Menu Speciality Food Ltd (FKA) IB Food Ltd

Fine Italian ingredients for chefs

Menu Speciality Food Ltd

Suppliers & importers of high quality Italian and
Mediterranean ingredients for discerning chefs

Miniature Capers

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They may sound like an exotic fruit but the little bud from the caper plant makes an exquisite ingredient in a variety of recipes.
They grow wild around the Mediterranean on rocky and ancient stony ruins, where the tenacious roots burrow deep to suck the moisture that other plants would never find; and the buds are picked before they flower and then either packed in salt or vinegar for preservation.
The miniature capers in delicate white wine vinegar are ideal for that special more refined recipe, the larger capers in salt need rinsing well but are more delicate in flavour not having that slight sharpness to them that the vinegar can give, but can be salty and you may not need to add salt to the recipe – so beware !

Cold Roast Swordfish with Caper, Tuna & Sundried Tomato Cream

Ingredients for 6 portions:

– 1kg Piece of Swordfish
– 2 Garlic Cloves
– 110ml White Wine
– 40ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
– Salt & Pepper
– 30g Miniature Capers
– 15g Anchovy Fillets in Olive Oil
– 100g Tuna in Olive Oil
– 40g Sundried Tomatoes in oil
– 80g Mayonnaise
– Splash of Lemon Juice

Leave the skin on the swordfish. Make small slits through the skin and push in the slivers of garlic. Place the swordfish, skin side up, in a shallow dish, lightly oiled. Pour over the white wine, season with salt and pepper, drizzle more oil and roast at 190’C for about 40 minutes, basting frequently until slightly cooked through. Leave to cool.
In the meantime, make the cream by blending all the ingredients together until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning.
To serve, slice the swordfish very thinly, discarding the skin, and arrange on a dish, place the cream to one side. Serve at once.

Marinated Parmesan & Buffalo Mozzarella with Capers, Garlic & Lemon

Ingredients for 4 portions:

– 2 Buffalo Mozzarella
– 150g Piece of Fresh Parmigiano Reggiano
– 40ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
– 10ml Lemon Juice
– 1 Grated Zest of Lemon
– 1 Garlic Clove Crushed
– 40g Miniature Capers
– 2 Tbs Finely Chopped Parsley
– 200g Mixed Lettuce Leaves
– 2 Tomatoes Finely Diced

Slice the mozzarella and Parmesan, arrange  alternatively on a dish.
Whisk all the other ingredients to make the dressing.
Taste and adjust the seasoning, then spoon over the cheeses and leave to marinate for at least 1 hour.
When ready to serve, place some mixed leaves on a plate, top with the cheeses and some of the dressing. Scatter the diced tomatoes around the plates.
Serve at once.

Porcini Del Boscaiolo

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 Rustic theme for the coming autumn with the distinctive flavours. Porcini mushrooms (edible boletus) adapt themselves wonderfully in the preparation of both traditional and innovative recipes.
The king of the wild mushrooms has its own exceptional flavours that combined with a variety of ingredients stands out and giving that extra special aroma making the dish unique.

All is needed is a few days of rain and nature creates this wonderful funghi.

Pesce in Cartoccio con Porcini
Baked Fish in Parcel with Porcini

Ingredients for 1 portion:

– 1 Whole Fillet of Sea Bream (or John Dory or SeaBass)
– 80g Porcini del Boscaiolo
– 40g Baby Artichokes in Oil & Herbs
– 20g Sundried Tomatoes
– 5g Fish Fumet
– 10ml La Nonna Extra Virgin Olive Oil
– Black Pepper to Taste

In a baking tray line with silver foil and baste with the extra virgin olive oil. Place the Porcini on the foil and the fillet on top. Sprinkle with a little of the fish fumet and freshly ground pepper.
Drizzle some olive oil on top. Place the artichokes and the sundried tomatoes to one side.
Close the foil around the fish so that it looks like a parcel and bake in a preheated hot oven (200’) for approximately 15 minutes until the fillet is cooked.
Remove from the foil and serve at once with the artichokes and sundried tomatoes as a garnish.

