil, the lemon juice, and lemon zest. If the beans seem dry, add more olive oil, 1 tablespoon at a time. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 3

Top each crostini with a spoonful of the bean mixture, then drizzle with olive oil. Garnish with the rest of the chopped basil, the reserved chickpeas, and more red pepper flakes if desired. Refrigerate any leftover bean mixture; it will keep for two days.

Yields 6 to 8 servings

Melissa’s Prawn and Pork Dumplings with Dipping Sauce

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

My longtime friend and colleague Melissa Wong, a consummate foodie from Melbourne, shared this flavorful recipe with me—see the Pressing Report for all the fun we had preparing it. Dumplings are surprisingly easy to make at home with either square or round dumpling wrappers. The pinching technique isn’t complicated, but a dumpling press makes quick work of it. (See a vegetarian version from The Olive Oil Hunter Newsletter.)

Ingredients

For the dipping sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
  • 2 teaspoons ground Sichuan red pepper
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
  • 1 small fresh chile, chopped, such as banana or Anaheim (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons black vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced

For the filling:

  • Piece fresh ginger, 1 1/2 inches, peeled
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use
  • 8 ounces prawns
  • 2 teaspoons white pepper
  • 2 heads bok choy
  • 1 pound finely ground pork
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 package dumpling wrappers (about 50)

Directions

Step 1

For the dipping sauce, dry toast the sesame seeds until fragrant, about 2 minutes; transfer to a small dish and set aside. In the same pan, dry toast the ground pepper, about 2 minutes. Off the heat, swirl in the olive oil, garlic, ginger, chile (if using), cilantro, and sugar. Whisk in the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, scallions, and the reserved sesame seeds. Pour into a serving bowl and set aside.

Step 2

For the dumplings, place the ginger, garlic, and
2 tablespoons olive oil into a small food processor and blitz to a rough paste; set aside.

Step 3

Peel the prawns and finely dice them. Marinate in a bowl with the remaining tablespoon olive oil and the white pepper.

Step 4

Separate the bok choy leaves, rinse, and trim the ends, if needed. Bring a pot of water to a boil and blanch the bok choy. Once the leaves are wilted, drain in a colander and rinse with cold water
to stop the cooking. Squeeze as much water as possible from the leaves and chop them finely.

Step 5

Place the pork in a large bowl and add the ginger-garlic paste, soy sauce, salt, sesame oil, and bok choy. Mix thoroughly, then add the marinated prawn pieces and cornstarch and mix again.

Step 6

Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Place a bowl of water next to your work area. Open the package of wrappers and cover with a damp kitchen towel so they won’t dry out.

Step 7

Place a generous teaspoon of filling in the center of a wrapper (don’t overfill or the dumplings won’t stay closed). Dip a fingertip in the water bowl and moisten the outer edges of the wrapper, then fold it and press the edges together to seal them. For round wrappers, crimp the edges together with
7 or 8 folds to make a crescent shape. For square wrappers, use your fingertip to wet the two bottom corners, then overlap them slightly and press together to form a shape like a bishop’s hat. As you finish each dumpling, place it on the sheet pan under the towel. There should be enough filling to make about 50 dumplings.

Step 8

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drop in 12 to 16 dumplings at a time and cook for 7 minutes (they will float to the surface). Use a Chinese strainer to transfer them to a large bowl; cover with a pot lid to keep them warm. Repeat until all the dumplings have been cooked. Serve with the dipping sauce.

Serves 8 to 10