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Watch how to create these simple but beautiful pastry fish scales: delicious.com.au/April
Food is a great connector. The ritual of sharing lovingly prepared, leisurely meals with family and friends is one of life’s great pleasures. Eating produce of the season, grown with care, connects us with the cycles of nature in a visceral way. And with a few extra days off over Easter, we can let time expand as we revive ourselves with great conversation and plenty of rest.
We always look forward to the shift from late summer into autumn, and this menu is a celebration of the harvest season as the days draw in. Be sure to buy from local growers to find produce when it’s at its peak and least expensive. While there are generous proportions for sharing in these dishes, there are plenty of vegetables and fresh interesting flavours, so you should feel sated, but not stuffed. There’s nothing too complicated, and plenty that can be prepped in advance, meaning that cooks can relax alongside everyone else when the time comes.
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PUFF PASTRY
MAKES 830G
“Making puff pastry is not as difficult as you might imagine. It can look spectacular and has many uses. It does take time, but it’s short bursts of work punctuated by long rests. Try breaking the process down into small chunks; prepare the dough and butter block two days before you want to bake, laminate the butter into the dough the next day, and let it rest overnight in the fridge before using. The sense of satisfaction and superior result will make it all worthwhile.”
70g unsalted butter, chilled, plus 250g unsalted butter block, at room temperature
150g chilled water
2 tsp white vinegar
340g plain flour, plus extra to dust
2 tsp fine salt
DAY 1: Cut 70g butter into cubes and set aside for 10 minutes to soften slightly (you want it to be cold but malleable).
Combine water and vinegar in a jug. Place flour, salt and butter cubes in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix to break the butter into the flour until you have pea-sized lumps of butter visible. With the motor running, pour in the water mixture and mix until it just comes together. You don’t want any dry pieces but
