Ricotta with white poached quince and honey

SERVES 8 // PREP TIME 15 MINS // COOK 15 MINS

“Ricotta from Sicily is made mostly from sheep’s milk, but the buffalo-milk ricotta that’s more common in Australia is delicious, too,” says Koludrovic. “This dish can be enjoyed for brunch or as a dessert, and is great served with some grilled Sardinian flatbread, pane carasau, or your favourite fruit toast. Quince is often cooked long and slow so the flesh turns from yellow to a pink or deep crimson colour, but for this recipe I like a fresher flavour, and poach the quince only briefly to retain its paleness.” 500 gm basket buffalo-milk ricotta (see note)

Honey and edible flowers, such as marigolds (optional), to serve Crispbread, to serve

WHITE POACHED QUINCE 125 ml (½ cup) chardonnay

vinegar

400 gm caster sugar

375 ml prosecco

1 cinnamon quill

Thinly peeled rind and juice of 1 orange 3 thyme sprigs

2 fresh bay leaves

2 large quince

1 For white poached quince, place ingredients, except quince, and in a saucepan large enough to fit quince snugly. Add 1 litre water and bring to the boil. Cool completely. Working quickly to prevent quince oxidising, trim, peel, quarter, core and coarsely chop quince into 1.5cm chunks, adding the prepped fruit straight into the poaching liquid as you go. Cover with a circle of baking paper, weight with a plate to keep quince submerged and bring to the boil. Remove pan from heat and cool quince in poaching liquid. Quince will keep refrigerated in poaching liquid in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

2 Carefully turn ricotta out onto a plate, pouring off any liquid. Top with quince, honey and flowers and serve with crispbread.

Note Buffalo ricotta is available from select greengrocers and delicatessens.

PREVIOUS PAGES Babà All props stylist’s own. Cannoli Paris bowl from MH Ceramics (used throughout). Shortbread Saucer from MH Ceramics. All other props stylist’s own.Ricotta Wallpaper from Eurowalls. Sia chair from Cult. Japanese black platter from MH Ceramics. Apulian entrée plate (with crispbread) from Alex and Trahanas.Roulade Paris bowl from MH Ceramics.All other props stylist’s own. Stockists p176.