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  • 15-minute chicken & halloumi burgers

    15-minute chicken & halloumi burgers

    Category: Chicken

    Area: American

    Ingredients:

    • 2 Chicken Breasts
    • 1 tbsp Oil
    • 4 tbsp Hotsauce
    • ½ Lemon Juice
    • 2 Buns
    • 250g Cheese
    • ¼ Cabbage
    • 2 tbsp Mayonnaise
    • 4 tbsp Sour Cream
    • 4 leaves Lettuce
    • 2 Red Pepper

    Instructions:

    STEP 1

    Put the chicken breasts between two pieces of baking parchment and use a rolling pin to gently bash them until they are approximately 1cm thick. Cut each chicken breast into two even pieces.

    STEP 2

    If you're using a frying pan, heat two frying pans over medium-high heat, with one of them containing oil. Fry the chicken in the oiled pan for 3-4 mins on each side until they are cooked through. Season the chicken, reduce the heat, drizzle in the chilli sauce and half of the lemon juice, and cook for an additional 1-2 mins until the sauce is reduced. Remove the chicken from the heat.

    STEP 3

    If you're using an air-fryer, preheat it to 180C for 4 mins. Add the chicken to the air-fryer and cook for 12 mins. Drizzle over the chilli sauce and half the lemon juice and cook for an additional 1-2 mins until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is reduced. Remove the chicken and keep it warm.
    STEP 4

    While the chicken is cooking, toast the buns in the dry frying pan for 30 seconds. Transfer them to a plate. If you're using an air fryer, put the buns in the air fryer for 1-2 mins until they are warm. Increase the air fryer temperature to 200C. Add the halloumi to the air fryer basket and cook for 10 mins, turning halfway through, until it's golden. Toss the cabbage with the mayo and the remaining lemon juice.

    STEP 5

    Spoon the hummus (or dip of your choice) into the toasted buns, then top with the rocket, chilli chicken, halloumi, and peppers. Drizzle with a little more chilli sauce, spoon over the cabbage, season with black pepper, and top with the bun lids. Serve with any extra cabbage on the side or a green salad.

  • Recheado Masala Fish

    Recheado Masala Fish

    Category: Seafood

    Area: Indian

    Ingredients:

    • 4 Mackerel
    • 18 dried Red Chilli
    • 1 inch Ginger
    • 8 cloves Garlic
    • 1.5 tsp Pepper
    • 1 tsp Cumin
    • ½ tsp Turmeric
    • Cinnamon stick
    • 4 Cloves
    • 2 Cardamom
    • 1 tbsp Sugar
    • 2 marble sized Tamarind ball
    • 2.5 tbsp Vinegar
    • for frying Oil

    Instructions:

    Soak all the spices, ginger, garlic, tamarind pulp and kashmiri chilies except oil in vinegar.
    Add sugar and salt.
    Also add turmeric powder.
    Combine all nicely and marinate for 35-40 mins.
    Grind the mixture until soft and smooth. Add more vinegar if required but ensure the paste has to be thick so add vinegar accordingly. If the masala paste is thin then it would not stick to the fish.
    Rinse the fish slit from the center and give some incision from the top. You could see the fish below for clarity.
    Now stuff the paste into the center and into the incision. Coat the entire fish with this paste. Marinate the fish for 30 mins.
    Place oil in a shallow pan, once oil is quite hot shallow fry the stuffed mackerels.
    Fry until golden brown from both sides
    Serve the recheado mackerels hot with salad, lime wedges, rice and curry.
    Notes
    1. Ensure the masala paste is thick else the result won't be good.
    2. If you aren't able to find kashmiri chilies then use bedgi chilies or kashmiri red chili powder.
    3. You could use white vinegar or coconut vinegar.
    4. Any left over paste could be stored in the fridge for future use.
    5. Cinnamon could be avoided as it's a strong spice used generally for meat or chicken.

  • Honey Yogurt Cheesecake

    Honey Yogurt Cheesecake

    Category: Dessert

    Area: Greek

    Ingredients:

    • 100g Digestive Biscuits
    • 85g Almonds
    • 85g Butter
    • 250ml Greek Yogurt
    • 750g Mascarpone
    • 2 Eggs
    • Zest of 1 Lemon
    • Zest of 1 Orange
    • 250ml Honey
    • To serve Fruit Mix

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Crush the biscuits and most of the almonds inside a plastic food bag using a rolling pin. Mix with the butter, then press into the bottom of a deep, oval, 23cm dish (or something similar in size – a roasting tin, baking dish or cake tin will work). Bake for 10 mins until crisp.

    Stir or mash together the yogurt and mascarpone, then whisk in the eggs, one at a time. Stir in the lemon and orange zests, then stir in most of the honey, reserving about 3 tbsp. Spread over the biscuit base, cover loosely with foil and cook for 1 hr. Remove the foil and cook for 15 mins more until lightly golden and the top is firm with just the slightest wobble in the middle. Leave to cool. Can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days.

