members recipes

One of the best ways to enjoy extra virgin olive oil, either straight from the bottle or in cooked dishes, is simply in combination with a small piece of bread. Olive oil is a pillar of the Mediterranean diet and is a great source of oleic acid (Monounsaturated fatty acid).

Ingredients
Freshly baked olive oil crackers are fast and easy• These are served with Tomato Salsa, Guacamole and Smoked Salmon Delice• Great, too with cheese.

Serves 4
For the crackers:
100g/4oz plain flour
good pinch sea salt
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oIl
3 tbsp cold water

For the dips:
TOMATO SALSA
6 small red tomatoes and 2 yellow (or 8 red), chopped
1/2 red onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
salt and freshly ground black pepper
extra virgin olive oil for dressing
squeeze lemon juice

GUACAMOLE
2 large ripe avocados
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
small red chilli, seeded and finely chopped
2 small tomatoes, finely chopped
juice of a lime
salt and freshly ground black pepper
handful fresh coriander, finely chopped

SMOKED SALMON DELICE
225g/8oz smoked salmon, finely chopped
1 tbsp grated onion
juice of half a lemon
freshly ground white pepper
2-3 tbsp soured cream

Method
To make the crackers, sift flour into a bowl and crumble in sea salt. Place the extra virgin olive oil and water into a small jug and whisk. Mix in the flour to make a dough. Remove from the bowl and knead lightly until smooth. Divide into 8 pieces and roll into balls. Roll out balls on a floured surface VERY thin. Place on a baking sheet. Bake in a (temperature) hot oven for around 3 minutes or until they begin to puff up. Turn over and cook for a couple of minutes more, keeping your eye on them. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Alternative: After rolling out, cut into eighths to make bite-sized crackers - and bake as before.

TOMATO SALSA
Place tomatoes, red onion and garlic in a bowl. Season. Dress with extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice


GUACAMOLE
Mash avocados in a bowl. Add red onion, chilli and tomatoes. Stir in lime juice and season. Finish with finely chopped coriander.

SMOKED SALMON DELICE
Place smoked salmon in a bowl and add grated onion. Add lemon juice and season with white pepper. Stir in soured cream.