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Make this Spring Dinner Menu Inspired by Provence

Those places in the world where spring arrives early (and stays) should be on your travel “bucket list.” When the mimosa begins blooming in late January, winter is almost over on the Côte d’Azur. However, like a cat playing with a ball of wool, spring takes patience in the rest of Provence.

On the other side of the globe, residents of Vancouver, British Columbia, are blessed with an early spring. Often they are cutting their lawns many months before other Canadians finish shovelling snow. So, we were thrilled to have Cassandra Anderton (her bio is below), a Vancouver-based media personality and food lover, select our 2022 Spring Dinner Menu. Hints of warmer weather and flavours inspired her choices for this 3-course menu to suit the climate with shrimp, lamb and lemon. We hope you will enjoy this meal with friends and celebrate the season of renewal.

Spring Dinner Menu Provence 2022

 

 

Bon Appétit!

First Course:

Grilled Prawns Provencal Flavours

Provencal Grilled Prawns with Garlic, Parsley and Roasted Fennel

Maison Mirabeau
Quick to prepare, this dish makes a great appetizer or serve as part of a tapas-style meal.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine French, Provencal
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1.1 lbs Raw Prawns
  • 1 1/3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves crushed
  • 1 small handful flat-leaf (Italian) parsley leaves picked off stems and roughly torn
  • ½ lemon for juice only
  • 1 fennel bulb outside layer removed, sliced into quarters keeping the core intact

Instructions
 

  • Season the fennel quarters with salt and olive oil. If you have access to a BBQ, char the fennel on the BBQ for a few minutes on each side. Or you can use a frying pan instead.
  • Roast the fennel in the oven with olive oil for 20 minutes or until al dente. Set aside.
  • Warm a frying pan over medium to high heat. Once the pan is warm, add 20ml olive oil, then add the prawns.
  • Cook evenly on each side, turning halfway through. The cooking should take around 3-5 minutes in total, depending on the size of the prawns.
  • Once the prawns have turned pink almost all over, add the garlic and toss continuously until the prawn are fully cooked, and the garlic is lightly golden.
  • Add a nice pinch of salt, lemon juice and parsley.
  • Remove from heat and serve immediately on a platter with the roasted fennel quarters.
Keyword Fennel, Garlic, Lemon, Shrimp
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Main Course:

Grilled Lamb Chops with Parsley and Mint Vinaigrette

Grilled Lamb Chops with Parsley and Mint Vinaigrette

David Scott Allen
This dish is a crowd-pleaser. Start the potatoes in advance and prepare your mise-en-place (chopped herbs), the rest can be done when your guests arrive.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine French
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes or other waxy potatoes
  • 3 large red onions
  • extra virgin olive oil for potatoes, vinaigrette, and ribs
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup Peas
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar or malt vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp shallot(s) minced
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1/2 tsp salt plus extra
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper plus extra
  • 1/4 cup canola oil vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup parsley fresh, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint chopped
  • 18 Lamb Rib Chops trimmed

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  • Peel and cut potatoes into 3/4-inch cubes; place in a large roasting pan. Peel the red onions, trim the tops and bottoms, cut in half lengthwise, them into wedges, and again into 3/4 inch cubes. Add them to the potatoes. Drizzle liberally with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss well. Roast for 20-25 minutes, tossing occasionally to keep them from sticking.
  • Cook peas separately.
  • While the potatoes are cooking, preheat gas grill to high. If using charcoal, light fire to one side.
  • Place vinegar, mustard, shallot, honey, salt, pepper, 1/4 cup olive oil and canola oil in a bowl, and emulsify using an immersion blender. Add the parsley and mint, and blend again to make it as smooth as possible.
  • Brush the chops with olive oil and season well with salt and pepper. Place chops on grill; reduce heat to low and cover if using gas. If using charcoal, place chops on the cool side of the grill and cover. Cook lamb ribs for two (2) minutes per side.
  • Divide potatoes and onions among 6 dinner plates and spoon some peas over the top. Arrange three chops on each plate and drizzle with the vinaigrette.
Keyword Lamb, Mint, Parsley, Potatoes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Sweet Finish:

Lemon Meringue Tart Recipe

Lemon Meringue Tart

Maison Mirabeau
There's nothing better than a classic lemon meringue tart. With tart citrus and sugary, creamy meringue, these small bites of heaven are sure to impress (if you don't eat them all yourself!).
Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine French
Servings 8 people

Ingredients
  

For the Pastry:

  • 250 g flour plus extra for dusting
  • a pinch of Salt
  • 125 g butter in cubes
  • 20 g caster sugar
  • 2 egg yolks from free-range chickens
  • 3 tbsp Cold Water

For the Filling:

  • 65 g cornflour
  • 325 g caster sugar
  • 150 ml lemon juice
  • 300 ml Water
  • 1 Lemon, Zest Only unwaxed, ideally
  • 80 g Cold Butter in cubes
  • 4 egg yolks from free-range chickens

For the Meringue:

