Blog

  • Fish pie

    Fish pie

    Category: Seafood

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 900g Floury Potatoes
    • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
    • 600ml Semi-skimmed Milk
    • 800g White Fish Fillets
    • 1 tbsp Plain flour
    • Grating Nutmeg
    • 3 tbsp Double Cream
    • 200g Jerusalem Artichokes
    • 1 finely sliced Leek
    • 200g peeled raw Prawns
    • Large handful Parsley
    • Handful Dill
    • Grated zest of 1 Lemon
    • 25g grated Gruyère
    • Juice of 1 Lemon

    Instructions:

    01.Put the potatoes in a large pan of cold salted water and bring to the boil. Lower the heat, cover, then simmer gently for 15 minutes until tender. Drain, then return to the pan over a low heat for 30 seconds to drive off any excess water. Mash with 1 tbsp olive oil, then season.
    02.Meanwhile put the milk in a large sauté pan, add the fish and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat, cover and stand for 3 minutes. Remove the fish (reserving the milk) and pat dry with kitchen paper, then gently flake into an ovenproof dish, discarding the skin and any bones.
    03.Heat the remaining oil in a pan, stir in the flour and cook for 30 seconds. Gradually stir in 200-250ml of the reserved milk (discard the rest). Grate in nutmeg, season, then bubble until thick. Stir in the cream.
    04.Preheat the oven to 190°C/fan170°C/gas 5. Grate the artichokes and add to the dish with the leek, prawns and herbs. Stir the lemon zest and juice into the sauce, then pour over. Mix gently with a wooden spoon.
    05.Spoon the mash onto the fish mixture, then use a fork to make peaks, which will crisp and brown as it cooks. Sprinkle over the cheese, then bake for 35-40 minutes until golden and bubbling. Serve with wilted greens.

  • Lancashire hotpot

    Lancashire hotpot

    Category: Lamb

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 100g Butter
    • 900g Lamb
    • 3 Lamb Kidney
    • 2 medium Onions
    • 4 sliced Carrots
    • 25g Plain Flour
    • 2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
    • 500ml Chicken Stock
    • 2 Bay Leaves
    • 900g Potatoes

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Heat some dripping or butter in a large shallow casserole dish, brown the lamb in batches, lift to a plate, then repeat with the kidneys.
    Fry the onions and carrots in the pan with a little more dripping until golden. Sprinkle over the flour, allow to cook for a couple of mins, shake over the Worcestershire sauce, pour in the stock, then bring to the boil. Stir in the meat and bay leaves, then turn off the heat. Arrange the sliced potatoes on top of the meat, then drizzle with a little more dripping. Cover, then place in the oven for about 1½ hrs until the potatoes are cooked.
    Remove the lid, brush the potatoes with a little more dripping, then turn the oven up to brown the potatoes, or finish under the grill for 5-8 mins until brown.

  • 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.

  • Beef Sunday Roast

    Beef Sunday Roast

    Category: Beef

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 8 slices Beef
    • 12 florets Broccoli
    • 1 Packet Potatoes
    • 1 Packet Carrots
    • 140g plain flour
    • 4 Eggs
    • 200ml milk
    • drizzle (for cooking) sunflower oil

    Instructions:

    Cook the Broccoli and Carrots in a pan of boiling water until tender.

    Roast the Beef and Potatoes in the oven for 45mins, the potatoes may need to be checked regularly to not overcook.

    To make the Yorkshire puddings:
    Heat oven to 230C/fan 210C/gas 8. Drizzle a little sunflower oil evenly into 2 x 4-hole Yorkshire pudding tins or a 12-hole non-stick muffin tin and place in the oven to heat through
    To make the batter, tip 140g plain flour into a bowl and beat in four eggs until smooth. Gradually add 200ml milk and carry on beating until the mix is completely lump-free. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the batter into a jug, then remove the hot tins from the oven. Carefully and evenly pour the batter into the holes. Place the tins back in the oven and leave undisturbed for 20-25 mins until the puddings have puffed up and browned. Serve immediately.

    Plate up and add the Gravy as desired.

  • Ham hock colcannon

    Ham hock colcannon

    Category: Pork

    Area: Irish

    Ingredients:

    • 800g Floury Potatoes
    • 50g Butter
    • 3 chopped Garlic Clove
    • 1 chopped Cabbage
    • 8 Spring Onions
    • 100ml Double Cream
    • 2 tbs Mustard
    • 180g Ham
    • 4 Eggs

    Instructions:

    STEP 1
    Peel and cut the potatoes into even, medium-sized chunks. Put in a large pan filled with cold salted water, bring to the boil and cook for 10-15 mins until a knife can be inserted into the potatoes easily.

    STEP 2
    Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large sauté pan over a medium heat. Add the garlic, cabbage, spring onions and some seasoning. Stir occasionally until the cabbage is wilted but still retains a little bite, then set aside.

