Once upon a time in Messina, there lived a boy named Nick who beloved to swim. Or so begins the story of Cola Pesce, advised by many, together with Italo Calvino in his e book of Italian folktales. So nice was his love that Nick spent his days and nights within the sea whereas his mom stood on the shore, pleading: “Oh, Nick, come out of the water, you aren’t a fish.” He didn’t pay attention, although, and every single day he swam farther out whereas his determined mum yelled throughout the water till it gave her a kink in her intestines. Then, sooner or later, having screamed herself hoarse, she blurted out – as is so typically the case in such circumstances – “Nick, might you flip right into a fish.” And he did – or, fairly, he changed into a half-fish, half-man, with webbed ft like a duck and a throat like a frog. And that was that; Nick by no means set foot on land once more, which upset his mum a lot that she died.
As can also be the case in such circumstances, information of Nick the fish reached the king, who despatched a sailor to search out him. “Oi,” shouted the sailor when he noticed Nick gliding on a wave, “the king of Messina needs to see you.” Nick, not having any selection within the matter, swam over to the palace. The king was delighted and ordered Nick to swim across the complete coast of Sicily to see the place the ocean was deepest and what was there. Nick adopted orders, and he quickly recounted that he’d seen mountains, caves, valleys and fish on the ground of the ocean; he had been frightened solely as soon as, when he handed the lighthouse and was unable to search out the underside. Nick additionally found that Messina rested on three columns: one entire, one splintered, one damaged.
The king was happy with all this data, however he was additionally stricken by the concept that the ocean was bottomless close to the lighthouse, and demanded that Nick dive there once more. It was two days earlier than Nick returned, having failed to search out the underside as a result of clouds of smoke. This made the king much more curious, and he demanded that Nick dive from the highest of the lighthouse. This time, it was three days earlier than Nick resurfaced, white as a ghost having seen a fish with a mouth the scale of a ship, and explaining how he’d hidden behind one in every of Messina’s columns to keep away from being swallowed. The king listened open-mouthed, then advised Nick to dive as soon as extra. However this time Nick refused, saying he was too frightened.
So the king threw his crown within the sea, the one one in every of its type within the universe, which gave Nick no selection. “For those who order it, Your Majesty, I shall go down, however my coronary heart tells me I’ll by no means come up once more,” Nick stated. “Give me a handful of lentils. If I escape, you will notice me emerge, but when the lentils come to the floor, that’s an indication I’ll by no means return.” The king gave him some lentils – let’s say 300g – which can also be the quantity required for this week’s recipe, which is acquainted and superbly easy, therefore fewer directions and extra cautionary story.
Along with his fists stuffed with lentils, Nick plunged into the ocean, and after an interminable wait the lentils floated up. And so to today one awaits the return of Nick the fish. Completely happy new 12 months, and soup!
Lentil and spinach soup
Serves 4
5 tbsp olive oil, plus additional for serving
1 onion, peeled and diced
1 stick of celery, trimmed and diced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 small entire recent or dried crimson chilli
A few rosemary sprigs
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
300g small brown lentils
300g spinach leaves
Salt and black pepper
Grated parmesan, for serving
Working in a heavy-based frying or saute pan, heat the olive oil, then saute the diced onion, celery and carrot, crimson chilli and rosemary over a medium-low warmth, till the greens are mushy and translucent.
Add the potato and lentils, and stir for a minute or two, or till every lentil glistens with oil. Add 1.6 litres of chilly water, convey to a boil then flip down the warmth to a simmer and prepare dinner for about half-hour, till the lentils are tender. Add the spinach, simmer for 5 minutes extra, then season generously with salt and pepper. Divide between bowls, and go round olive oil, crimson chilli and grated cheese for individuals who need them.
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