Cin Cin recipes to try at home!

Bring Cin Cin’s signature flavours into your own kitchen by giving this 3 course meal a go at home. Follow these easy, step by step recipes and impress your loved ones! We would love to see your finished dishes, so tag us in your photos so we can see how you get on!

STARTER

Prosciutto, watermelon & marinated Nutbourne tomatoes

1 packet of sliced Prosciutto (approx 200g) – use San Daniele DOP prosciutto if possible.

1 wedge of watermelon (say 400g)

300g of the best tomatoes you can get hold of – try for Isle of Wight tomatoes

1 bottle white balsamic vinegar 

Couple of leaves of torn basil 

Maldon sea salt 

Freshly ground black pepper 

Extra virgin olive oil 

METHOD:

1. Using a sharp knife, slice the skin off the watermelon including any white layer between the skin and the red flesh. Next cut the watermelon into 3 by 3 cm cubes and place them onto a tray, you should have approximately 24 cubes (6 per portion). Drizzle some olive oil over them and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Allow to stand for 10 minutes.
2. Whilst the watermelon is marinading, cut the tomatoes into 2-3cm pieces, no need for straight lines, the more random the better, this will be more pleasing on the eye at the end. Place the tomatoes into a bowl and drizzle generously with some white balsamic (if you can’t get hold of this then a nice sherry vinegar is the next best thing) and some olive oil, salt and pepper. Next, tear some basil leaves and add the bowl before giving a gentle mix – this accentuates the flavours of the tomatoes.
3. Arrange 4 small bowls or plates and using a spoon, place the watermelon cubes into the bowls in a random but equally spaced order. Leaving space between the watermelon allows space for the prosciutto and tomatoes to go so that you get a nice even distribution of all the components of the dish.
4. Next evenly distribute the tomatoes, then lay the prosciutto in the spaces so that it stands up and leans against the tomatoes and watermelon. Carefully pour the remaining juices from the tomatoes and watermelon into the middle of the bowl so that it collects and soaks in the bottom.

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MAIN

Tagliatelle with sardines, saffron, golden sultanas & fennel 

400g of high-quality fresh egg Tagliatelle (if not making the pasta from scratch)

For the pasta:
450g 00 flour sifted into a well on the bench
260g good quality eggs whipped with a folk till smooth

METHOD:

1. Pour the egg mixture into the flour well on your bench and using a fork gradually start
   to incorporate the flour from the edges until you get a thick, smooth paste.
2.  At this point scrape the fork clean and use a pastry scraper or large, blunt knife to start
   chopping the mixture. Fold the flour through and chopping the mix to combine it –
   just like you would with chopping herbs on a board.
3. Once you have a bread crumb like mixture – scrape clean the knife and discard.
   Switching to your hands now, start to draw the dough together to form a rough ball.
   Knead and knead, the dough will clean the bench and gradually become smoother and
   smoother so that there is no longer any dry, crusty, floury bits. After 5-10 minutes of
   kneading, wrap the dough tightly in either cling film, baking parchment or wax wrap.
   Refrigerate for 30 minutes to rest the dough.
4.   After 30 minutes of resting, the dough will be ready for rolling. Lightly dust the
   rollers of your pasta machine with a little flour and work the dough through from the
   thickest setting down to the second thinnest setting. Once you have a long thin
   rectangular sheet, you can either hand cut the tagliatelle using a sharp knife at 1cm
   intervals; or if your pasta machine has a tagliatelle cutter, simply run it through.

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For the Sauce: 

1 shallot 

2 cloves garlic 

Half a bulb of fennel 

1 small pinch of saffron 

100ml white wine 

150ml whipping cream 

30g golden sultanas 

20g sugar 

40g white balsamic vinegar 

40g water 

8 sardines – get your fishmonger to butterfly for you (else the best tinned sardines you can buy) 

1 lemon cut into wedges and deseeded 

Salt and pepper to season 

METHOD:

1. Thinly slice the shallots and garlic. Next cut the half bulb of fennel into 3 wedges and slice very thinly.
2. In a medium size pan heat a little olive oil (enough to cover the bottom of the pan) and add the shallots, garlic and fennel – immediately season liberally with salt and pepper as this helps to release the juices and avoids ‘frying’. Continue to sweat on a low heat for 8-10 minutes until soft and translucent.
3. In the meantime time make the pickled golden sultanas by combining the sugar, white balsamic vinegar  and water . Bring to a gentle simmer.  Remove from the heat straight away and add the golden sultanas, cover and leave on the side.
4. Place the sardines onto a roasting tray, drizzle a little olive oil and cracked black pepper over the top. Place under a hot grill (or a slightly less messy way is to cook in a pre heated 180c oven for 5 minutes.
5. Back to the sauce. When the vegetables are soft, add the white wine, whipping cream and saffron, bring to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes before taking off the heat and allowing to infuse for another 5 minutes. In the meantime, bring a large pot of slightly salted water up to the boil and cook the tagliatelle until al dente – 3 minutes no more.
6. Drain the pasta, combine with the sauce, drain the golden sultanas and add to the sauce and finish with a squeeze of lemon and check the seasoning.  Give the pasta a good swirl with the sauce so it’s all coated, then portion across 4 plates. Finally, carefully place on top the 2 butterflied sardines and serve.

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DESSERT

Grilled yellow peaches, crème fraiche, raspberries & candied pistachios

5 ripe yellow peaches

2 handfuls of brown sugar

1 sprig rosemary

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 small tub of full fat creme fraiche

1 punnet raspberries

1 handful of pistachios

100g caster sugar

100g water

METHOD:

1. Start by cutting the peaches in half and carefully removing the stone. Place the peaches into a bowl along with the brown sugar, rosemary and vanilla extract. Rub together carefully then allow to sit for 30 minutes.
2. Whilst you wait for the peaches, make the candied pistachios by placing a medium pan onto the heat. Toast the pistachios in the dry pan until you can see a light golden colour and nutty aroma. Next add in the caster sugar and water continue to stir vigorously whilst it comes to the boil. Reduce the liquor until the pan is dry, continue to stir as the sugar crystalises and coats the nuts. Set aside.
3. Switch on the grill and put a non stick frying pan onto a moderate heat. Place the Peaches cut side down into the pan, they will start to caramelise instantly. Try not to fiddle with them, leave them in place. Put the pan under the grill for 3-5 minutes to cook the top.
4. Once soft, remove the peaches from the heat and spoon into bowls, dollop some creme friache into the middle and sprinkle over some raspberries, finish with the candied pistachios and serve immediately.