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Category: Side

Area: Canadian

Ingredients:

• 1kg Ham
• 200g (soaked overnight) Peas
• 2 chopped Onions
• 2 chopped Carrots
• 2 Bay Leaves
• 1 chopped Celery
• 300g Frozen Peas
• to serve Bread

Instructions:

Put the gammon in a very large pan with 2 litres water and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and drain off the water – this helps to get rid of some of the saltiness. Recover with 2 litres cold water and bring to the boil again. Put everything but the frozen peas into the pan and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 1½-2½ hrs, topping up the water as and when you need to, to a similar level it started at. As the ham cooks and softens, you can halve it if you want, so it is all submerged under the liquid. When the ham is tender enough to pull into shreds, it is ready.
Lift out the ham, peel off and discard the skin. While it is still hot (wear a clean pair of rubber gloves), shred the meat. Remove bay from the soup and stir in the frozen peas. Simmer for 1 min, then blend until smooth. Add a splash of water if too thick, and return to the pan to heat through if it has cooled, or if you are making ahead.
When you are ready to serve, mix the hot soup with most of the ham – gently reheat if made ahead. Serve in bowls with the remaining ham scattered on top, and eat with crusty bread and butter.

Category: Vegetarian

Area: Russian

Ingredients:

• 4 Potatoes
• 3 Carrots
• 1 tbs Salt
• 1/2 tbs White Wine Vinegar
• 4 Eggs
• 7 oz Sausages
• 4 oz Dill
• 1 can Peas
• 4 Onions
• 1 cup Mayonnaise

Instructions:

Cut the potatoes and carrots into small uniform cubes.
Place them in a large pot and fill with water.
Add salt and vinegar. Bring it to a boil over medium high heat, and then reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook until the potatoes are cooked through, about 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and let it cool to room temperature.
Meanwhile, cut the sausage and pickles into small cubes, and chop the green onions.
Cut the hard-boiled eggs into small cubes as well.
If using fresh dill, chop them as well.
In a large bowl, combine potatoes, carrots, sausage, pickles, peas and green onions.
Add mayo and dill and mix until well combined.
Salt and pepper to taste. Cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Category: Chicken

Area: Chinese

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Chicken Breast
• 3/4 cup Plain Flour
• 1 Egg
• 2 tbs Starch
• 1 tbs Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Onion Salt
• 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
• 3/4 cup Water
• 1/2 cup Chicken Stock
• 1/4 cup Duck Sauce
• 3 tbs Soy Sauce
• 2 tbs Honey
• 1 tbs Rice Vinegar
• 2 tbs Sesame Seed Oil
• 1/2 tbs Gochujang
• 2 tbs Starch
• 1 clove Garlic
• 2 chopped Spring Onions
• 1 tsp Ginger

Instructions:

DIRECTIONS:
STEP 1 – SAUCE
In a bowl, add 2 Cups of water, 2 Tablespoon soy sauce, 2 Tablespoon white vinegar, sherry cooking wine, 1/4 Teaspoon white pepper, minced ginger, minced garlic, hot pepper, ketchup, hoisin sauce, and sugar.
Mix together well and set aside.
STEP 2 – MARINATING THE CHICKEN
In a bowl, add the chicken, 1 pinch of salt, 1 pinch of white pepper, 2 egg whites, and 3 Tablespoon of corn starch
STEP 3 – DEEP FRY THE CHICKEN
Deep fry the chicken at 350 degrees for 3-4 minutes or until it is golden brown and loosen up the chicken so that they don't stick together.
Set the chicken aside.
STEP 4 – STIR FRY
Add the sauce to the wok and then the broccoli and wait until it is boiling.
To thicken the sauce, whisk together 2 Tablespoon of cornstarch and 4 Tablespoon of water in a bowl and slowly add to your stir-fry until it's the right thickness.
Next add in the chicken and stir-fry for a minute and serve on a plate

Category: Pasta

Area: Italian

Ingredients:

• 300g Spaghetti
• 1 tbls Olive Oil
• 1 finely chopped Onion
• 2 cloves minced Garlic
• 1 Red Chilli
• 1 tbls Tomato Puree
• 425g Pilchards
• 70g Black Olives
• Shaved Parmesan

Instructions:

Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and cook the onion, garlic and chilli for 3-4 mins to soften. Stir in the tomato purée and cook for 1 min, then add the pilchards with their sauce. Cook, breaking up the fish with a wooden spoon, then add the olives and continue to cook for a few more mins.

