Category: Uncategorized

  • Oxtail with broad beans

    Oxtail with broad beans

    Category: Beef

    Area: Jamaican

    Ingredients:

    • 450g Oxtail
    • 1 chopped Onion
    • 1 Spring Onions
    • 2 cloves minced Garlic
    • 1 tsp Ginger
    • 1 chopped Scotch Bonnet
    • 2 tbs Soy Sauce
    • 1 chopped Fresh Thyme
    • 2 tbs Vegetable Oil
    • 350ml Water
    • 200g Broad Beans
    • 1 tbs Corn Flour
    • 2 tbs Water

    Instructions:

    Toss the oxtail with the onion, spring onion, garlic, ginger, chilli, soy sauce, thyme, salt and pepper. Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Brown the oxtail in the pan until browned all over, about 10 minutes. Place into a pressure cooker, and pour in 375ml water. Cook at pressure for 25 minutes, then remove from heat, and remove the lid according to manufacturer's directions.
    Add the broad beans and pimento berries, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Dissolve the cornflour in 2 tablespoons water, and stir into the simmering oxtail. Cook and stir a few minutes until the sauce has thickened, and the broad beans are tender.

  • Piri-piri chicken and slaw

    Piri-piri chicken and slaw

    Category: Chicken

    Area: Portuguese

    Ingredients:

    • 1.5kg Chicken
    • 3 chopped Red Chilli
    • 2 cloves Garlic
    • 1 tsp Ginger
    • 1 tsp Dried Oregano
    • 1 tsp Coriander
    • 1 tsp Paprika
    • 2 tbs Red Wine Vinegar
    • 2 tbs Oil
    • 1 sliced Red Onions
    • 2 Carrots
    • 1 Beetroot
    • 4 leaves Cabbage
    • 2 tbs Mayonnaise
    • 2 tbs Greek Yogurt
    • 2 tbs Red Wine Vinegar
    • 1 tsp Cumin Seeds

    Instructions:

    STEP 1

    Whizz together all of the marinade ingredients in a small food processor. Rub the marinade onto the chicken and leave for 1 hour at room temperature.

    STEP 2

    Heat the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Put the chicken in a roasting tray and cook for 1 hour 20 minutes. Rest under loose foil for 20 minutes. While the chicken is resting, mix together the slaw ingredients and season. Serve the chicken with slaw, fries and condiments.

  • Bigos (Hunters Stew)

    Bigos (Hunters Stew)

    Category: Pork

    Area: Polish

    Ingredients:

    • 2 sliced Bacon
    • 1 lb Kielbasa
    • 1 lb Pork
    • 1/4 cup Flour
    • 3 chopped Garlic
    • 1 Diced Onion
    • 1 1/2 cup Mushrooms
    • 4 cups Cabbage
    • 1 Jar Sauerkraut
    • 1/4 cup Red Wine
    • 1 Bay Leaf
    • 1 tsp Basil
    • 1 tsp Marjoram
    • 1 tbs Paprika
    • 1/8 teaspoon Caraway Seed
    • 1 dash Hotsauce
    • 5 Cups Beef Stock
    • 2 tbs Tomato Puree
    • 1 cup Diced Tomatoes
    • 1 dash Worcestershire Sauce

    Instructions:

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

    Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add the bacon and kielbasa; cook and stir until the bacon has rendered its fat and sausage is lightly browned. Use a slotted spoon to remove the meat and transfer to a large casserole or Dutch oven.

    Coat the cubes of pork lightly with flour and fry them in the bacon drippings over medium-high heat until golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pork to the casserole. Add the garlic, onion, carrots, fresh mushrooms, cabbage and sauerkraut. Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir until the carrots are soft, about 10 minutes. Do not let the vegetables brown.

    Deglaze the pan by pouring in the red wine and stirring to loosen all of the bits of food and flour that are stuck to the bottom. Season with the bay leaf, basil, marjoram, paprika, salt, pepper, caraway seeds and cayenne pepper; cook for 1 minute.

    Mix in the dried mushrooms, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, tomato paste and tomatoes. Heat through just until boiling. Pour the vegetables and all of the liquid into the casserole dish with the meat. Cover with a lid.

    Bake in the preheated oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until meat is very tender.

