Author: zebono2

  • Smoky Lentil Chili with Squash

    Smoky Lentil Chili with Squash

    Category: Vegetarian

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 1 tbls Olive Oil
    • 1 Onion
    • 1 chopped Leek
    • 3 cloves Garlic
    • 4 tsp ground Cumin
    • 2 tsp ground Coriander
    • 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
    • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
    • 1 tsp Chili Powder
    • 1 tsp Cocoa
    • 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
    • 1 can Diced Tomatoes
    • 3 cups Water
    • 3 chopped Carrots
    • 1 1/2 cups Brown Lentils
    • 1 tsp Sea Salt
    • 1 Small Squash
    • 1 Cup Cashews
    • 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

    Instructions:

    Begin by roasting the squash. Slice it into thin crescents and drizzle with a little oil and sprinkle with sea salt. I added a fresh little sage I had in the fridge, but it’s unnecessary. Roast the squash a 205 C (400 F) for 20-30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until soft and golden. Let cool and chop into cubes.
    Meanwhile, rinse the lentils and cover them with water. Bring them to the boil then turn down to a simmer and let cook (uncovered) for 20-30 minutes, or until tender. Drain and set aside.
    While the lentils are cooking heat the 1 Tbsp. of oil on low in a medium pot. Add the onions and leeks and sauté for 5 or so minutes, or until they begin to soften. Add the garlic next along with the cumin and coriander, cooking for a few more minutes. Add the remaining spices – paprika, cinnamon, chilli, cocoa, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and oregano. Next add the can of tomatoes, the water or stock, and carrots. Let simmer, covered, for 20 minutes or until the veg is tender and the mixture has thickened up. You’ll need to check on the pot periodically for a stir and a top of of liquid if needed.
    Add the lentils and chopped roasted squash. Let cook for 10 more minutes to heat through.
    Serve with sliced jalapeno, lime wedges, cilantro, green onions, and cashew sour cream.

    SIMPLE CASHEW SOUR CREAM

    1 Cup Raw Unsalted Cashews
    Pinch Sea Salt
    1 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
    Water

    Bring some water to the boil, and use it to soak the cashews for at least four hours. Alternatively, you can use cold water and let the cashews soak overnight, but I’m forgetful/lazy, so often use the boil method which is much faster.
    After the cashews have soaked, drain them and add to a high speed blender. Begin to puree, slowly adding about 1/2 cup fresh water, until a creamy consistency is reached. You may need to add less or more water to reach the desired consistency.
    Add a pinch of sea salt and vinegar (or lemon juice).

  • Apple & Blackberry Crumble

    Apple & Blackberry Crumble

    Category: Dessert

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 120g Plain Flour
    • 60g Caster Sugar
    • 60g Butter
    • 300g Braeburn Apples
    • 30g Butter
    • 30g Demerara Sugar
    • 120g Blackberries
    • ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon
    • to serve Ice Cream

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Tip the flour and sugar into a large bowl. Add the butter, then rub into the flour using your fingertips to make a light breadcrumb texture. Do not overwork it or the crumble will become heavy. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over a baking sheet and bake for 15 mins or until lightly coloured.
    Meanwhile, for the compote, peel, core and cut the apples into 2cm dice. Put the butter and sugar in a medium saucepan and melt together over a medium heat. Cook for 3 mins until the mixture turns to a light caramel. Stir in the apples and cook for 3 mins. Add the blackberries and cinnamon, and cook for 3 mins more. Cover, remove from the heat, then leave for 2-3 mins to continue cooking in the warmth of the pan.
    To serve, spoon the warm fruit into an ovenproof gratin dish, top with the crumble mix, then reheat in the oven for 5-10 mins. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

  • 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.

  • Cream Cheese Tart

    Cream Cheese Tart

    Category: Starter

    Area: American

    Ingredients:

    • 250g Flour
    • 125g Butter
    • 1 Egg
    • Pinch Salt
    • 300g Cheese
    • 100ml milk Milk
    • 3 Eggs
    • 100g Parmesan Cheese
    • 350g Plum tomatoes
    • 3tbsp White Vinegar
    • 1 tbsp Honey
    • Topping Basil

    Instructions:

    Crust: make a dough from 250g flour (I like mixing different flours like plain and wholegrain spelt flour), 125g butter, 1 egg and a pinch of salt, press it into a tart form and place it in the fridge. Filling: stir 300g cream cheese and 100ml milk until smooth, add in 3 eggs, 100g grated parmesan cheese and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Take the crust out of the fridge and prick the bottom with a fork. Pour in the filling and bake at 175 degrees C for about 25 minutes. Cover the tart with some aluminium foil after half the time. In the mean time, slice about 350g mini tomatoes. In a small pan heat 3tbsp olive oil, 3tbsp white vinegar, 1 tbsp honey, salt and pepper and combine well. Pour over the tomato slices and mix well. With a spoon, place the tomato slices on the tart, avoiding too much liquid on it. Decorate with basil leaves and enjoy

  • Madeira Cake

    Madeira Cake

    Category: Dessert

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 175g Butter
    • 175g Caster Sugar
    • 3 Eggs
    • 250g Self-raising Flour
    • 3 tbs Milk
    • Zest of 1 Lemon
    • To Glaze Mixed Peel

    Instructions:

    Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Grease an 18cm/7in round cake tin, line the base with greaseproof paper and grease the paper.
    Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating the mixture well between each one and adding a tablespoon of the flour with the last egg to prevent the mixture curdling.
    Sift the flour and gently fold in, with enough milk to give a mixture that falls slowly from the spoon. Fold in the lemon zest.
    Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and lightly level the top. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until golden-brown on top and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
    Remove from the oven and set aside to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn it out on to a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
    To serve, decorate the cake with the candied peel.

  • Chicken Handi

    Chicken Handi

    Category: Chicken

    Area: Indian

    Ingredients:

    • 1.2 kg Chicken
    • 5 thinly sliced Onion
    • 2 finely chopped Tomatoes
    • 8 cloves chopped Garlic
    • 1 tbsp Ginger paste
    • ¼ cup Vegetable oil
    • 2 tsp Cumin seeds
    • 3 tsp Coriander seeds
    • 1 tsp Turmeric powder
    • 1 tsp Chilli powder
    • 2 Green chilli
    • 1 cup Yogurt
    • ¾ cup Cream
    • 3 tsp Dried fenugreek
    • 1 tsp Garam masala
    • To taste Salt

    Instructions:

    Take a large pot or wok, big enough to cook all the chicken, and heat the oil in it. Once the oil is hot, add sliced onion and fry them until deep golden brown. Then take them out on a plate and set aside.
    To the same pot, add the chopped garlic and sauté for a minute. Then add the chopped tomatoes and cook until tomatoes turn soft. This would take about 5 minutes.
    Then return the fried onion to the pot and stir. Add ginger paste and sauté well.
    Now add the cumin seeds, half of the coriander seeds and chopped green chillies. Give them a quick stir.
    Next goes in the spices – turmeric powder and red chilli powder. Sauté the spices well for couple of minutes.
    Add the chicken pieces to the wok, season it with salt to taste and cook the chicken covered on medium-low heat until the chicken is almost cooked through. This would take about 15 minutes. Slowly sautéing the chicken will enhance the flavor, so do not expedite this step by putting it on high heat.
    When the oil separates from the spices, add the beaten yogurt keeping the heat on lowest so that the yogurt doesn’t split. Sprinkle the remaining coriander seeds and add half of the dried fenugreek leaves. Mix well.
    Finally add the cream and give a final mix to combine everything well.
    Sprinkle the remaining kasuri methi and garam masala and serve the chicken handi hot with naan or rotis. Enjoy!

  • Crispy Eggplant

    Crispy Eggplant

    Category: Vegetarian

    Area: Filipino

    Ingredients:

    • 1 large Egg Plants
    • 1 cup Breadcrumbs
    • 50g Sesame Seed
    • 2 Eggs
    • To taste Salt
    • To taste Pepper
    • For frying Vegetable Oil

    Instructions:

    Slice eggplant into 1 cm (0.4-inch) slices. Place them in a bowl and sprinkle them with salt. allow them to sit for 30 minutes to render some of their liquid and bitterness.
    2. After 30 minutes wash eggplant slices from salt and pat dry with a kitchen towel.
    3. In a large bowl/plate place breadcrumbs and sesame seeds. In another bowl beat 2 eggs with pinch salt and pepper.
    4. Heal oil in a large skillet over high heat.
    5. Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in crumbs, and place in hot oil. Fry 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel.