Drain the pasta and add to the pan with 2-3 tbsp of the cooking water. Toss everything together well, then divide between plates and serve, scattered with Parmesan.

Category: Seafood

Area: Polish

Ingredients:

• 8 Herring
• 1 sliced Onion
• 1/2 cup Olive Oil
• 1 tsp Allspice
• 1 tsp Pepper
• 1 Bay Leaf

Instructions:

Soak herring in cold water for at least 1 hour. If very salty, repeat, changing the water each time.

Drain thoroughly and slice herring into bite-size pieces.

Place in a jar large enough to accommodate the pieces and cover with oil, allspice, peppercorns, and bay leaf. Close the jar.

Refrigerate for 2 to 3 days before eating. This will keep refrigerated up to 2 weeks.

Serve with finely chopped onion or onion slices, lemon, and parsley or dill.

Category: Beef

Area: Filipino

Ingredients:

• 1.5kg Beef
• 1 Beef Stock Concentrate
• 8 ounces Tomato Puree
• 3 cups Water
• 6 tablespoons Soy Sauce
• 1 tbs White Wine Vinegar
• 2 tbs Pepper
• 4 Bay Leaf
• 1/2 Lemon
• 2 tbs Tomato Sauce
• 3 tbs Butter
• 1/2 cup Olive Oil
• 1 chopped Onion
• 4 cloves Garlic

Instructions:

0. Combine beef, crushed peppercorn, soy sauce, vinegar, dried bay leaves, lemon, and tomato sauce. Mix well. Marinate beef for at least 30 minutes.
1. Put the marinated beef in a cooking pot along with remaining marinade. Add water. Let boil.
2. Add Knorr Beef Cube. Stir. Cover the pot and cook for 40 minutes in low heat.
3. Turn the beef over. Add tomato paste. Continue cooking until beef tenderizes. Set aside.
4. Heat oil in a pan. Fry the potato until it browns. Turn over and continue frying the opposite side. Remove from the pan and place on a clean plate. Do the same with the carrots.
5. Save 3 tablespoons of cooking oil from the pan where the potato was fried. Saute onion and garlic until onion softens.
6. Pour-in the sauce from the beef stew. Let boil. Add the beef. Cook for 2 minutes.
7. Add butter and let it melt. Continue cooking until the sauce reduces to half.

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.

Category: Seafood

Area: Mexican

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp cajun
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 4 fillets white fish
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 8 flour tortilla
• 1 sliced avocado
• 2 shredded little gem lettuce
• 4 shredded Spring Onions
• 1 x 300ml salsa
• 1 pot sour cream
• 1 lemon
• 1 clove finely chopped garlic

Instructions:

Cooking in a cajun spice and cayenne pepper marinade makes this fish super succulent and flavoursome. Top with a zesty dressing and serve in a tortilla for a quick, fuss-free main that's delightfully summery.

On a large plate, mix the cajun spice and cayenne pepper with a little seasoning and use to coat the fish all over.

Heat a little oil in a frying pan, add in the fish and cook over a medium heat until golden. Reduce the heat and continue frying until the fish is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Cook in batches if you don’t have enough room in the pan.

Meanwhile, prepare the dressing by combining all the ingredients with a little seasoning.
Soften the tortillas by heating in the microwave for 5-10 seconds. Pile high with the avocado, lettuce and spring onion, add a spoonful of salsa, top with large flakes of fish and drizzle over the dressing.