  • Minced Beef Pie

    Minced Beef Pie

    Category: Beef

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 2 tbs Vegetable Oil
    • 500g Minced Beef
    • 1 chopped Onion
    • 1 tbls Tomato Puree
    • 1 ½ tbsp Plain Flour
    • 75g Mushrooms
    • 250ml Beef Stock
    • Dash Worcestershire Sauce
    • 400g Shortcrust Pastry
    • 1 Egg Yolks

    Instructions:

    Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
    Heat the oil in a deep frying pan and fry the beef mince for 4-5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it browns.
    Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, then stir in the tomato purée and cook for 2-3 more minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for a further minute, then add the chopped mushrooms, the stout or beef stock and a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover the pan with a lid and leave to simmer for 20 minutes. Set aside and leave to cool, then turn the meat mixture into a one litre pie dish.
    Roll out the pastry on a floured work surface until it is slightly larger than the pie dish. Gently drape the pastry over the dish, pressing firmly onto the edges. Trim, then shape the edges into a fluted shape.
    Cut some leaf shapes out of the pastry trimmings and decorate the top of the pie, sticking them to the pastry with the beaten egg yolk.
    Make three or four slits in the pastry to allow the steam to escape, then brush the pie with the rest of the beaten egg yolk and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden-brown.
    To serve, slice into wedges.

  • Big Mac

    Big Mac

    Category: Beef

    Area: American

    Ingredients:

    • 400g Minced Beef
    • 2 tbs Olive Oil
    • 2 Sesame Seed Burger Buns
    • Chopped Onion
    • 1/4 Iceberg Lettuce
    • 2 sliced Cheese
    • 2 large Dill Pickles
    • 1 cup Mayonnaise
    • 2 tsp White Wine Vinegar
    • Pinch Pepper
    • 2 tsp Mustard
    • 1 1/2 tsp Onion Salt
    • 1 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
    • 1/2 tsp Paprika

    Instructions:

    For the Big Mac sauce, combine all the ingredients in a bowl, season with salt and chill until ready to use.
    2. To make the patties, season the mince with salt and pepper and form into 4 balls using about 1/3 cup mince each. Place each onto a square of baking paper and flatten to form into four x 15cm circles. Heat oil in a large frypan over high heat. In 2 batches, cook beef patties for 1-2 minutes each side until lightly charred and cooked through. Remove from heat and keep warm. Repeat with remaining two patties.
    3. Carefully slice each burger bun into three acrossways, then lightly toast.
    4. To assemble the burgers, spread a little Big Mac sauce over the bottom base. Top with some chopped onion, shredded lettuce, slice of cheese, beef patty and some pickle slices. Top with the middle bun layer, and spread with more Big Mac sauce, onion, lettuce, pickles, beef patty and then finish with more sauce. Top with burger lid to serve.
    5. After waiting half an hour for your food to settle, go for a jog.

  • Fennel Dauphinoise

    Fennel Dauphinoise

    Category: Side

    Area: French

    Ingredients:

    • 225g Potatoes
    • 1 small Fennel
    • 1 clove finely chopped Garlic
    • 75 ml Milk
    • 100ml Double Cream
    • For Greasing Butter
    • to serve Parmesan Cheese

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put potatoes, fennel, and garlic in a medium non-stick pan. Pour in milk and double cream, season well and simmer gently, covered, for 10 mins, stirring halfway through, until potatoes are just tender.
    Divide the mixture between 2 small (about 150ml) buttered ramekins and scatter with Parmesan. Bake for 40 mins until the potatoes are golden and tender when pierced with a knife. Snip the reserved fennel fronds over before serving.

  • Baked salmon with fennel & tomatoes

    Baked salmon with fennel & tomatoes

    Category: Seafood

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 2 medium Fennel
    • 2 tbs chopped Parsley
    • Juice of 1 Lemon
    • 175g Cherry Tomatoes
    • 1 tbs Olive Oil
    • 350g Salmon
    • to serve Black Olives

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Trim the fronds from the fennel and set aside. Cut the fennel bulbs in half, then cut each half into 3 wedges. Cook in boiling salted water for 10 mins, then drain well. Chop the fennel fronds roughly, then mix with the parsley and lemon zest.

    Spread the drained fennel over a shallow ovenproof dish, then add the tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil, then bake for 10 mins. Nestle the salmon among the veg, sprinkle with lemon juice, then bake 15 mins more until the fish is just cooked. Scatter over the parsley and serve.

