Name: Ajo blanco with parsley oil
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 150 ml milk; 60 gm day-old bread, crusts removed, coarsely torn; 100 gm blanched almonds; 2 garlic cloves; 85 ml extra-virgin olive oil; 3 tsp sherry vinegar, or to taste; To serve: toasted almond flakes; Parsley oil; 1 cup (firmly packed) flat-leaf parsley; 3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped; 125 ml (½ cup) extra-virgin olive oil

Ajo blanco with parsley oil

Australian Gourmet Traveller Valentine's Day recipe for ajo blanco with parsley oil.

Serves 2

Prep

10M

The quality of the almonds is paramount in an ajo blanco, so choose wisely. Health-food shops generally have a good fresh selection.

Ingredients

150 ml milk

60 gm day-old bread, crusts removed, coarsely torn

100 gm blanched almonds

2 garlic cloves

85 ml extra-virgin olive oil

3 tsp sherry vinegar, or to taste

To serve: toasted almond flakes

Parsley oil

1 cup (firmly packed) flat-leaf parsley

3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

125 ml (½ cup) extra-virgin olive oil

Method

Main

1.Combine milk and bread in a bowl, set aside until bread is soft (8-10 minutes). Squeeze milk from bread (discard milk), transfer to a food processor, add almonds and garlic and process until finely chopped. With motor running, gradually add oil, then 200ml iced water. Add sherry vinegar, season to taste and refrigerate until well chilled (1-2 hours).

2. Meanwhile, for parsley oil, process parsley and garlic in a blender until coarsely chopped. With motor running, gradually add oil and process until very smooth. Transfer to a muslin-lined sieve placed over a bowl and set aside until all parsley oil has drained (5 minutes, discard solids).

3.Ladle chilled ajo blanco into two small serving glasses, drizzle with parsley oil and serve scattered with almond flakes.