These delicate, crispy sandwiches of veal tartare from Marianna Vitale make an excellent starter, as the creamy meat mix is punctuated with the sweet figs and crunch of the hazelnuts, and the anchovy butter adds a salty accompaniment.
Start by removing the crusts from the loaf of bread so you have a solid block. Place in a sealed container and freeze for about 2 hours (this will help you to cut very thin slices to sandwich the tartare)
250g of bread, preferably from a rustic Italian 'pane Cafone' loaf
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To make the tartare, finely dice the veal and place in a mixing bowl with the chopped spring onions, mayonnaise and mustard. Add the dried figs and hazelnuts to the bowl, gently mixing everything until combined and season to taste
For the anchovy butter, drain the anchovies from the oil and place in a blender with the butter. Blitz until smooth, then fold in the cream and set aside until ready to serve
When the bread is nearly frozen but still soft enough to slice, cut with a breadknife into very thin slices, about 2mm thick. Using a 5cm cutter, cut out round discs from the bread; you will need about 16 total, but it’s good to have some spare
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Place on a tray lined with baking paper then brush with a little olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown
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To serve, place a large spoonful of the tartare onto one of the bread discs and place sandwich with another disc on top. Repeat to make 8 sandwiches
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Spread some of the anchovy butter onto each serving plate and top with the tartare sandwiches and some edible shoots and flowers. For an added flourish, grate a little star anise and cocoa bean over the the plate
By choosing to cook with simple, humble ingredients and adding her own twist to classic dishes, Marianna Vitale has managed to turn her quiet suburban restaurant into a Mecca for inventive, modern cuisine.
