Conchiglioni primavera with goat’s cheese

Serves: 8
Course: Main
Cooking Time: 15 mins
Prep Time: 20 mins
Ingredients
  • 500g cherry vine tomatoes, halved
  • 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced
  • 1 bulb of fennel
  • 50ml extra virgin olive oil, plus some more for the top
  • Juice of 1 orange
  • 1 small bunch of basil
  • 150g rindless creamy goat’s cheese
  • Pinch of chilli flakes
  • 2tbs red wine vinegar
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 500g of conchiglioni or penne
  • 1 courgette, halved lengthways and thinly sliced
  • 2 carrots, peeled, halved lengthways and thinly sliced
  • 1 packet radishes, trimmed and halved
  • 150g grated Parmesan

1 Put the tomatoes into a food processor along with the garlic.

2 Thinly slice the fennel and put the tops in with the tomatoes. Reserve the bulb for later.

3 Add the olive oil and the orange juice. Pick the basil and chop the stalks, then put them in with the tomatoes.

4 Break the goat’s cheese into pieces and add, followed by the chilli flakes, vinegar and lots of seasoning.

5 Blend everything together until it forms a thick dressing not unlike a gazpacho.

6 Cook the pasta as per packet instructions, but when the pasta is nearly done, add the chopped fennel, courgette, carrot and radishes.

7 Bring the pasta to the boil once more and, after a minute or so, drain it, put it back in the pot and add the sauce.

8 Season and serve on a warm platter or individual plates with a generous scattering of Parmesan, a little more olive oil and the basil torn on top.

Paul Flynn

Paul Flynn

Paul Flynn is a chef, restaurateur and contributor to The Irish Times. He and his wife, Máire, run the Tannery restaurant and cookery school in Dungarvan, Co Waterford