Blog

  • 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.

  • Beef Bourguignon

    Beef Bourguignon

    Category: Beef

    Area: French

    Ingredients:

    • 3 tsp Goose Fat
    • 600g Beef Shin
    • 100g Bacon
    • 350g Challots
    • 250g Chestnut Mushroom
    • 2 sliced Garlic Clove
    • 1 Bouquet Garni
    • 1 tbs Tomato Puree
    • 750 ml Red Wine
    • 600g Celeriac
    • 2 tbs Olive Oil
    • sprigs of fresh Thyme
    • sprigs of fresh Rosemary
    • 2 Bay Leaf
    • 4 Cardamom

    Instructions:

    Heat a large casserole pan and add 1 tbsp goose fat. Season the beef and fry until golden brown, about 3-5 mins, then turn over and fry the other side until the meat is browned all over, adding more fat if necessary. Do this in 2-3 batches, transferring the meat to a colander set over a bowl when browned.
    In the same pan, fry the bacon, shallots or pearl onions, mushrooms, garlic and bouquet garni until lightly browned. Mix in the tomato purée and cook for a few mins, stirring into the mixture. This enriches the bourguignon and makes a great base for the stew. Then return the beef and any drained juices to the pan and stir through.
    Pour over the wine and about 100ml water so the meat bobs up from the liquid, but isn’t completely covered. Bring to the boil and use a spoon to scrape the caramelised cooking juices from the bottom of the pan – this will give the stew more flavour.
    Heat oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2. Make a cartouche: tear off a square of foil slightly larger than the casserole, arrange it in the pan so it covers the top of the stew and trim away any excess foil. Then cook for 3 hrs. If the sauce looks watery, remove the beef and veg with a slotted spoon, and set aside. Cook the sauce over a high heat for a few mins until the sauce has thickened a little, then return the beef and vegetables to the pan.
    To make the celeriac mash, peel the celeriac and cut into cubes. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Tip in the celeriac and fry for 5 mins until it turns golden. Season well with salt and pepper. Stir in the rosemary, thyme, bay and cardamom pods, then pour over 200ml water, enough to nearly cover the celeriac. Turn the heat to low, partially cover the pan and leave to simmer for 25-30 mins.
    After 25-30 mins, the celeriac should be soft and most of the water will have evaporated. Drain away any remaining water, then remove the herb sprigs, bay and cardamom pods. Lightly crush with a potato masher, then finish with a glug of olive oil and season to taste. Spoon the beef bourguignon into serving bowls and place a large spoonful of the celeriac mash on top. Garnish with one of the bay leaves, if you like.

  • White chocolate creme brulee

    White chocolate creme brulee

    Category: Dessert

    Area: French

    Ingredients:

    • 568ml Double Cream
    • 100g White Chocolate Chips
    • Pod of Vanilla
    • 6 Egg Yolks
    • 2 tbs Caster Sugar
    • Top Caster Sugar

    Instructions:

    Heat the cream, chocolate and vanilla pod in a pan until the chocolate has melted. Take off the heat and allow to infuse for 10 mins, scraping the pod seeds into the cream. If using the vanilla extract, add straight away. Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3.
    Beat yolks and sugar until pale. stir in the chocolate cream. Strain into a jug and pour into ramekins. Place in a deep roasting tray and pour boiling water halfway up the sides. Bake for 15-20 mins until just set with a wobbly centre. Chill in the fridge for at least 4 hrs.
    To serve, sprinkle some sugar on top of the brûlées and caramelise with a blowtorch or briefly under a hot grill. Leave caramel to harden, then serve.