 

Gnocchi with Porcini Gratin

Ingredients for 8 portions:

– 1 Bag Gnocchi Powder
– 450g Porcini del Boscaiolo
– 100g 5 Cheese Sauce
– 50ml Milk
– Salt & Pepper to Taste
– 1 Clove Garlic
– Freshly Chopped Parsley
– 50g Freshly Grated Parmesan
– 20g Butter

Prepare the gnocchi as per the instructions on the bag (i.e. mix with 1 litre of cold water and knead to a dough, shape and cut to size one desires).
Heat the porcini with the garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Add some of the freshly chopped parsley.
In another saucepan melt down the 5 cheese sauce with the milk and butter. Cook the gnocchi in salted boiling water until they rise to the top and strain. In a baking dish, that has been buttered, place a layer of the gnocchi, add a few tablespoons of the mushrooms and a little of the 5 cheese sauce. Alternate another layer with the Gnocchi, porcini and cheese sauce. Sprinkle the freshly grated Parmesan on top and Bake in the oven until golden.
Serve at once.

Cocktail of Wild Mushrooms II

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Six Wild Mushrooms including chanterelles, ceps, honey fungus, pholiota mutbalis, sanguinelli and pineroli all cooked in oil and herbs making this medley ideal for all types of recipe preparation.
The following recipes are easy and ideal for any menu not to mention tantalising and light which is extremely popular for the summer.

Wrapped Chicken with Wild Mushrooms

Ingredients for 4 portions:

– 100g Cocktail of 6 Wild Mushrooms
– 225g Butter
– 2 Shallots Finely Chopped
– 8 Large Leaves Savoy Cabbage
– 8 Slices Pancetta (bacon)
– 20g Truffle Paste
– 300ml Chicken Stock
– 1 Glass White Wine
– 4 Chicken Breasts
– Salt & Pepper To Taste

 

Preheat oven to a high heat. Generously butter a roasting dish.
Blanch the cabbage leaves, strain and spread out for use, on buttered silver foil squares. Place 2 slices of pancetta slightly overlapping to cover the green leaves, spread the truffle paste on each then add a knob of butter in the middle and place the chicken on top. Salt and pepper to taste. Carefully fold the greens over the chicken to wrap and roll the foil around to hold. Place in the oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes.
Pan fry the shallots until golden in a little butter, add the stock, white wine and the cocktail of wild mushrooms. Boil and reduce down to make the sauce. Add a little cream if you so desire.
Remove the chicken breasts from the oven, slice diagonally. Pour a little of the wild mushroom sauce on a plate and place the chicken on top.
Serve at once.

John Dory with Wild Mushrooms

Ingredients for 4 portions:

– 400g Cocktail of 6 Wild Mushrooms
– 8 John Dory Fillets (approx.225g for 2)
– 1/2 Lemon Juice
– 85g Butter
– 1 Garlic Clove Chopped
– Flat Leaf Parsley Chopped
– 28g Pine Nuts Slightly Toasted
– 4 Tbs Flour
– 40ml Tornatore Extra Virgin Olive Oil
– 5g Pinch of Fish Fumet
– Salt & Pepper To Taste

Season the flour and coat the fillets of John Dory (St. Pierre fish) lightly.
Mix the extra virgin olive oil with pinch of fish fumet and some freshly ground black pepper.
Brush some of the oil on a baking tin and place the fillets on top, brush the fillets and place under a grill. Carefully remove after a few minutes and turn the fillets over delicately, brush with more oil and place under a grill again to finish cooking and make a crispy brown skin. Meanwhile saute’ the mushrooms in the garlic, butter, chopped parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Place 2 of the fillets on a plate, pour a little of the wild mushrooms on top and sprinkle some pine nuts. Serve at once.

Sugo all’Isolana

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 A long awaited, full of mediterranean ingredients, sauce made with fresh tomatoes,
sundried tomatoes, capers, anchovies and a touch of chilli. Rich in flavour and colour and can be used in a variety of recipes.

Coralli all’Isolana

Ingredients for 4 portions:

– 400g Sugo All’Isolana
– 250g Coralli Pasta
– 25g Pine Nuts
Cook the Coralli in salted boiling water until al dente. Toast the pine nuts lightly. Place the Isolana in a frying pan to heat, add 1 ladle of boiling water to dilute a little and the pine nuts.
Strain the pasta and toss in the sauce. Portion into plates and serve at once.

