Beetroot with pickled quince

Ingredients

• 4 Cheltenham beetroot
• 25 g of olive oil
• 1 sprig of thyme
• salt
• pepper
• 1 quince, peeled
• 250 g of white balsamic vinegar
• 250 g of chardonnay vinegar
• 230 g of water
• 1 sprig of lemon verbena
• 1 baby golden beetroot
• 1 baby white beetroot
• 16 spinach leaves
• 1 handful of chervil
• olive oil
• salt

Instructions

1. 1

   To pickle the quince, bring the pickle ingredients to the boil and pour over the quince whilst still warm. Transfer everything to a vacuum bag and seal in a chamber sealer. Leave to pickle for 24 hours

2. 2

   Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4

3. 3

   Rub the Cheltenham beetroot with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Place onto a tray with the thyme sprigs and roast in the oven for about 30 minutes until cooked but not soft

4. 4

   Leave the beetroot to cool slightly before peeling and cutting into 3 small pieces per portion

5. 5

   Use all of the trimmings from the Cheltenham beetroot to make the purée by blitzing in a blender until very silky and smooth. Cover and set aside in a warm place

6. 6

   Thinly slice the baby beetroots and marinate with the pickle liquor from the quince. Drain the quince and cut into a small dice

7. 7

   In a small saucepan, very gently wilt the spinach in a little olive oil and season with salt

8. 8

   To serve, swipe the beetroot purée across the plates and arrange the cooked beetroot on top. Arrange the quince and sliced baby beetroot around the beetroot, drape over the spinach leaves and garnish with chervil sprigs