  • Beef and Oyster pie

    Beef and Oyster pie

    Category: Beef

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 900g Beef
    • 3 tbs Olive Oil
    • 3 Shallots
    • 2 cloves minced Garlic
    • 125g Bacon
    • 1 tbs chopped Thyme
    • 2 Bay Leaf
    • 330ml Stout
    • 400ml Beef Stock
    • 2 tbs Corn Flour
    • 8 Oysters
    • 400g Plain Flour
    • pinch Salt
    • 250g Butter
    • To Glaze Eggs

    Instructions:

    Season the beef cubes with salt and black pepper. Heat a tablespoon of oil in the frying pan and fry the meat over a high heat. Do this in three batches so that you don’t overcrowd the pan, transferring the meat to a large flameproof casserole dish once it is browned all over. Add extra oil if the pan seems dry.
    In the same pan, add another tablespoon of oil and cook the shallots for 4-5 minutes, then add the garlic and fry for 30 seconds. Add the bacon and fry until slightly browned. Transfer the onion and bacon mixture to the casserole dish and add the herbs.
    Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
    Pour the stout into the frying pan and bring to the boil, stirring to lift any stuck-on browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour the stout over the beef in the casserole dish and add the stock. Cover the casserole and place it in the oven for 1½-2 hours, or until the beef is tender and the sauce is reduced.
    Skim off any surface fat, taste and add salt and pepper if necessary, then stir in the cornflour paste. Put the casserole dish on the hob – don’t forget that it will be hot – and simmer for 1-2 minutes, stirring, until thickened. Leave to cool.
    Increase the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. To make the pastry, put the flour and salt in a very large bowl. Grate the butter and stir it into the flour in three batches. Gradually add 325ml/11fl oz cold water – you may not need it all – and stir with a round-bladed knife until the mixture just comes together. Knead the pastry lightly into a ball on a lightly floured surface and set aside 250g/9oz for the pie lid.
    Roll the rest of the pastry out until about 2cm/¾in larger than the dish you’re using. Line the dish with the pastry then pile in the filling, tucking the oysters in as well. Brush the edge of the pastry with beaten egg.
    Roll the remaining pastry until slightly larger than your dish and gently lift over the filling, pressing the edges firmly to seal, then trim with a sharp knife. Brush with beaten egg to glaze. Put the dish on a baking tray and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden-brown and the filling is bubbling.

  • Carrot Cake

    Carrot Cake

    Category: Dessert

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 450ml Vegetable Oil
    • 400g Plain Flour
    • 2 tsp Bicarbonate Of Soda
    • 550ml Sugar
    • 5 Eggs
    • ½ tsp Salt
    • 2 tsp Cinnamon
    • 500g grated Carrots
    • 150g Walnuts
    • 200g Cream Cheese
    • 150g Caster Sugar
    • 100g Butter

    Instructions:

    For the carrot cake, preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3. Grease and line a 26cm/10in springform cake tin.
    Mix all of the ingredients for the carrot cake, except the carrots and walnuts, together in a bowl until well combined. Stir in the carrots and walnuts.
    Spoon the mixture into the cake tin and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and set aside to cool for 10 minutes, then carefully remove the cake from the tin and set aside to cool completely on a cooling rack.
    Meanwhile, for the icing, beat the cream cheese, caster sugar and butter together in a bowl until fluffy. Spread the icing over the top of the cake with a palette knife.

  • Pear Tarte Tatin

    Pear Tarte Tatin

    Category: Dessert

    Area: French

    Ingredients:

    • 8 Pears
    • 100g Caster Sugar
    • 100g Butter
    • 2 Star Anise
    • 3 Pods Cardamom
    • 1 large Cinnamon
    • 2 tbs Brandy
    • 500g Puff Pastry

    Instructions:

    Core the pears, then peel as neatly as possible and halve. If you like, they can be prepared up to a day ahead and kept in the fridge, uncovered, so that they dry out.
    Tip the sugar, butter, star anise, cardamom and cinnamon into an ovenproof frying pan, about 20cm wide, and place over a high heat until bubbling. Shake the pan and stir the buttery sauce until it separates and the sugar caramelises to a toffee colour.
    Lay the pears in the pan, then cook in the sauce for 10-12 mins, tossing occasionally, until completely caramelised. Don’t worry about them burning – they won’t – but you want to caramelise them as much as possible. Splash in the brandy and let it flambé, then set the pears aside.
    Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Roll the pastry out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Using a plate slightly larger than the top of the pan, cut out a circle, then press the edges of the circle of pastry to thin them out.
    When the pears have cooled slightly, arrange them in the pan, cut side up, in a floral shape, with the pears around the edge pointing inwards. Rest the cinnamon stick on the top in the centre, with the cardamom pods scattered around.
    Drape the pastry over the pears, then tuck the edges down the pan sides and under the fruit (see Gordon’s guide). Pierce the pastry a few times, then bake for 15 mins. If a lot of juice bubbles up the side of the pan, pour it off at this stage (see guide). Reduce oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and bake for 15 mins more until the pastry is golden. Leave the tart to stand for 10 mins, then invert it carefully onto a serving dish.