Pasta with spinach, white beans and prosciutto

This simple but satisfying dish makes a nice lunch or supper in autumn or winter. Any short pasta shapes such as fusilli or penne work in this recipe.

If you are in a hurry, use cooked white beans either from a jar or frozen white beans. The animal protein from prosciutto compliments the vegetable protein from beans.

For a colourful presentation, serve the dish in dark bowls.

2 servings

2 tbsp. olive oil 

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

About 200- 250 g cooked white beans

2 handfuls of baby spinach

4-5 slices of Prosciutto di Parma

About 8 black olives, sliced

Freshly ground black pepper

Whole wheat fusilli for 2 servings

Warm the olive oil over medium heat in a large sauté pan. Cook the onion and garlic for about 10 minutes until soft but not browned. Add the white beans to the pan. If using beans from a jar, rinse them under running water and drain before adding. 

Cut the prosciutto into smaller pieces and add to the pan. Add the spinach and sliced olives. Grind over some black pepper.

Meanwhile cook the pasta according to the advice on the package. Drain, add to the pan and mix. Divide the dish into the bowls.

Auron: Bois Gaston Ridge

In Auron, we wanted to explore a less frequented trail on a picturesque ridge, Crête de Bois Gaston. It turned out to be a good and efficient morning exercise. 

Sauma Longa viewed from Auron

Start in Bois Gaston

Bois Gaston Ridge

Mont Mounier in the south

We drove to the upper large paved parking (~1650 m) which was almost empty. We walked along a wide dirt track (easy ski slope in winter) to signpost #18, forked left and started to climb in Bois Gaston which mainly comprised a larch wood. The trail was good but very steep and in fact climbed continuously about 400 m before levelling off. Higher up, clearings gave us some very nice views down to Auron. Mont Mounier became visible in the south.

Bois Gaston Ridge higher up

Tinée Valley in morning haze

Mont Tenibre and Corborant

Bois Gaston Ridge steep trail

Last push to Sauma Longa

Near Sauma Longa

Halibut, giant prawns, and tasty tomato sauce

This colourful and tasty dish is perfect to make in late summer and early autumn when the local tomatoes are at their best. The recipe needs minimal cooking so it is ideal for hot summer evenings.

 Any firm-fleshed white fish works in this recipe; monkfish, halibut or cod. Serve with some black rice and decorate with fresh basil for a colourful contrast.

2 servings

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 small onion, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tasty tomatoes, finely chopped

½ tsp. Piment d’Espelette or other mild chilli

Juice of ½ lemon

2 tbsp. crème fraiche 15% fat or cream

200 g white fish fillet

200 g cooked and peeled giant prawns

Black rice for 2 portions

Chopped basil to decorate

Start by cooking the black rice which takes about 20 minutes. Drain and keep covered until needed.

Warm the olive oil over medium heat and sauté the onion and garlic for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and Piment d’Espelette and continue cooking for 10 minutes. Whisk in the lemon juice and crème fraiche just before serving. 

Meanwhile roast the  fish fillet in 200°C for about 12 minutes until done.

Divide the black rice in the centre of the plates and the tomato sauce around the rice. Divide the fish fillet in 2 portions and place on top of the rice. Decorate with giant prawns and basil.

Authion: Cime de Tuor hike

North of  Authion, several summits lie next to the GR52  trail soon after the Pointe des trois Communes and signpost # 410. 

We wanted to explore Cime de Tuor (2151 m,) well visible from Authion and with its steep southern flank quite impressive despite the elevation just 100 m or so more than that of Authion.

Cabane de Tueis

GR52 from Cabane de Tueis

Cime du Diable seen from Authion

Pointe des Trois Communes

Cime de Tuor northern flank

View east from Cime de Tuor

Steep northern flank Cime de Tuor

Cime de Tuor fore summit

GR52 south of Col de Raus

Sicilian summer spaghetti

I got inspiration for this Sicilian summer spaghetti, Spaghetti alla coppola, from the wonderful book On Persephone’s Island by Mary Taylor Simeti. In 1962, she went to Sicily where she married and raised two children. 

In her book, she describes the authentic Mediterranean cuisine like it was in those times in Sicily. This summer spaghetti was one of the favourite summer dishes. The tomato sauce was made from fresh tomatoes and basil and the dish was topped with dark slices of fresh aubergine. The dish will make a perfect simple lunch on a hot summer day when the tomatoes are at their best.

Serve some goat cheese or parmesan shavings over your green side salad as this vegetarian pasta dish is very low in protein.

2 servings

3 tbsp. olive oil

1 small onion, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

3-4 very ripe tasty tomatoes, chopped

½ tsp. dried Provençal herbs

1 small aubergine, thinly sliced

Freshly ground black pepper

Spaghetti for 2 servings

Lots of chopped fresh basil

Warm 2 tbsp. olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat and start frying the aubergine slices until they are soft and dark on both sides.

