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  • Paszteciki (Polish Pasties)

    Paszteciki (Polish Pasties)

    Category: Beef

    Area: Polish

    Ingredients:

    • 1 cup Flour
    • 1/4 tsp Salt
    • 1 Yolk Egg
    • 1 Egg
    • 5 tbs Butter
    • 6 tblsp Butter
    • 1/3 cup Onion
    • 1/2 cup Swede
    • 1/2 lb Beef Brisket
    • 2 Beaten Eggs
    • 1 tsp Salt
    • 1/4 tsp Pepper

    Instructions:

    Sift flour and salt into a large mixing bowl.
    Use a spoon to push the egg yolk through a fine sieve into the flour.
    Add the raw egg and mix well.
    Beat in butter 1 tablespoon at a time.
    Place dough on a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, then wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate until firm (at least 30 minutes).
    In a heavy skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat; saute the onion and rutabaga until the onion is soft and transparent (5 minutes).
    Put the onions, rutabaga, and beef through a meat grinder twice if you have one, if not just chop them up as fine as possible.
    Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat, and add the meat mixture.
    Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until all of the liquid has evaporated and the mixture is thick enough to hold its shape.
    Remove from heat and let cool, then stir in 1 egg, and season with salt and pepper.
    Preheat oven to 350°F.
    On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into a 13×8" rectangle (1/8" thick).
    Spoon the filling down the center of the rectangle lengthwise, leaving about an inch of space on each end.
    Lightly brush the long sides with cold water, then fold one of the long sides over the filling and the other side over the top of that.
    Brush the short ends with cold water and fold them over the top, enclosing the filling.
    Place pastry seam side down on a baking sheet and brush the top evenly with the remaining scrambled egg.
    Bake in preheated oven until rich golden brown (30 minutes).
    Slice pastry diagonally into 1.5" long pieces and serve as an appetizer or with soup.

  • Portuguese fish stew (Caldeirada de peixe)

    Portuguese fish stew (Caldeirada de peixe)

    Category: Seafood

    Area: Portuguese

    Ingredients:

    • 2 finely chopped Onions
    • 1 Diced Red Pepper
    • Small bunch Coriander
    • 1 small Red Chilli
    • 3 cloves Garlic
    • 400ml Dry White Wine
    • Pinch Saffron
    • 1 Bay Leaf
    • 300g Potatoes
    • 400g Plum Tomatoes
    • 600g Cod
    • 300g Squid
    • 8 Tiger Prawns
    • 500g Clams
    • 500g Mussels
    • 1 sliced Baguette

    Instructions:

    STEP 1

    Heat a drizzle of oil in a large, deep-sided frying pan, and fry the onion and pepper on a medium heat until softened but not browned. Finely chop the coriander stalks (keep the leaves for later), and add to the pan with the chilli and chopped garlic. Fry for another few minutes. Add the wine, saffron and bay leaf and let it simmer until reduced by half.

    STEP 2

    Add the potatoes, tomatoes, and 300ml water and bring to a gentle boil. Break up the tomatoes with a spoon on the side of the pan and simmer for 20-25 minutes until the potatoes are just tender, and the tomatoes have broken down.

    STEP 3

    Season well, then gently push the fish into the sauce, and arrange the squid, prawns, clams and mussels on the surface. Put the lid on and cook for 6-8 minutes until the mussel and clam shells have opened, the prawns are cooked and the fish is flaky. Toast the bread, rub lightly with the halved garlic clove and drizzle with olive oil. Serve the stew scatted with chopped coriander leaves, and the toasts for dunking.

  • Tuna Nicoise

    Tuna Nicoise

    Category: Seafood

    Area: French

    Ingredients:

    • 450g Potatoes
    • 2 tblsp Olive Oil
    • 4 Eggs
    • 1 tbls Red Wine Vinegar
    • 2 tblsp Capers
    • 50g Sunflower Oil
    • ½ Red Onions
    • 100g Spinach
    • 400g Tuna

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Toss the potatoes with 2 tsp oil and some seasoning. Tip onto a large baking tray, then roast for 20 mins, stirring halfway, until crisp, golden and cooked through.
    Meanwhile, put eggs in a small pan of water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 8-10 mins, depending on how you like them cooked. Plunge into a bowl of cold water to cool for a few mins. Peel away the shells, then cut into halves.
    In a large salad bowl, whisk together the remaining oil, red wine vinegar, capers and chopped tomatoes. Season, tip in the onion, spinach, tuna and potatoes, then gently toss together. Top with the eggs, then serve straight away.