Tonno all’Isolana

Ingredients for 1 portion:

– 1 Fresh Tuna Steak
– 30g Sugo All’Isolana
– 20g Crème Fraiche
– 100g Wilted Baby Spinach Leaves
– 5ml Extra Pesto Oil

Sear and grill the tuna steak.
Heat the Isolana sauce with the crème fraiche and pour over the tuna steak. Serve at once on a bed of freshly wilted baby spinach leaves. Drizzle the extra pesto around the plate and serve at once.

Bruschette all’Isolana

Ingredients for 1 portion:

– 1 Bruschetta
– 2 Chargrilled Aubergine Slices
– 30g Isolana Sauce
– 2 Tbs Crème Fraiche

Grill the bruschetta bread on both sides, brushing with some extra virgin olive oil if liked. Place on a plate, add the chargrilled aubergine slices, top with the Isolana sauce, dot with the tablespoon of crème fraiche.
Place under a grill to heat through and slightly brown the crème fraiche. Serve at once.

 

Isolana Sauce

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A new ingredient for a traditional flavour! New to iB Food’s range of traditional sauces is Isolana – a tomato based sauce which is richer in colour and taste than conventional tomato based sauces.

Ideal with all varieties of pasta,particularly Rigatoni and Coralli. The sauce is made from fresh tomatoes,Chef sundried tomatoes, capers, anchoviesand a touch of chilli. It also makes agreat accompaniment to strong flavoured fish such as seared tuna steaks or as an ingredient in a wide range of starters such as bruschetta. For a slightly milder sauce, particularly good when used in starters, Isolana can be mixed with creme fraiche. Isolana can also be mixed with mascarpone to create a mouth-watering dip. In future issues we plan to feature your recipe suggestions – so do send them in. Here we have a couple of simple, yet effective serving suggestions for you to try.

Rigatoni All’ Isolana

A pasta starter blending the tantalising tomato sauce with toasted pine nuts.

Serves 4 as a starter

– 400 g Sugo All’Isolana – 250g Rigatoni Pasta – 25g Pine Nuts Prepare the Rigatoni in salted boiling water until al dente. Toast the pine nuts lightly. Place the Isolana sauce in a frying pan and heat through. Then add I ladle of boiling water to dilute the sauce a little and then simply add pine nuts. Strain the pasta and toss in the sauce.Then serve.

Tonno All’ Isolana

The sauce sets off seared tuna steak beautifully.

For one serving

– 1 Fresh Tuna Steak – 30g Sugo All’Isolana – 20g Creme Fraiche – 100g Steamed Spinach Take one fresh tuna steak, sear and grill. Heat the Isolana sauce with Serve on a bed of freshly steamed baby spinach leaves.

Zuppa Rapida

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 Zuppa Rapida made with a variety of pulses, beans and grains from orzo, lentils, black-eyed beans, tiny white haricot beans to peas. It is a wonderful array of colours and flavours, various textures that work in harmony with a short cooking time, no soaking is required.

Zuppa Rapida

Ingredients for 6 portions:

– 400g Le Marmore Zuppa Rapida
– 1lt Vegetable Bouillon Made Up
– 1 Onion Finely Chopped
– 3 Carrots Finely Chopped
– 3 Celery Sticks Finely Chopped
– 2 Garlic Cloves Crushed
– 3 Potatoes Finely Diced
– 3 Tbs Pesto alla Genovese
– Salt & Pepper to TasteChef
Saute’ in saucepan the garlic, onion, carrots, celery.

Then add the Zuppa Rapida, potatoes and the vegetable bouillon. Cook for about 20 minutes.

Season and add the pesto towards the end.

If it needs more bouillon add a little at a time as this soup should not be too liquid.

Serve with wonderful slices of toasted bread that can be rubbed with garlic as an option.

