Seed Crackers, Culatta Madame, Tzatziki and Melon

Seed crackers with Villani’s Culatta create the perfect dish: elegant yet full of flavour. Culatta Madame, a choice cured meat with a soft texture and intense flavour, makes an exquisite combination with fresh tzatziki and sweet melon. These crackers are ideal for sophisticated cocktail buffets and special dinners.

Crackers

1. Chop the pumpkin and sunflower seeds finely together.
2. Mix the flour with the seeds and herbs and a large pinch of salt in a bowl. Gradually incorporate 60 g of cold water and 30 g of EVOO, mixing first with a wooden spoon and then with your hands to obtain a uniform dough.
3. For crispier crackers with a lower moisture content, dry the dough by heating it in the bottom of a non-stick frying-pan for a couple of minutes, turning with a wooden spoon.
4. Form into a slightly flattened ball, cover with cling film and leave to stand in the refrigerator for at least half an hour.
5. Roll the dough to a thickness of 2 mm on a sheet of baking paper, aiming for a rectangular shape. Using a pastry cutter wheel, cut into a dozen smaller rectangles (you can actually use any size or shape you like).
6. Brush the rectangles with oil and arrange on baking paper placed on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
7. Bake at 190 °C for 10-15 minutes or until the surface is crisp and golden.

Tzatziki

1. Wash the half cucumber and grate it coarsely.
2. Squeeze the grated cucumber thoroughly using a coarse colander or by wrapping it in a clean tea-towel.
3. Wash the mint and dill and strip and chop the leaves.
4. Mix the yoghurt with the squeezed cucumber and chopped herbs.
5. Dress with lemon, salt and EVOO.

Assembly

Spread the tzatziki on the crackers and garnish with Culatta Madame slices, small pieces of melon and thin slices of cucumber.