Hi guys, and welcome back! Today is another foodie blog – one of my favourite kinds to write about. The lovely people over at Starlings Artisan Foods sent me some of their biscotti to try out, and they’re all amazing flavours and so unique. I’m going to talk you through the 4 different flavours of Starlings Biscotti I received, and some recipes that they would be perfect for! If you’d like to browse through Starlings’ Biscotti and see what other flavours they have, you can find them all at starlingsartisanfood.co.uk.
Biscotti is a great snack – you can nibble on them plain if you like dry, crunchy foods, or lump a load of pate or cured meats on top. My mum makes me this amazing snack when I’m studying, where she rubs a garlic clove on the biscotti and tops it with cured meat, sundried tomatoes and mozzarella. It’s so simple yet so delicious! I could really go for it right now – thankfully she’ll be coming back soon to look after me for the next few months!
The four I was sent are a step better than your basic biscotti. They had some unique flavours; three of them being savoury, and one sweet. I’ve never tried sweet (or even flavoured) biscotti before, so I was really intrigued by them! The amazing people at Starlings also sent me over some recommended recipes for each biscuit (thank you). I’ve tried most of them and I’m so excited to share these with you!
Chilli, Garlic and Herb Biscotti & Butternut Squash Soup
This soup was amazing! Now that we’re heading into autumn, soups are perfect for lunch and dinner, and this butternut squash was so warming and tasty. The recipe was fairly simple and easy to follow – apart from the usual cream, butter and stock, it only called for a butternut squash and one onion. If you prefer to add more vegetables into your soup, then feel free! (A small amount of cornflour and water mixture is optional if you prefer a thicker soup, too.) I decided just to stick to the recipe and finished off my bowl with a sprinkling of broken Chilli, Garlic and Herb Biscotti as croutons.
These biscotti were really nice, with a subtle garlic and herb-y taste. They complimented they soup really well, and I think they’d be equally as great for mini, bite-sized pieces of bruschetta. I love bruschetta, and the flavour of these biscotti would compliment that dish really well.
Cherry and Coconut Biscotti & Cherry Eton Mess
Until trying this recipe, I had never had an Eton Mess before! I’m so surprised by how long I had gone without trying it. I love meringue, strawberries and thick cream as a dessert (it’s maybe one of my favourites ever), and this dish is so similar to that. It was so simple to make. It consists of semi-whipped double cream and sugar, broken meringue nests, cherries and broken Cherry and Coconut Biscotti.
I made the mistake of eating this after a heavy dinner and couldn’t finish my small bowl (it was just too sweet when I was already full of food). It was so delicious, however, and the broken biscuits gave a lovely texture to a dessert which I already loved so much. Like I said before, I’ve never tried a sweet biscotti but it was really lovely! It was like an airy, sweet biscuit.
Almond and Pistachio & Apple Crumble
Now, apple crumble is something I’m experienced in! I love this dessert, and my Granny has an amazing crumble recipe which I followed instead of the one given to me by Starlings. Out of all the bakes I’ve done in the last few years, this is definitely the quickest dessert to make! And it tastes glorious with thick or runny cream, or custard – whatever your preference!
I followed my Granny’s recipe, but blitzed the Almond and Pistachio Biscotti in a food processor and mixed it in with the crumble mixture. It added a lovely sweet almond flavour to the crumble, one which I never would’ve thought of combining with the flavours of a crumble before. I’d definitely try this recipe again. I’m even tempted to try different flavours next time!
I also received a box of Beetroot and Fennel Biscotti as well. The paired recipe with this one was a Smoked Trout, Horseradish Cream and Beetroot & Fennel Biscotti canape. I was really tempted to try this recipe as it sounds delicious, however I didn’t fancy scoffing 8 canapes on my own in my PJs in front of the TV, nor did I want to waste any food. So, I’m going to save this recipe for when my parents are back and we can enjoy them together!
I did try the biscotti on its own, and it’s very interesting! The fennel comes through more than the beetroot does, and I think it’s such a great and unique savoury taste for biscotti. It’s going to be great with the smoked trout and horseradish cream on top – I can’t wait to try them!
I hope you enjoyed this post, and reading all about the different biscotti and recipes I got to try out! I had a great time cooking and baking some amazing recipes – I think I need to up my exercise regime, now!
What was your favourite recipe/biscotti? Let me know in the comments!
Until next time,
~ Beka
Other recipe posts: Blueberry & Thyme Tart | Banana Bread | Potato Salad | Guacamole