Grilled Cod Fillet on Medley of Beans

Ingredients for 6 portions:

– 150g x 6 Fresh Cod Fillets
– 200g Antichi Sapori Zuppa Rapida
– 1/2 Lt Vegetable Bouillon Made Up
– 1 Onion Finely Chopped
– 2 Carrots Diced
– 2 Celery Sticks Diced
– 1 Garlic Clove Crushed
– Touch of Chilli Paste

 

Saute’ in a saucepan the garlic, onion, carrots, celery. Then add the zuppa rapida and the vegetable bouillon.

Cook for about 25 minutes until cooked and to a nice consistency as a side dish. If it needs more liquid add as you go along as it needs to absorb it like a risotto.

You can add the chilli to give it more flavour of fresh herbs. Grill the cod fillets and serve on a bed of this bean mixture.

Wonderful and colourful, not to mention tasty!

Fish

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If you have a party of 8, here is a suggestion based on fish for their menu using fresh and interesting ingredients, giving a twist of the unusual to the recipes. These recipes are ideal for vegetarians that like to eat fish. A colourful starter and main course that will tempt anyone.

Starter – Conchiglioni stuffed with Tuna and Wild Fennel

Ingredients for 8 portions:

– 24 Large Shells cooked
– 4 Fresh Tuna steaks
– 10 Tbs Wild Fennel Condiment
– 20 Tbs Pomodorina Tomato Sauce
– Extra Virgin Olive Oil for drizzling

Poach the Tuna steaks, flake and mix with the wild fennel condiment. Use this to fill the precooked shells of pasta.

Place the pomodorina on the base of a plate, top with the stuffed shells and bake in an oven for about 5 minutes till heated through.

Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil all round and serve at once.

 

Main Course – Salmon with Olives, Tomato & Pesto Vinaigrette

Ingredients for 8 portions:

– 8 Salmon Fillets (approx. 180g each)
– 180g Black Olive Paste
– 100g Fresh Breadcrumbs
– 15 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
– 3 Tbs Balsamic Vinegar (gold cap)
– 6 Tbs Pesto alla Genovese
– 4 Tomatoes finely diced

Cut the salmon fillets horizontally. Mix the black olive paste with the breadcrumbs and spread in between the fillets, making a sandwich. Wrap it loosely in foil and bake for 10-15 minutes in a medium preheated oven.

In the meantime, whisk the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and pesto to make a dressing, then add the diced tomatoes.

Serve the salmon with the dressing drizzled around it.
Accompany with:
Baby Potatoes (charlottes)

– 2 kg Baby Potatoes (charlottes)
– 1 Tin Baby Artichoke Hearts In Oil and Herbs

Summer Is Here!

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With Summer here at last, the wonderful lively colours and flavoursome ingredients in exciting recipe preparations can tantalise your customers, looking for those Mediterranean dishes that are so inviting and tasty.
Char grilled vegetables, miniature capers, yellowfin tuna and delicate artichokes are just some of the ingredients utilised in the following recipes that remind your customers of their fun holidays abroad that they do not want to forget in a hurry !

Stuffed Char Grilled Peppers

Ingredients for 6 portions:

– 800g Char Grilled Peppers
– 40g Fresh Bread Crumbs
– 2 Cloves of Garlic Crushes
– 1 Tbs Freshly Chopped Parsley
– 10g Anchovy Fillets
– 20g Miniature Capers
– Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Drain the char grilled peppers from their olive oil. Strain the olive oil and keep for other recipes,
vinaigrettes etc. Mix the rest of the ingredients into a nice stuffing consistency.
Lay the peppers flat with the internal side facing upwards. Spread a little of the mixture in each of the peppers, roll closed and use a toothpick to hold them together.
Place in an oven proof dish, sprinkle with a little of the olive oil from the peppers and place under the grill for a few minutes. The option is to sprinkle some mozzarella on top before placing under the grill.
Sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley and serve at once. Can be served warm or cold.
(Please note that the above recipe can be varied by using the char grilled aubergines instead or doing both).

