Preparation time
less than 30 mins
Cooking time
1 to 2 hours
Serves
Serves 2
Dietary
Vegetarian

From Saturday Kitchen
Ingredients
For the roasted heritage baby beets
- 8 baby heritage beetroot
- 2 thyme sprigs
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- dash olive oil
For the beetroot purée
- dash olive oil
- 2 cooked beetroot, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- pinch chilli flakes
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds
- 250ml/9fl oz vegetable stock
For the crispy tofu
- vegetable oil, for deep frying
- 300g pack silken tofu, drained and carefully cut into 5cm/2in pieces
- 250ml/9fl oz almond or soy milk
- 3 tbsp cornflour
- 4 tbsp plain flour
For the burnt onions
- 3 round shallots, halved
- dash olive oil
- 2 tbsp micro shiso cress
- 2 tbsp micro coriander cress
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
To make the roasted heritage baby beets, preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Wrap the baby beets in a sheet of foil with the thyme, bay leaf, coriander seeds and a little oil drizzled over. Bake for 30-40 minutes until soft.
To make the beetroot purée, heat the olive oil in a saucepan and fry the beetroot with the garlic, chilli flakes and coriander seeds. Add the stock and remove from the heat. Once cooled slightly, transfer to a blender or food processor (or use a hand-blender) and blitz to a smooth purée.
To make the crispy tofu. preheat a deep fat fryer to 180C (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.) Pour the almond or soy milk into a shallow bowl. Combine the cornflour and plain flour on a plate.
Drop the tofu in the milk and then carefully dust the pieces in the mixture of the seasoned flours. Repeat this once mor, then deep fry for a few minutes until crisp. Remove using a slotted spoon onto a plate lined with kitchen paper and keep warm.
To make the burnt onions, rub the shallot halves with oil and add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Place the shallots facedown into a frying pan over a low heat and cook them slowly to soften and darken – this will take around 20 minutes or so.
To serve, spoon some purée onto a plate, add the roasted baby beets, the crispy tofu and a few burnt shallot petals. Garnish with shisu and coriander cress.