Warm 1 tbsp. olive oil in a smaller frying pan over medium heat and sauté the onion and garlic for 10 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, Provençal herbs, and black pepper. Continue sautéing until the tomatoes have released the liquid and it has evaporated. Meanwhile cook the spaghetti and wash and chop the basil. Add some of the basil in the tomato sauce and save the rest for decoration.

Drain the cooked pasta and divide on the plates. Top with the tomato sauce and aubergine slices. Decorate with basil.

Monêtier-les-Bains: La Cucumelle hike

When hiking near Serre Chevalier the day before, we observed the cone-shaped light coloured peak of la Cucumelle (2698 m) in the northwest. Studying the map, we found out that a trail goes to the summit from the Col de la Cucumelle (2501 m).

We took advantage of the le Bachas chairlift which in the summer season ran from Monêtier-les-Bains (1440 m) to 2174 m.

Near Bachas chairlift

GR54 near Bachas

Grand Galibier seen from Bachas

Col de l'Eychauda

La Cucumelle southwestern flank

Serre Chevalier viewed from la Cucumelle

Col de la Cucumelle seen from summit

View west from la Cucumelle

Majorca topping for fish fillets

The following topping for fish is loosely based on a lunch we recently had in Majorca, the Balearic Islands. This topping will jazz up any limp and a bit tasteless white fish such as blue ling or haddock.

In the photo, the blue ling fillets are served with roasted yellow squash, black rice, and chopped basil.

2 servings

4 tbsp. crushed almonds or grilled hazelnut powder

1 clove garlic, pressed 

1 tsp. dried Provençal herbs

Freshly ground black pepper

8 tinned anchovy fillets

2 tbsp. olive oil

Soak the anchovy fillets in water for about 10 minutes to remove some of the salt. Remove from water and crush into a paste in a bowl. Add all the other ingredients and mix into a nice paste.

Preheat the oven to 200° C roast.

Place the fish fillets in an oven-proof dish coated with some olive oil. Divide the topping on the fillets and roast for 10 minutes. 

Exploring Crête de Serre Chevalier

We decided to explore the trails west of Serre Chevalier (2491 m), and based on last years’ experience we took advantage of the Casse du Boeuf chairlift from Villeneuve (1400 m) as we planned to do a shorter hike at a higher altitude.

The high starting point offers numerous itineraries. We had previously hiked to Serre Chevalier summit then down to the valley.

Casse du Boeuf chairlift

Crete de Peyrolle

Serre Chevalier western flank

Scenery west of Serre Chevalier

Nearing Col de Serre Chevalier

View south Col de Serre Chevalier

View northwest Col de Serre Chevalier

Near Col de la Pisse

Col de la Pisse 2501m

Chicken, green purée, and red wine sauce

The following chicken recipe is perfect in autumn when the days get darker and cooler and we crave warmer dishes. But it is just as suitable on a miserable and rainy spring day.

Roasting the chicken legs in oven with red wine and chicken stock gives tender and tasty chicken as well as a nice reduced red wine sauce. A light Bourgogne red or Chianti would go well with this recipe.

2 servings

2 free-range chicken legs

1 free-range chicken breast

2 medium potatoes

½ head of broccoli

Olive oil

150 ml red wine

150 ml chicken stock

1 shallot, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

A pinch of salt

Fresh herbs to decorate

Preheat the oven to 200° C roast.

Place the chicken legs in an ovenproof dish. Spread 2 tbsp. olive oil on the legs. Pour the red wine and chicken stock in the dish and roast for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile cook the chicken breast in a small frying pan and make the green purée.

Warm 1 tbsp. olive oil in a small non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Cut the chicken breast in halves lengthwise. Cook in the frying pan for 20 minutes turning once. Cover and set aside.

Peel the potatoes and cut them into pieces. Place in slightly larger saucepan and add water to cover the potatoes. Add the shallot and garlic and cook for about 15 minutes until the potatoes are soft. Drain, cover and set aside.

Cut ½ broccoli head into smaller pieces. Place in a saucepan with some water and a pinch of salt. Cover and cook for 5 minutes until soft. Transfer the broccoli into the potato saucepan reserving some of the cooking water. Add 1 tbsp. olive oil and a little cooking water and mix into a purée with a handheld mixer. If needed, add more water into a nice consistence.

For the presentation: Divide the reduced wine sauce from the ovenproof dish on the plates. Place the chicken legs and breast halves on the sauce. Arrange the green purée in the middle of the chicken pieces and decorate with chopped herbs. 

Valloire: Pain de Sucre

Valloire Village

La Borgé

Departing La Borgé

Trail to Poingt Ravier

La Mitre and Grand Galibier

Tree tunnel on trail to Poingt Ravier

Almost at Poingt Ravier

Le Poingt Ravier

Slopes east of Valloire

Trail north of Poingt Ravier

Crossing Villard stream

View northeast from Pain de Sucre

Valloire seen from trail

Return trail to la Borgé