Ingredients
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4 roma tomatoes
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8 leeks
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4 garlic cloves
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3 tablespoons olive oil
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2 tablespoons lemon juice
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150 ml vegetable stock
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salt, to taste
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fresh ground black pepper, to taste
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1 teaspoon caster sugar
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100 g feta cheese
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1 sprig fresh flat-leaf parsley, to garnish
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1/2 lemon, cut in wedges to garnish
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50 g kalamata olives, pitted
Instructions
- Cut crosses in the tops of the tomatoes, then put them in a bowl, cover and soak for 1 minute in boiling water, drain and rinse in cold water, then remove skins roughly chop.
- Trim the leeks, wash thoroughly and pat the leaves dry with paper towelling, then cut into 2.5cm (1 inch) pieces. I find using the kitchen scissors is the quickest and easiest way to do this.
- Peel and crush the garlic, heat the oil in a pan or wok, preferably non-stick, and sauté the tomatoes and garlic for 2-3 minutes; then stir in the lemon juice, the leeks and the 150ml (5 fluid ounces) of vegetable stock and bring to the boil.
- Season the leek mixture and stir in the sugar, cover with a lid or foil and cook for 5 minutes, then remove the lid, give the leek mixture a stir and cook for a further 5 minutes, or until the leeks are just tender and the liquid has evaporated.
- Transfer the leek mixture to a bowl, stir in the olives, cool it completely, then chill for 30 minutes. Crumble the feta, then stir it into the leek mixture. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges and serve.
- A fascinating fact about olive trees: Olive trees are extremely long-lived. The famous olive tree under which Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher sat in Athens is still growing! Two and a half thousand years later!