Leek, Apple and Feta Side Dish

Ingredients

• 1 lb leek, cleaned weight (500g)
• oil (for frying)
• 3 apples, sweet eating apples
• 2 ounces feta cheese (60g)
• 1 teaspoon garlic, finely chopped
• salt
• black pepper, coarsely ground
• nutmeg, ground
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 1 teaspoon fennel seed
• Tabasco sauce or hot pepper sauce or chopped hot pepper
• 1 ounce flour (30g)
• 2 cups milk (500ml)

Directions

1. 1

   Young leeks (baby leeks or ramps) are nicest.

2. 2

   Make sure large leeks are cleaned of all soil. Slice off most of green tops, then slice down into the leek "leaves", open the "leaves" and rinse under a tap.

3. 3

   Slice leeks into 2 inch lengths and parboil -- this takes care of the "windy" aftereffects leeks can have! Drain.

4. 4

   Set oven at 350 deg. F or 180 deg Celsius Those with convection ovens might want to use a lower setting.

5. 5

   Grease an oven dish of roughly 8 x 8 x 3 inches,or 18 x 18 x 8cm.

6. 6

   Peel apples, and slice thinly. Pack into bottom of dish. You should have at least 2 layers, else use an extra apple. Season lightly with salt, pepper and ground nutmeg. (If using a sour apple like Granny Smith, sprinkle over a teaspoon or more of sugar or substitute).

7. 7

   Crumble over the feta, and also the chopped garlic.

8. 8

   Layer over the drained leeks. Sprinkle with the fennel and cumin seeds, and season again lightly with salt, pepper, nutmeg and a few drops of hot sauce.

9. 9

   Measure the milk into a saucepan, add the flour, and whisk until it comes to boiling. Remove from heat immediately -- the white sauce contains no butter and could burn at the bottom.

10. 10

    Ladle over the leeks. Sprinkle top generously with a seasoned salt, or with salt and dried herbs, or a barbecue spice.

11. 11

    Bake for about 50 - 60 minutes, or until the dish has puffed slightly all over and the edges are turning a pale brown.

12. 12

    Delicious with meats and a filling but light side dish.

13. 13

    **Please note that this recipe is very adaptable. You could bake it in a pie crust by adding 2 eggs to the white sauce. You could add fried, chopped bacon. You could use chopped fresh herbs instead of the spices.