  • Meringue
  • 200 g caster sugar
  • 50 ml Water
  • 3 egg whites

Instructions
 

For the Pastry

  • Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and mix before adding butter. Using your fingertips, rub the flour with the butter until you get fine breadcrumbs, then mix in the sugar.
  • Add the egg yolks and water and use a spatula to incorporate.
  • Once the mixture starts to come together turn it out onto a clean surface and knead for 30 seconds max. You should have a nice smooth ball. Flatten it slightly, wrap it in cling film, and chill for 30 minutes.
  • Lightly flour a clean surface and roll the dough to the thickness of a pound coin. Using your rolling pin to pick the dough up, unroll the dough over the tart case and lift it into position, pushing the edges in as you go.
  • Use your rolling pin to cut the edges and return to the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This will help to prevent shrinkage in the oven.
  • Preheat your oven to 160°C, remove from the fridge and spike the base with a fork, line the case with baking paper and weigh it down with baking beans or similar. Bake for 10 minutes, and then remove the baking beans. Return to the oven for a further 10 minutes or until the base is golden brown. Remove and cool the tart base.

For the Filling:

  • Mix the cornflour, sugar, lemon juice and water in a pan and cook on medium heat stirring occasionally until thickened. It will look like a thick, dull-white paste.
  • Remove from the heat and whisk in the eggs. Once combined and a lovely deep yellow colour, add the butter and lemon zest and stir until incorporated.
  • By now, your tart case should have chilled sufficiently. Pour the filling in and set it aside to cool completely. Once cool, you can refrigerate until required for up to 2 days.

For the Meringue:

  • Mix the sugar and water in a pan over high heat with a probe thermometer so you can see when to take it out. It needs to be 121°C (250°F).
  • Once it reaches about 110°C (230°F), start whisking the meringue in the mixer and once it reaches stiff peaks you can add the sugar mixture to it. Be careful not to pour the hot sugar straight only the whisk as it will fly out and burn you!
  • Once you’ve added all the sugar mix, leave it to run until it’s cool.
  • Now you are ready to finish your tart. Lump on the meringue and make some pretty patterns, then brown with a blowtorch. If you don’t have one, you can use a preheated grill, but watch it closely!
Keyword Citrus, French Desserts, Lemon, Meringue, Tarts
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

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For Pinterest Fans

Spring Dinner Menu Provence 2022

 


Cassandra Anderton Bio

Cassandra Anderton is a freelance travel, food, wine, and lifestyle writer, blogger and broadcaster, and is the publisher and editor of Goodlifevancouver.com, a website devoted to what’s good in and around Vancouver, and sometimes far beyond. In addition, she’s the President of the British Columbia Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, an organization of women leaders in food, beverage and hospitality whose mission is education, provision of scholarships and philanthropy.

Anderton has appeared on Global Television and CityTV and has been published in BC Living, The Vancouver Courier, BC Wine Trails Magazine, The Yellow Pages Style Guides, Darpan Magazine, and EatNorth.  Anderton consults on Social, Public, Media and Digital marketing, curates content and produces social media and digital marketing for brands in the food, drink, health and travel industries. She’s been an ambassador for Wines from Vinho Verde, BC Blueberries, BC and Alberta Pork, Avocados from Mexico, and I-REMOVE Weight Loss supplements and works with several other brands to promote their unique stories.

Cassandra was born in New Zealand, grew up in the Okanagan and has made Vancouver her home for the past 30 years. She is passionate about local food and wine and loves to travel and report what others are doing to promote their local culture.

Cassandra can be reached at cassandra@goodlifevancouver.com.

And follow her food journey on INSTAGRAM, PERSONAL FACEBOOK, GLV FACEBOOK, TWITTER.


More Spring Recipes from France

Asparagus Risotto
Easy to make a delicious!
Check out this recipe
Asparagus Risotto Recipe
White Asparagus Gratin
Depending on availability and preference, you can use green or white asparagus. This dish is a terrific, tasty way to celebrate spring. It serves 2 as a main course or 4 as a side dish.
Check out this recipe
Fresh Market White Asparagus Gratin @Cocoa&Lavender
Green Asparagus Salad - Salade d' Asperges Vertes
This simple salad highlights the flavours of the fresh green asparagus with a tangy bite of citrus and hint of parmesan.
Check out this recipe
Fresh Asparagus Season photo credit Tasha Powell
Provençal Asparagus Tart (Tarte aux Asperges)
Light and crisp puff pastry covered in creamy goat's cheese, salty ham and topped with the season's best asparagus gently roasted to perfection.
Check out this recipe
Provençal Asparagus Tart
Simple Spring Salad
Easy and fresh - enjoy!
Check out this recipe
Simple Spring Salad
Herbes de Provence Crusted Lamb Lollipop and Spring Vegetables
I call this garrigue-crusted lamb as the topping is made with fresh herbs that you typically find in the hills of Provence. Start the preparation with the oven-roasted tomatoes as that takes a while. During that time prepare the lamb and fresh spring vegetables of your choice.
Check out this recipe
Herbes de Provence Crusted Lamb Lollipops @MirabeauWine
Lamb with Fresh peas
Allow enough time for the lamb to cook slowly until it falls apart.
Check out this recipe
Slow-Cooked Spring lamb and Peas
Mom's Dijon Chicken
This poultry dish is a no-fail, quick dinner that your guests will love every time.
Check out this recipe
Dijon Chicken
.

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).

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