Best Labneh With Roast Beetroot Preserved Lemon Green Romesco Sauce Recipes

LABNEH WITH ROAST BEETROOT, PRESERVED LEMON & GREEN ROMESCO SAUCE

Steps:

• First, make the labneh. Mix the yogurt with a pinch of salt. Line a sieve with muslin, a clean J-cloth or a few sheets of kitchen paper and rest over a deep bowl. Spoon in the yogurt, then cover and put in the fridge to strain for about 4 hrs. You'll be left with a firmer, soft cheese-like substance - this is your labneh.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss the beetroots in the olive oil with salt, pepper and the thyme leaves. Wrap each beet loosely in foil, then place in a roasting tin. Roast for 1 hr, or until tender. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Peel off the skins, then slice into wedges. Dress with olive oil and season.
• Meanwhile, heat the grill to high. Toss the green pepper and chilli with a little oil on a baking tray and grill, turning halfway, until blackened all over (about 10-12 mins). Transfer to a bowl, cover with cling film and leave to cool. Remove and discard the skin and any seeds, then set aside.
• To make the sauce, put the pumpkin seeds, most of the herbs and hazelnuts (reserving a few to serve), coriander seeds and cumin seeds in the bowl of a food processor with the garlic and preserved lemon and blitz to coarse crumbs. Add the green pepper, chilli and 1 tsp flaky sea salt. Blitz again to a coarse paste, then add the honey, bread and olive oil. Whizz gradually, adding 100-150ml water, until you have a spoonable sauce. Pour into a bowl, season and add the lemon juice 2 tsp at a time, until it's balanced and not too sharp.
• Smooth a spoonful of labneh on each plate and top with the dressed beets. Spoon over the sauce, then scatter over the remaining hazelnuts and the herbs and drizzle over some more oil.

BEET DIP WITH LABNEH

Steps:

• Put the beets, whole walnuts, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, chile flakes, garlic and salt into a food processor or blender. Purée on high until beets and nuts are finely chopped. Scrape down the sides, and blend again, until the mixture gets slightly smoother. Add the olive oil, and blend again, scraping down the sides, until mixture forms a coarse purée. Taste, and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper and additional lemon juice, if desired.
• Spoon labneh into a bowl, smoothing it, then heap the beet dip on top. Top with a generous drizzle of olive oil and chopped walnuts; grate some lemon zest on top. Serve with pita and cucumbers for dipping.