    STEP 3
    Drain the potatoes, leave to steam-dry for a couple of mins, then mash with the cream, mustard and seasoning in the same saucepan. Stir in the cabbage and ham hock. Keep warm over a low heat.

    STEP 4
    Reheat the pan you used to cook the cabbage (no need to wash first), add a splash of oil, crack in the eggs and fry to your liking. To serve, divide the colcannon between bowls and top each with a fried egg.

  • Poutine

    Poutine

    Category: Miscellaneous

    Area: Canadian

    Ingredients:

    • Dash Vegetable Oil
    • 1 Can Beef Gravy
    • 5 thin cut Potatoes
    • 2 cups Cheese Curds

    Instructions:

    Heat oil in a deep fryer or deep heavy skillet to 365°F (185°C).
    Warm gravy in saucepan or microwave.
    Place the fries into the hot oil, and cook until light brown, about 5 minutes.
    Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
    Place the fries on a serving platter, and sprinkle the cheese over them.
    Ladle gravy over the fries and cheese, and serve immediately.

  • Migas

    Migas

    Category: Miscellaneous

    Area: Spanish

    Ingredients:

    • 1 large Bread
    • 1 1/2 L Olive Oil
    • Half Garlic
    • 1 Handfull Pork

    Instructions:

    Crumble the bread into small pieces. Sprinkle with cold water, cover with a damp cloth and leave for 30 minutes.
    Heat 2 tsp of olive oil in a deep pan. Add the garlic cloves separated, skins on; just make a small cut with a knife to open them and keep frying for 5 minutes. Set the garlic aside.
    In the same oil, where we fried everything, simmer the bread, stirring constantly for 15 minutes and add a grinding of black pepper.
    Add the garlic, continue stirring for about 20 minutes. It will be ready when the bread is soft and golden.

  • Beef stroganoff

    Beef stroganoff

    Category: Beef

    Area: Russian

    Ingredients:

    • 1 tbls Olive Oil
    • 1 Onions
    • 1 clove Garlic
    • 1 tbsp Butter
    • 250g Mushrooms
    • 500g Beef Fillet
    • 1tbsp Plain Flour
    • 150g Creme Fraiche
    • 1 tbsp English Mustard
    • 100ml Beef Stock
    • Topping Parsley

    Instructions:

    Heat the olive oil in a non-stick frying pan then add the sliced onion and cook on a medium heat until completely softened, so around 15 mins, adding a little splash of water if they start to stick at all. Crush in the garlic and cook for a 2-3 mins further, then add the butter. Once the butter is foaming a little, add the mushrooms and cook for around 5 mins until completely softened. Season everything well, then tip onto a plate.
    Tip the flour into a bowl with a big pinch of salt and pepper, then toss the steak in the seasoned flour. Add the steak pieces to the pan, splashing in a little oil if the pan looks particularly dry, and fry for 3-4 mins, until well coloured. Tip the onions and mushrooms back into the pan. Whisk the crème fraîche, mustard and beef stock together, then pour into the pan. Cook over a medium heat for around 5 mins. Scatter with parsley, then serve with pappardelle or rice.

  • Grilled Portuguese sardines

    Grilled Portuguese sardines

    Category: Seafood

    Area: Portuguese

    Ingredients:

    • 8 Sardines
    • 2 tbs Olive Oil
    • 3 cloves Garlic
    • 1 tbs Paprika
    • 1/2 Lemon
    • 4 sprigs Rosemary
    • 1 Red Chilli

    Instructions:

    STEP 1

    Put all of the ingredients, except the sardines, into a bowl and mix together with some seasoning. Pour into a baking dish, add the sardines and toss really well. Cover and chill for a few hours.

    STEP 2

    Heat a BBQ or griddle pan until hot. Cook the sardines for 4-5 minutes on each side or until really caramelised and charred. Put onto a serving plate, drizzle with oil, sprinkle with a little more paprika and squeeze over the lemon wedges.

  • Tunisian Lamb Soup

    Tunisian Lamb Soup

    Category: Lamb

    Area: Tunisian

    Ingredients:

    • 500g Lamb Mince
    • 2 cloves minced Garlic
    • 1 Onion
    • 300g Spinach
    • 3 tbs Tomato Puree
    • 1 tbs Cumin
    • 1 Litre Chicken Stock
    • 3 tsp Harissa Spice
    • 400g Chickpeas
    • 1/2 Lemon Juice
    • 150g Macaroni
    • Pinch Salt
    • Pinch Pepper

    Instructions:

    Add the lamb to a casserole and cook over high heat. When browned, remove from the heat and set aside.
    Keep a tablespoon of fat in the casserole and discard the rest. Reduce to medium heat then add the garlic, onion and spinach and cook until the onion is translucent and the spinach wilted or about 5 minutes.
    Return the lamb to the casserole with the onion-spinach mixture, add the tomato puree, cumin, harissa, chicken, chickpeas, lemon juice, salt and pepper in the pan. Simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes.
    Add the pasta and cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is cooked.