Belongs to koshka Cauliflower Soup 

“In Venice we have big soups, simple soups,” Francesco says. “This is a good example.” But he adds that when it’s served at Remi, it is sometimes garnished with creme fraiche and caviar, for a lavish touch befitting the Venetian taste for luxury. At one time there were sturgeon in the Venetian lagoon, providing the city with its own supply of caviar. For a more humble Venetian garnish, some rounds of bread fried in butter or olive oil will do nicely.

serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • small chopped onion
  • celery leaves
  • Salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste

Other veggies can be added to the carrot wok, either before the carrots for hard things or with the sauce for softer.

serves 8
You might need to buy:
  • Chinese sesame oil
  • baby carrots
  • unseasoned rice vinegar
  • honey
  • sesame tahini
  • napa or savoy cabbage

Smaller florets work better (and cook quicker) than larger ones. Fattier sour cream curdles less, unfortunately. If the mushroom slices are too small they will disappear; if that’s good, then make them smaller.

ready in about 35 minutes; serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • red or green bell pepper
  • dry sherry
  • mushrooms
  • cauliflower
  • sour cream
You might need to buy:
  • брынза
  • чеснок
  • базилик
  • орегано
  • паприка
  • томатная паста
  • маринованные огурцы
  • лук
You might need to buy:
  • Steaming liquid:
  • water
  • scallions
  • white wine
  • peanut oil
  • Salt
  • large Napa cabbage leaves
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Sauce:
  • peanut oil
  • chopped ginger
  • soy sauce
  • sugar
  • butter
  • Special Equipment: 2-layer bamboo or regular 2-layer steamer
You might need to buy:
  • - 1 kg zucchini
  • - the juice of a lemon
  • - a splash of olive oil
  • - 150 g freshly grated parmesan + a few shavings to decorate
You might need to buy:
  • For the pesto
  • garlic cloves
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • balsamic vinegar
  • pine nuts
  • handful fresh basil leaves
  • For the aubergine roulades
  • olive oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
ready in about 50 minutes; serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • olive oil
  • onion diced coarsely
  • chicken broth
  • Salt and pepper to taste

(Note: The original recipe called for half a cup of each of the three types of olives, which we found overpowering. I’ve halved the quantities to one-quarter cup each.)

ready in about an hour; serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • minced fresh garlic
  • Ground black pepper to taste
  • toasted pine nuts
  • black olives
  • pimiento-stuffed olives
  • olive oil
  • vegetable or chicken broth
ready in about 50 minutes; serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • chopped green onions
  • olive oil
  • vegetable broth
  • tomato juice
  • Grated Parmesan cheese