This vegetarian dinner entree is courtesy of Ananda Spa in the Himalayas.
Ingredients
For the Cheese Cannelloni
6ServingsPaneer Cheese(firm cottage cheese which can be sliced)
For the Filling
500gm spinach(blanched and chopped)
01gm nutmeg powder
05gm onion
05mlextra virgin olive oil
05fresh garlic
Sea Salt and Ground Pepper
For the Saffron Sauce
05gm onion
100mlfresh cream
50mlbéchamel sauce
10gm saffron
Sea Salt and Ground Pepper
For the Tomato Ragout
50gm blanched tomato(peeled and diced)
50gm peeled Italian tomato
05gm onion
05fresh garlic
50mlextra virgin olive oil
05gm sweet basil
Sea Salt and Ground Pepper
Instructions
Prepare the Filling
Clean and wash the spinach, blanch, drain properly and chop it finely.
Sauté onion and garlic in an iron pan and add spinach and seasoning.
Let it cool, add little parmesan and nutmeg powder, and adjust seasoning.
Prepare the wrappers
Slice paneer (Indian cottage cheese) very thin and roll into enough pieces to make 3 small rolls per person, and sear on a hot iron pan, until it becomes soft enough to handle and roll.
Place in on a working table, add dollops of spinach filling and roll the cheese in the form of cannelloni.
Prepare the Saffron Sauce
Sauté onion and garlic in a pan.
Add little stock when it turns light golden in color.
Add cream and saffron water..add seasoning
Check the consistency of the sauce.
Serve along with cannelloni.
Prepare the Tomato Ragout
Sauté onion and garlic in a pan.
Add diced tomato and let it cook...add little salt
Add peeled Italian tomato and basil stalk for flavor
Plate the dish
Allow for 2-3 cannelloni per person
Dollop both sauces over the dish
Finish the dish with seasoning, olive oil, shredded basil leaves, and flower petals
Spa Index Kitchen Notes
Chef Sharma garnishes this dish with Nasturtiums flowers, which are used in herbal medicine for their antiseptic and expectorant qualities. They are said to be good for chest colds and to promote the formation of new blood cells.This is a recipe which is typical of making us hesitate and say "Wow, so many fat grams, so many carbs ..." but we are reminded that the nutritional needs for many are so varied, and these fats, which considerable, are such GOOD fats, and there are GOOD calories in this dish. Look at the vitamin stats alone -- this is a vitamin shot in the form of an entree.It is easy to make some simple swaps. Fat Free Cream in place of heavy cream. A mock bechamel in place of prepared white sauce. A little less oil. Or, don't use cheese as the wrapper (albeit that's a pretty interesting use for this dish), and instead rely on a rice paper wrap, and just grate some paneer cheese inside? Or, serve 2 pieces instead of 3, per serving. Whatever you choose, this is an interesting dish, isn't it?
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