Recipe Avocado, artichoke, flageolets verts and egg with saffron dressing

[Morning Glory]

This simple starter is all about subtlety. Its a gentle dish which showcases the mild flavour of each ingredient and complements their creamy, soft texture with the floral taste of saffron. The grated avocado stone is optional. It adds a slight nuttiness as well as being a talking point.

Ingredients
For the vinaigrette (serves 2 to 3):
A good pinch of saffron
1 tbsp lemon juice
Pinch of saffron threads
1 tsp honey
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

For the salad (per portion):
3 tbsp cooked flageolet verts beans
Flesh of half an avocado, cut into wedges
1 artichoke bottom, quartered
1 shelled hard boiled egg, quartered (I used saffron infused eggs)
Grated avocado stone (optional)*

Method

1. Place saffron in a bowl or jug and add a little hot water. Allow the saffron to infuse for a minute then add the lemon juice.
2. Whisk in the honey and olive oil.
3. Place beans on the base of each individual dish.
4. Arrange avocado, artichoke, and egg pieces on the the beans sprinkle with a little salt and drizzle the saffron dressing over.
5. Ensure that each portion has a few strands of saffron from the dressing on the top.
6. Sprinkle a little grated avocado stone over the top (optional)

*To make grated avocado stone, carefully wash and dry the stone from an avocado and leave to dry overnight. Grate on a microplane as you would grate a nutmeg. To increase the flavour, lightly toast in a dry frying pan.

 

[Morning Glory]

Here is the grated avocado stone - it looks rather pretty. It has a pinkish hue:

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

Here is the grated avocado stone - it looks rather pretty. It has a pinkish hue:

View attachment 118665

Never heard of grated avocado stone. You really have some fab creations.
Do you grate the whole thing or just the outer brown part?
And how did you grate an avocado stone without it ending up a lot redder?!

 

[msmofet]

Can I use Cannellini White Kidney?

 

[Morning Glory]

Can I use Cannellini White Kidney?

Of course. It's all about mild tastes and in the case of the beans, a waxy texture too. I chose the flageolet partly for the pale green colour really but cannelloni will be just as good.

 

[Morning Glory]

Never heard of grated avocado stone. You really have some fab creations.
Do you grate the whole thing or just the outer brown part?
And how did you grate an avocado stone without it ending up a lot redder?!

I only grated a very small amount so I think the pinkish hue is the outer part. If you want to keep the stone to grate more at another time I think it would need properly drying out in a low oven so that it was as dry as a nutmeg.

I wanted to use avocado leaves as well but they are out of stick everywhere in the UK.