  • Eccles Cakes

    Eccles Cakes

    Category: Dessert

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 250g Butter
    • 350g Plain Flour
    • Juice of 1/2 Lemon
    • 25g Butter
    • 200g Currants
    • 50g Mixed Peel
    • 100g Muscovado Sugar
    • 1 tsp Cinnamon
    • 1 tsp Ginger
    • 1 tsp Allspice
    • Zest of 1 Lemon
    • 1 beaten Eggs
    • spinkling Sugar

    Instructions:

    To make the pastry, dice the butter and put it in the freezer to go really hard. Tip flour into the bowl of a food processor with half the butter and pulse to the texture of breadcrumbs. Pour in the lemon juice and 100ml iced water, and pulse to a dough. Tip in the rest of the butter and pulse a few times until the dough is heavily flecked with butter. It is important that you don’t overdo this as the flecks of butter are what makes the pastry flaky.
    On a floured surface roll the pastry out to a neat rectangle about 20 x 30cm. Fold the two ends of the pastry into the middle (See picture 1), then fold in half (pic 2). Roll the pastry out again and refold the same way 3 more times resting the pastry for at least 15 mins each time between roll and fold, then leave to rest in the fridge for at least 30 mins before using.
    To make the filling, melt the butter in a large saucepan. Take it off the heat and stir in all the other ingredients until completely mixed, then set aside.
    To make the cakes, roll the pastry out until it’s just a little thicker than a £1 coin and cut out 8 rounds about 12cm across. Re-roll the trimming if needed. Place a good heaped tablespoon of mixture in the middle of each round, brush the edges of the rounds with water, then gather the pastry around the filling and squeeze it together (pic 3). Flip them over so the smooth top is upwards and pat them into a smooth round. Flatten each round with a rolling pin to an oval until the fruit just starts to poke through, then place on a baking tray. Cut 2 little slits in each Eccles cakes, brush generously with egg white and sprinkle with the sugar (pic 4).
    Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 8. Bake the Eccles cakes for 15-20 mins until just past golden brown and sticky. Leave to cool on a rack and enjoy while still warm or cold with a cup of tea. If you prefer, Eccles cakes also go really well served with a wedge of hard, tangy British cheese such as Lancashire or cheddar.

  • Breakfast Potatoes

    Breakfast Potatoes

    Category: Breakfast

    Area: Canadian

    Ingredients:

    • 3 Medium Potatoes
    • 1 tbs Olive Oil
    • 2 strips Bacon
    • Minced Garlic Clove
    • 1 tbs Maple Syrup
    • Garnish Parsley
    • Pinch Salt
    • Pinch Pepper
    • To taste Allspice

    Instructions:

    Before you do anything, freeze your bacon slices that way when you're ready to prep, it'll be so much easier to chop!
    Wash the potatoes and cut medium dice into square pieces. To prevent any browning, place the already cut potatoes in a bowl filled with water.
    In the meantime, heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Tilt the skillet so the oil spreads evenly.
    Once the oil is hot, drain the potatoes and add to the skillet. Season with salt, pepper, and Old Bay as needed.
    Cook for 10 minutes, stirring the potatoes often, until brown. If needed, add a tablespoon more of oil.
    Chop up the bacon and add to the potatoes. The bacon will start to render and the fat will begin to further cook the potatoes. Toss it up a bit! The bacon will take 5-6 minutes to crisp.
    Once the bacon is cooked, reduce the heat to medium-low, add the minced garlic and toss. Season once more. Add dried or fresh parsley. Control heat as needed.
    Let the garlic cook until fragrant, about one minute.
    Just before serving, drizzle over the maple syrup and toss. Let that cook another minute, giving the potatoes a caramelized effect.
    Serve in a warm bowl with a sunny side up egg!

  • Bitterballen (Dutch meatballs)

    Bitterballen (Dutch meatballs)

    Category: Beef

    Area: Dutch

    Ingredients:

    • 100g Butter
    • 150g Flour
    • 700ml Beef Stock
    • 30g Onion
    • 1 tbs Parsley
    • 400g Beef
    • Pinch Salt
    • Pinch Pepper
    • Pinch Nutmeg
    • 50g Flour
    • 2 Beaten Eggs
    • 50g Breadcrumbs

    Instructions:

    Melt the butter in a skillet or pan. When melted, add the flour little by little and stir into a thick paste. Slowly stir in the stock, making sure the roux absorbs the liquid. Simmer for a couple of minutes on a low heat while you stir in the onion, parsley and the shredded meat. The mixture should thicken and turn into a heavy, thick sauce.

    Pour the mixture into a shallow container, cover and refrigerate for several hours, or until the sauce has solidified.

    Take a heaping tablespoon of the cold, thick sauce and quickly roll it into a small ball. Roll lightly through the flour, then the egg and finally the breadcrumbs. Make sure that the egg covers the whole surface of the bitterbal. When done, refrigerate the snacks while the oil in your fryer heats up to 190C (375F). Fry four bitterballen at a time, until golden.

    Serve on a plate with a nice grainy or spicy mustard.