 

Tuna and Artichokes Salad

Ingredients for 8 portions:

– 800g Yellowfin Tuna Fillets
– 350g Baby Artichoke Hearts
– 2 Cloves Garlic Crushed
– 1/2 Glass of White Wine
– 10g Anchovy Fillets
– 20ml Lemon Juice
– 30ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
– 20g Miniature Capers
– Freshly Ground Black Pepper
– 1 Tbs Freshly Chopped Parsley
– Mixed Lettuce Leaves

Strain the tuna and the baby artichokes of their oil.
Lightly brown the garlic in the olive oil, add the tuna and the anchovy fillets. Deglaze with the white wine. Add the freshly ground pepper, lemon juice and miniature capers.Remove from heat, add the artichokes and freshly chopped parsley and toss delicately. Serve on a bed of lettuce.

Farfalle Rigate

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Ferrari have made us another winning shape, the Farfalle Rigate egg pasta, shaped like a bow or butterfly but ribbed, making it retain the sauce much better and is more attractive than the standard one plain and smooth. This egg pasta lends itself to many recipes but as the summer is approaching it will make wonderful pasta dishes and salads.

Farfalle with Sunblushed Tomatoes, Capers, Anchovy & Raw Tuna

Ingredients for 6 portions:

– 500g Ferrari Farfalle Rigate
– 200g Broccoli Heads
– 150g Sunblushed Tomatoes
– 6 Tornatore Anchovy Fillets
– 1 Small Chilli Pepper
– 12 Thin Slices of Raw Tuna
– 1 Clove Garlic
– 20ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
– 40g Miniature Capers
– Salt & Pepper to Taste

Blanch the broccoli in boiling water and then cool down. In a frying pan heat the oil with the garlic, chilli, anchovy fillets until melted and well amalgamated. Season carefully with salt and pepper. In the meantime cook the pasta in salted boiling water till al dente.
Drain and toss in the sauce. Place each portion in a plate and place on top 2 thinly slices of raw tuna and serve immediately.

Farfalle all’ Antipasto

Ingredients for 6 portions:

– 500g Ferrari Farfalle Rigate
– 150g Sunblushed Tomatoes
– 350g Grandantipasto
– 50g Miniature Capers
– 300g Tinned Tuna in Olive Oil
– 40ml Fig Vincotto
– Freshly Chopped Herbs
– Spring Onions
– Salt & Pepper to Taste

Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, strain, toss in a little oil and cool down. Chop the fresh herbs like basil, thyme, parsley and the spring onions and toss in the pasta. Add all the other ingredients and season to taste. Leave to marinate for a few hours before serving so that the pasta absorbs all the flavours. A Delicious and colourful Pasta salad.

Farfalle

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Granarolo have made us another winning shape, the Farfalle egg pasta, shaped like a bow or butterfly but ribbed, making it retain the sauce much better and is more attractive than the standard one plain and smooth. This egg pasta lends itself to many recipes but as the summer is approaching it will make wonderful pasta dishes and salads.

Farfalle with Sunblushed Tomatoes, Capers, Anchovy & Raw Tuna

Ingredients for 6 portions:

– 500g Granarolo Farfalle Rigate
– 200g Broccoli Heads
– 150g Sunblushed Tomatoes
– 6 Tornatore Anchovy Fillets
– 1 Small Chilli Pepper
– 12 Thin Slices of Raw Tuna
– 1 Clove Garlic
– 20ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
– 40g Miniature Capers
– Salt & Pepper to Taste

Blanch the broccoli in boiling water and then cool down. In a frying pan heat the oil with the garlic, chilli, anchovy fillets until melted and well amalgamated. Season carefully with salt and pepper. In the meantime cook the pasta in salted boiling water till al dente.
Drain and toss in the sauce. Place each portion in a plate and place on top 2 thinly slices of raw tuna and serve immediately.

Farfalle all’ Antipasto

Ingredients for 6 portions:

– 500g Granarolo Farfalle
– 150g Sunblushed Tomatoes
– 350g Grandantipasto
– 50g Miniature Capers
– 300g Tinned Tuna in Olive Oil
– 40ml Fig VincottoChef
– Freshly Chopped Herbs
– Spring Onions
– Salt & Pepper to Taste

Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, strain, toss in a little oil and cool down. Chop the fresh herbs like basil, thyme, parsley and the spring onions and toss in the pasta. Add all the other ingredients and season to taste. Leave to marinate for a few hours before serving so that the pasta absorbs all the flavours. A Delicious and colourful Pasta salad