I wasn’t quite sure how to file this recipe. It’s not really a main course or a salad but it is great as a side dish or a light summer supper, so that it where I put it.
I love this recipe because it is very tasty, very simple and I came up with it by using things I had left over in my fridge. It was a very warm evening when I cooked and ate it (children were asleep, husband working late) and it satisfied me without making me too hot and bothered.
I made enough for four people and served it heated up to the kids the next day having covered it and refrigerated it overnight. It was just as tasty. Feel free to add fresh soya beans, new season peas, chicken or anything else that takes your fancy. But the combination I have blogged about right here was perfect for me on that balmy night.
Serves 4 as a side/light supper
What you will need –
500g jersey royal/new potatoes
Tablespoon olive oil
3 large cloves garlic
150g pancetta
400g cherry vine tomatoes (or any small sweet tomato)
25g fresh basil leaves
Freshly ground black pepper
Balsamic glaze (optional)
Cut the potatoes in half so that each one is bite sized. Boil the potatoes in a pan of boiling water until they are soft but not falling apart. Drain them well, set aside. Heat the olive oil gently in a large pan and add the finely chopped garlic cloves. When the garlic is starting to soften add the pancetta. Sauté the pancetta and garlic gently until the pancetta has started to brown and the add the potatoes. Making sure that the heat isn’t too high continue to sauté until the potatoes are starting to brown and crisp up slightly on the outside. And the tomatoes and keep the ingredients moving on the pan until the tomatoes have softened. This whole process will take about 20 mins as the heat is very low. But this adds a deeper flavour to the ingredients and allows it to brown without having any taste of burning.
Remove from the heat, grind black pepper to taste and stir in the chopped fresh basil leaves.
Serve immediately with a drizzle of balsamic glaze if preferred.
The children will like this, it’s easy to make in the evenings when everyone is shattered and it uses ingredients that are in season right now and therefore taste wonderful.
Have a great day everyone!
Cherry x