This glorious tulip recipe from Pascal Aussignac is an unusual spring or summer starter, making spectacular use of fresh seasonal ingredients. Make sure to purchase organic tulips which have not been treated with any pesticides.
Metric Imperial
TULIPS
- 4 tulip flowers, with stems
- 50g of button mushrooms
- 500ml of water
- 3 spring onions
- 50g of Parmesan, grated, or vegetarian hard cheese
- 100g of Tapioca
- 200g of shelled peas
- 100g of sugar snap peas
- 3 sprigs of dill
- 3 tbsp of olive oil
- sea salt
- black pepper, freshly ground
TO PLATE
- 1 handful of mixed salad leaves
EQUIPMENT
- Steamer
- Blender
- Parchment paper
METHOD
1. Nip out the stamens from the tulip flowers and check the petals are clean.
- 4 tulip flowers, with stems
2. Bring the water to the boil and stir in the tapioca and a little salt. Return to the boil, stir and simmer for 5 minutes until soft, then drain.
- 500ml of water
- 100g of tapioca
- sea salt
3. Meanwhile, finely chop the sugar snap peas, spring onions and dill. Set aside.
- 100g of sugar snap peas
- 3 spring onions
- 3 sprigs of dill
4. Cook the peas in lightly salted water until soft. Drain the peas, reserving some of the water. Whizz the peas in a blender with the oil to a thick purée. Set aside.
- 200g of shelled peas
- 3 tbsp of olive oil
5. Soak the mushrooms in boiling water, just enough to cover, and leave until softened. This should take about 2-3 minutes. Drain, pat dry and finely chop.
- 50g of button mushrooms
6. Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and fry off the mushrooms for 2-3 minutes. Season. Mix in the cooked tapioca and Parmesan, followed by the sugar snap peas, spring onion and dill.
- black pepper
- 50g of Parmesan, grated, or vegetarian hard cheese
7. Leave the mushroom mixture to cool before spooning into the centre of the 4 tulip flowers. Reshape the petals around the filling.
8. Put a pan on to boil with a steamer basket fitted above. Place a disc of baking parchment on the base of the steaming basket and put the stuffed tulips and their stems on top.
9. Steam for 30-40 seconds until the petals wilt, then carefully lift each stuffed flower and stem onto a plate.
10. Reheat the puréed peas and serve alongside the tulips, garnished with a herby green salad.
