Ricotta Fritters

Get your ingredients out, have the kettle boiled, have a large frying pan on a medium heat and a large casserole pan on a low heat, and a food processor (fine grater) to hand.

Put the porcini into a mug and cover with boiling water.

Crack the egg into a mixing bowl, add the ricotta, finely grate in ¼ of the nutmeg, the lemon zest and Parmesan, add the flour, then beat together.

Put 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the frying pan, then use a tablespoon to spoon in 8 large dollops of the mixture, turning carefully when nice and golden.

Put the anchovies (if using) and 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the casserole pan, crumble in the dried chilli, and squash in the unpeeled garlic through a garlic crusher.

Finely chop and add the porcini with half their soaking water and the passata, season with sea salt and black pepper and bring to the boil.

Squash and add the olives, discarding the stones. Pick and reserve a few basil leaves, then chop the rest and add to the sauce.

Grate the courgettes in the processor (you could use a box grater here) and tip into a bowl with a pinch of salt and pepper, the juice of the zested lemon and the extra virgin olive oil.

Finely chop and add the chilli and the top leafy half of the mint, then toss together.

Place the fritters on top of the sauce, then scatter over the reserved basil leaves, drizzle with balsamic and serve with lemon wedges.