  • Steak and Kidney Pie

    Steak and Kidney Pie

    Category: Beef

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 300g Puff Pastry
    • Beaten Egg White
    • Beaten Egg Yolks
    • 2 tbs Vegetable Oil
    • 70 ml Beef
    • 200g Lamb Kidney
    • 2 chopped Onions
    • 30g Plain Flour
    • 85 ml Beef Stock
    • pinch Salt
    • pinch Pepper
    • Dash Worcestershire Sauce

    Instructions:

    Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7
    Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan, and brown the beef all over. (You may need to do this in batches.) Set aside, then brown the kidneys on both sides in the same pan. Add the onions and cook for 3-4 minutes.
    Return the beef to the pan, sprinkle flour over and coat the meat and onions
    Add the stock to the pan, stir well and bring to the boil.
    Turn the heat down and simmer for 1½ hours without a lid. If the liquid evaporates too much, add more stock.
    Remove from the heat. Add salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce and allow to cool completely. Place the cooked meat mixture into a pie dish.
    Roll out the pastry to 5mm/¼in thick and 5cm/2in larger than the dish you are using.
    Using a rolling pin, lift the pastry and place it over the top of the pie dish. Trim and crimp the edges with your fingers and thumb.
    Brush the surface with the beaten egg mixture and bake for 30-40 minutes until golden-brown and puffed.
    Serve with creamy mash and steamed vegetables to soak up the gravy.

  • Cashew Ghoriba Biscuits

    Cashew Ghoriba Biscuits

    Category: Dessert

    Area: Tunisian

    Ingredients:

    • 250g Cashew Nuts
    • 100g Icing Sugar
    • 2 Egg Yolks
    • 2 tbs Orange Blossom Water
    • To Glaze Icing Sugar
    • 100g Almonds

    Instructions:

    Preheat the oven at 180 C / Gas 4. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
    In a bowl, mix the cashews and icing sugar. Add the egg yolks and orange blossom water and mix to a smooth homogeneous paste.
    Take lumps of the cashew paste and shape into small balls. Roll the balls in icing sugar and transfer to the baking tray. Push an almond in the centre of each ghribia.
    Bake until the biscuits are lightly golden, about 20 minutes. Keep an eye on them, they burn quickly.

  • Mbuzi Choma (Roasted Goat)

    Mbuzi Choma (Roasted Goat)

    Category: Goat

    Area: Kenyan

    Ingredients:

    • 1 kg Goat Meat
    • 1 kg Corn Flour
    • 2 Tomatoes
    • Pinch Salt
    • 1 Onion
    • 1 Green Chilli
    • 1 bunch Coriander Leaves

    Instructions:

    1. Steps for the Meat:
    Roast meat over medium heat for 50 minutes and salt it as you turn it.

    2. Steps for Ugali:
    Bring the water and salt to a boil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir in the cornmeal slowly, letting it fall through the fingers of your hand.

    3. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue stirring regularly, smashing any lumps with a spoon, until the mush pulls away from the sides of the pot and becomes very thick, about 10 minutes.

    4.Remove from heat and allow to cool.

    5. Place the ugali into a large serving bowl. Wet your hands with water, form a ball and serve.

    6. Steps for Kachumbari: Mix the tomatoes, onions, chili and coriander leaves in a bowl.

    7. Serve and enjoy!

  • Recheado Masala Fish

    Recheado Masala Fish

    Category: Seafood

    Area: Indian

    Ingredients:

    • 4 Mackerel
    • 18 dried Red Chilli
    • 1 inch Ginger
    • 8 cloves Garlic
    • 1.5 tsp Pepper
    • 1 tsp Cumin
    • ½ tsp Turmeric
    • Cinnamon stick
    • 4 Cloves
    • 2 Cardamom
    • 1 tbsp Sugar
    • 2 marble sized Tamarind ball
    • 2.5 tbsp Vinegar
    • for frying Oil

    Instructions:

    Soak all the spices, ginger, garlic, tamarind pulp and kashmiri chilies except oil in vinegar.
    Add sugar and salt.
    Also add turmeric powder.
    Combine all nicely and marinate for 35-40 mins.
    Grind the mixture until soft and smooth. Add more vinegar if required but ensure the paste has to be thick so add vinegar accordingly. If the masala paste is thin then it would not stick to the fish.
    Rinse the fish slit from the center and give some incision from the top. You could see the fish below for clarity.
    Now stuff the paste into the center and into the incision. Coat the entire fish with this paste. Marinate the fish for 30 mins.
    Place oil in a shallow pan, once oil is quite hot shallow fry the stuffed mackerels.
    Fry until golden brown from both sides
    Serve the recheado mackerels hot with salad, lime wedges, rice and curry.
    Notes
    1. Ensure the masala paste is thick else the result won't be good.
    2. If you aren't able to find kashmiri chilies then use bedgi chilies or kashmiri red chili powder.
    3. You could use white vinegar or coconut vinegar.
    4. Any left over paste could be stored in the fridge for future use.
    5. Cinnamon could be avoided as it's a strong spice used generally for meat or chicken.