  • Chelsea Buns

    Chelsea Buns

    Category: Dessert

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 500g White Flour
    • 1 tsp Salt
    • 7g Yeast
    • 300ml Milk
    • 40g Butter
    • 1 Eggs
    • Dash Vegetable Oil
    • 25g Butter
    • 75g Brown Sugar
    • 2 tsp Cinnamon
    • 150g Dried Fruit
    • 2 tbs Milk
    • 2 tbs Caster Sugar

    Instructions:

    Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and add the yeast.
    Meanwhile, warm the milk and butter in a saucepan until the butter melts and the mixture is lukewarm.
    Add the milk mixture and egg to the flour mixture and stir until the contents of the bowl come together as a soft dough. (You may need to add a little extra flour.)
    Tip the dough onto a generously floured work surface. Knead for five minutes, adding more flour if necessary, until the dough is smooth and elastic and no longer feels sticky.
    Lightly oil a bowl with a little of the vegetable oil. Place the dough into the bowl and turn until it is covered in the oil. Cover the bowl with cling film and set aside in a warm place for one hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
    Lightly grease a baking tray.
    For the filling, knock the dough back to its original size and turn out onto a lightly floured work surface. Roll the dough out into a rectangle 0.5cm/¼in thick. Brush all over with the melted butter, then sprinkle over the brown sugar, cinnamon and dried fruit.
    Roll the dough up into a tight cylinder , cut ten 4cm/1½in slice and place them onto a lightly greased baking sheet, leaving a little space between each slice. Cover with a tea towel and set aside to rise for 30 minutes.
    Preheat oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
    Bake the buns in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until risen and golden-brown.
    Meanwhile, for the glaze, heat the milk and sugar in a saucepan until boiling. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
    Remove the buns from the oven and brush with the glaze, then set aside to cool on a wire rack.

  • Jam Roly-Poly

    Jam Roly-Poly

    Category: Dessert

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 50g Butter
    • 250g Self-raising Flour
    • 1 small Vanilla
    • 50g Suet
    • 150ml Milk
    • 100g Raspberry Jam
    • to serve Custard

    Instructions:

    Put a deep roasting tin onto the bottom shelf of the oven, and make sure that there’s another shelf directly above it. Pull the roasting tin out on its shelf, fill two-thirds with boiling water from the kettle, then carefully slide it back in. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Tear off a large sheet of foil and greaseproof paper (about 30 x 40cm). Sit the greaseproof on top of the foil and butter it.
    Tip butter, flour and vanilla seeds into a food processor; pulse until the butter has disappeared. Tip into a mixing bowl. Stir through the suet, pour in the milk and work together with a cutlery knife until you get a sticky dough. You may need a drop more milk, depending on your flour.
    Tip the dough out onto a floured surface, quickly pat together to smooth, then roll out to a square roughly 25 x 25cm. Spread the jam all over, leaving a gap along one edge, then roll up from the opposite edge. Pinch the jam-free edge into the dough where it meets, and pinch the ends roughly, too. Carefully lift onto the greased paper, join-side down (you might find a flat baking sheet helpful for this), loosely bring up the paper and foil around it, then scrunch together along the edges and ends to seal. The roly-poly will puff quite a bit during cooking so don’t wrap it tightly. Lift the parcel directly onto the rack above the tin and cook for 1 hr.
    Let the pudding sit for 5 mins before unwrapping, then carefully open the foil and paper, and thickly slice to serve.

  • Vegetarian Casserole

    Vegetarian Casserole

    Category: Vegetarian

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 1 Rapeseed Oil
    • 1 Onion
    • 3 cloves Garlic
    • 1 tsp Paprika
    • ½ tsp Cumin
    • 1 tblsp Thyme
    • 3 Medium Carrots
    • 2 small stalks Celery
    • 1 Red Pepper
    • 1 Yellow Pepper
    • 2 x 400g tins Tomato
    • 250ml Vegetable Stock Cube
    • 2 sliced Courgettes
    • 2 sprigs Thyme
    • 250g Lentils

    Instructions:

    Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based pan. Add the onions and cook gently for 5 – 10 mins until softened.
    Add the garlic, spices, dried thyme, carrots, celery and peppers and cook for 5 minutes.
    Add the tomatoes, stock, courgettes and fresh thyme and cook for 20 – 25 minutes.
    Take out the thyme sprigs. Stir in the lentils and bring back to a simmer. Serve with wild and white basmati rice, mash or quinoa.