Category: Lamb

Area: British

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp Cumin
• 1 tbs Rapeseed Oil
• 2 finely chopped Red Onions
• 6 Garlic Clove
• 3 finely chopped Green Chilli
• 1 finely chopped Red Pepper
• 1 tsp Nutmeg
• 2 tsp Coriander
• 1kg Lamb Mince
• 1 tsp Pepper
• 3 tbs Coriander
• 340g Plain Flour
• ½ tsp Salt
• 90 ml Milk
• 150g Lard
• Beaten Egg Yolks

Instructions:

Heat a large frying pan and toast the cumin seeds for a few minutes, then set aside. Heat the oil in the same pan and fry the onion, garlic, chilli, pepper and a good pinch of salt for around eight minutes, until there is no moisture left. Remove from the heat, stir in the toasted cumin seeds, ground mace (or nutmeg) and ground coriander. Leave to cool.
In a large bowl mix together the minced lamb, white pepper, fresh coriander, and the cooled spiced onion mixture until combined. Set aside, covered, in the fridge.
Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 and generously grease a 20cm/8in diameter loose-bottomed or springform round cake tin with lard.
To make the pastry, sift the flour and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the centre.
Put the milk, lard and 90ml/3fl oz of water in a saucepan and heat gently. When the lard has melted, increase the heat and bring to the boil.
Pour the boiling liquid into the flour, and use a wooden spoon to combine until cool enough to handle. Bring together into a ball.
Dust a work surface with flour and, working quickly, knead the dough briefly – it will be soft and moist. Set aside a third of the pastry and roll the rest out on a well-floured surface. Line the pie dish with the pastry, pressing it right up the sides until it pokes just over the top of the tin.
Add the filling into the pastry-lined tin bit by bit. As you reach the top, form a slight peak. Roll out the reserved pastry and top the pie with it. Pinch the edges to seal and trim the excess. Poke a hole in the top of the pie and insert a small tube made from aluminium foil to allow steam to escape.
Brush the top of the pie with a little beaten egg yolk, and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes (put a tray on the shelf below to catch any drips). Then reduce the temperature to 160C/325F/Gas 3 and cook for a further 1¼ hours until golden-brown. Leave to cool completely before refrigerating for two hours, or overnight.
Run a knife around the edge of the pie, remove from the tin and serve with chutneys, salads or pickles.

Category: Beef

Area: Croatian

Ingredients:

• 600g Potatoes
• 1 chopped Courgettes
• 1 chopped Carrots
• 1 chopped Green Pepper
• 1 small Aubergine
• 1 Large Chopped Onion
• 800g Lamb Shoulder
• 1 tbs Garlic Sauce
• 1 tbs Tomato Puree
• 80 ml Olive Oil
• Sprinking Thyme
• 250ml White Wine
• Pinch Pepper

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 200°C fan / 220°C / 425°F / Gas mark 7
If you have not bought diced lamb, cut your lamb shoulder or leg into large chunks and place to one side.
Chunks of chopped lamb of a red chopping board
Make oil marinade –
Mix 80ml of olive oil in a bowl with garlic puree, sundried tomato puree ,black pepper and salt.
olive oil, gia sundried tomato puree and gia garlic puree and black pepper mixed together in a silver bowl to make Croatian peka
Add potatoes and vegetables into a large lidded casserole dish.
Chopped up vegetables which consist of chopped up red onion, courgette, potatoes red peppers in a cast iron pan
Place diced lamb on top of the vegetables, pour the marinade and wine over the top.
Chunks of lamb covered in in a sundried tomato oil sauce which is on top of chopped red onion, aubergine, courgette and potatoes in a cast iron pan
Add the rosemary, thyme and sage, trying to keep the herbs on top.
So you can easily remove the herb stalks once cooked.
Chunks of lamb coated in a sundried tomato oil sauce and covered with thyme, rosemary and sage which is on top of chopped red onion, aubergine, courgette and potatoes in a cast iron pan
Place lid on the casserole dish and cook for 1hr 30 minute
If you do not have a lid cover very well with kitchen foil
Cast iron dish with lid on in the oven
Take the lid off, remove any thick herb stems. Stir in 2 tbsp of olive oil.
Cook for a further 20-30 mins.
Cooked Croatian Lamb Peka in a cast iron pan in the oven
Serve with fresh homemade bread to dip into the juices.