BAKED SWEET POTATOES WITH MIXED CHEESES Makes 6 The sweetness of the potatoes is complemented by the sharpness of the piquant cheeses. A colorful light meal.✔ 6 large sweet potatoes ✔ 1 kg. kosher salt ✔ 50 gr. butter, cubed ✔ 50 gr. Tnuva Roquefort cheese, crumbled ✔ 250 gr. Piraeus Hemed cheese, sliced lengthwise to 1⁄2-cm strips ✔ 1⁄2 bunch chives ✔ 50 gr. kosher Parmesan style cheese, grated ✔ Freshly ground pepper✔ 2 Tbsp. olive oilHeat oven to 180º. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Pour salt on the baking sheet and spread evenly. Place unpeeled sweet potatoes on the salt and bake for 1 hour or until tender. Remove from oven but do not switch heat off. Cut potatoes halfway lengthwise, and widen the slit a little using a knife. Place butter, cheeses and chopped chives in the slit, sprinkle Parmesan cheese and pepper on top and drizzle with olive oil. Bake 3 to 4 minutes until cheese melts a little and becomes golden.Serve immediately.BAKED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS WITH CHEESE Makes 6 Known as a vegetarian steak, the meaty Portobello mushroom is great for filling and makes a very impressive dairy starter.✔ 6 Portobello mushrooms, stems removed ✔ 1⁄4 cup olive oil ✔ 200 gr. 5% fat Safed salty feta (Piraeus), crumbled ✔ 50 gr. Tnuva Roquefort cheese, crumbled ✔ 50 gr. walnuts, chopped ✔ 2 sprigs basil, leaves only ✔ 3 sprigs thyme, leaves only✔ Salt and pepper to tasteHeat oven to 180º.To prepare filling: In a bowl, mix together two cheeses, herbs and nuts. Prepare 6 squares of aluminum foil about 20x20 cm. Rub a little oil in the center of each square. Place a mushroom on each square and fill with cheese mixture. Drizzle a little oil in each mushroom and fold the foil into a small parcel. Make sure the parcels are closed tight. Place all the parcels on a baking sheet and bake 8 minutes. Carefully open the parcels and place mushrooms on plates. Drizzle a little oil and serve immediately.PANZANELLA WITH SHEEP FETA Makes 6 Panzanella is an Italian bread salad. Traditionally made with croutons baked from dry leftover bread, it can be made from store-bought croutons, but the taste is not as good.For the croutons: ✔ 1 baguette or 1⁄4 halla ✔ 4 Tbsp. olive oil ✔ Coarse salt ✔ Dry hot chili flakesFor the dressing: ✔ 1⁄2 cup olive oil ✔ 1⁄4 cup balsamic vinegar ✔ 1 tsp. mustard ✔ 1 Tbsp, sugar ✔ Salt and pepper to taste✔ Juice of 1⁄2 orangeFor the salad: ✔ 1 basket small cherry tomatoes✔ 100 gr. moist dry tomatoes, chopped ✔ 20 Kalamata olives or other good-quality dark olives, pitted and halved ✔ 250 gr. sheep feta 20% Piraeus, crumbled ✔ 1⁄2 bunch fresh coriander, chopped ✔ Leaves of 1⁄2 bunch basil, choppedTo prepare croutons: Heat oven to 180º. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.Tear bread into pieces about 2 cm in size. Spread bread pieces on the baking sheet, drizzle with oil, sprinkle salt and pepper and mix with hands. Bake about 8 minutes only until ends of croutons begin to brown.To prepare dressing: Place all the ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake well until mixed.In a bowl, mix tomatoes, olives, cheese and herbs. Add croutons and dressing. Toss and serve.Recipes and photos courtesy of Tnuva Piraeus cheeses.Follow @JPost_Lifestyle
In Season: Cheese please
Spring vegetables do well with a handful of feta, an infusion of Roquefort or a sprinkling of Parmesan.
BAKED SWEET POTATOES WITH MIXED CHEESES Makes 6 The sweetness of the potatoes is complemented by the sharpness of the piquant cheeses. A colorful light meal.✔ 6 large sweet potatoes ✔ 1 kg. kosher salt ✔ 50 gr. butter, cubed ✔ 50 gr. Tnuva Roquefort cheese, crumbled ✔ 250 gr. Piraeus Hemed cheese, sliced lengthwise to 1⁄2-cm strips ✔ 1⁄2 bunch chives ✔ 50 gr. kosher Parmesan style cheese, grated ✔ Freshly ground pepper✔ 2 Tbsp. olive oilHeat oven to 180º. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Pour salt on the baking sheet and spread evenly. Place unpeeled sweet potatoes on the salt and bake for 1 hour or until tender. Remove from oven but do not switch heat off. Cut potatoes halfway lengthwise, and widen the slit a little using a knife. Place butter, cheeses and chopped chives in the slit, sprinkle Parmesan cheese and pepper on top and drizzle with olive oil. Bake 3 to 4 minutes until cheese melts a little and becomes golden.Serve immediately.BAKED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS WITH CHEESE Makes 6 Known as a vegetarian steak, the meaty Portobello mushroom is great for filling and makes a very impressive dairy starter.✔ 6 Portobello mushrooms, stems removed ✔ 1⁄4 cup olive oil ✔ 200 gr. 5% fat Safed salty feta (Piraeus), crumbled ✔ 50 gr. Tnuva Roquefort cheese, crumbled ✔ 50 gr. walnuts, chopped ✔ 2 sprigs basil, leaves only ✔ 3 sprigs thyme, leaves only✔ Salt and pepper to tasteHeat oven to 180º.To prepare filling: In a bowl, mix together two cheeses, herbs and nuts. Prepare 6 squares of aluminum foil about 20x20 cm. Rub a little oil in the center of each square. Place a mushroom on each square and fill with cheese mixture. Drizzle a little oil in each mushroom and fold the foil into a small parcel. Make sure the parcels are closed tight. Place all the parcels on a baking sheet and bake 8 minutes. Carefully open the parcels and place mushrooms on plates. Drizzle a little oil and serve immediately.PANZANELLA WITH SHEEP FETA Makes 6 Panzanella is an Italian bread salad. Traditionally made with croutons baked from dry leftover bread, it can be made from store-bought croutons, but the taste is not as good.For the croutons: ✔ 1 baguette or 1⁄4 halla ✔ 4 Tbsp. olive oil ✔ Coarse salt ✔ Dry hot chili flakesFor the dressing: ✔ 1⁄2 cup olive oil ✔ 1⁄4 cup balsamic vinegar ✔ 1 tsp. mustard ✔ 1 Tbsp, sugar ✔ Salt and pepper to taste✔ Juice of 1⁄2 orangeFor the salad: ✔ 1 basket small cherry tomatoes✔ 100 gr. moist dry tomatoes, chopped ✔ 20 Kalamata olives or other good-quality dark olives, pitted and halved ✔ 250 gr. sheep feta 20% Piraeus, crumbled ✔ 1⁄2 bunch fresh coriander, chopped ✔ Leaves of 1⁄2 bunch basil, choppedTo prepare croutons: Heat oven to 180º. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.Tear bread into pieces about 2 cm in size. Spread bread pieces on the baking sheet, drizzle with oil, sprinkle salt and pepper and mix with hands. Bake about 8 minutes only until ends of croutons begin to brown.To prepare dressing: Place all the ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake well until mixed.In a bowl, mix tomatoes, olives, cheese and herbs. Add croutons and dressing. Toss and serve.Recipes and photos courtesy of Tnuva Piraeus cheeses.Follow @JPost_Lifestyle