    To serve, scatter with almonds, drizzle over the remaining honey, and hand around fresh fruit to go with it.

  • Tourtiere

    Tourtiere

    Category: Pork

    Area: Canadian

    Ingredients:

    • 1 medium Potatoes
    • 1 tsp Sunflower Oil
    • 500g Minced Pork
    • 1 finely chopped Onion
    • 1 finely chopped Garlic Clove
    • ¼ tsp Cinnamon
    • ¼ tsp Allspice
    • ¼ tsp Nutmeg
    • 100ml Vegetable Stock
    • 400g Shortcrust Pastry
    • To Glaze Egg

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Boil the potato until tender, drain and mash, then leave to cool. Heat the oil in a non-stick pan, add the mince and onion and quickly fry until browned. Add the garlic, spices, stock, plenty of pepper and a little salt and mix well. Remove from the heat, stir into the potato and leave to cool.
    Roll out half the pastry and line the base of a 20-23cm pie plate or flan tin. Fill with the pork mixture and brush the edges of the pastry with water. Roll out the remaining dough and cover the pie. Press the edges of the pastry to seal, trimming off the excess. Prick the top of the pastry case to allow steam to escape and glaze the top with the beaten egg.
    Bake for 30 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden. Serve cut into wedges with a crisp green salad. Leftovers are good cold for lunch the next day, served with a selection of pickles.

  • Chivito uruguayo

    Chivito uruguayo

    Category: Beef

    Area: Uruguayan

    Ingredients:

    • 2 Beef Brisket
    • 2 Bread
    • 1 Lettuce
    • 1 Tomato
    • 100g Ham
    • 100g Mozzarella
    • 100g Bacon
    • 1 Egg
    • 1 Onion
    • 1 Pepper

    Instructions:

    Crush the meat so that it is finite and we put it on a griddle to brown. Put the eggs, bacon and ham to fry.
    Cut the bread in half, put the beef brisket, the fried eggs, the bacon, the ham, the mozzarella, the tomato and the lettuce. Cover with the other half of the bread and serve.

  • Chicken Ham and Leek Pie

    Chicken Ham and Leek Pie

    Category: Chicken

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 450ml Chicken Stock
    • 3 Chicken Breast
    • 75g Butter
    • 2 sliced Leek
    • 2 cloves minced Garlic
    • 50g Plain Flour
    • 200ml Milk
    • 3 tbs White Wine
    • 150ml Double Cream
    • 150g Ham
    • spinkling Sea Salt
    • pinch Pepper
    • 350g Plain Flour
    • 200g Butter
    • 1 Free-range Egg, Beaten
    • 1 tbls Cold Water
    • 1 Free-range Egg, Beaten

    Instructions:

    Heat the chicken stock in a lidded saucepan. Add the chicken breast and bring to a low simmer. Cover with a lid and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts from the water with tongs and place on a plate. Pour the cooking liquor into a large jug.
    Melt 25g/1oz of the butter in a large heavy-based saucepan over a low heat. Stir in the leeks and fry gently for two minutes, stirring occasionally until just softened. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute. Add the remaining butter and stir in the flour as soon as the butter has melted. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
    Slowly pour the milk into the pan, just a little at a time, stirring well between each adding. Gradually add 250ml/10fl oz of the reserved stock and the wine, if using, stirring until the sauce is smooth and thickened slightly. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 minutes.
    Season the mixture, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream. Pour into a large bowl and cover the surface of the sauce with cling ilm to prevent a skin forming. Set aside to cool.
    Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Put a baking tray in the oven to heat.
    For the pastry, put the flour and butter in a food processor and blend on the pulse setting until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. With the motor running, add the beaten egg and water and blend until the mixture forms a ball. Portion off 250g/10oz of pastry for the lid.
    Roll the remaining pastry out on a lightly floured surface, turning the pastry frequently until around 5mm/¼in thick and 4cm/1½in larger than the pie dish. Lift the pastry over the rolling pin and place it gently into the pie dish. Press the pastry firmly up the sides, making sure there are no air bubbles. Leave the excess pastry overhanging the sides.
    Cut the chicken breasts into 3cm/1¼in pieces. Stir the chicken, ham and leeks into the cooled sauce. Pour the chicken filling into the pie dish. Brush the rim of the dish with beaten egg. Roll out the reserved pastry for the lid.
    Cover the pie with the pastry lid and press the edges together firmly to seal. Trim any excess pastry.
    Make a small hole in the centre of the pie with the tip of a knife. Glaze the top of the pie with beaten egg. Bake on the preheated tray in the centre of the oven for 35-40 minutes or until the pie is golden-brown all over and the filling is piping hot.

  • Crispy Sausages and Greens

    Crispy Sausages and Greens

    Category: Pork

    Area: Irish

    Ingredients:

    • 1 bunch Kale
    • 8 Italian Fennel Sausages
    • 1 Head chopped Cabbage
    • 8 Garlic Clove
    • Sliced Onion
    • Sliced Shiitake Mushrooms
    • 1 cup Chicken Stock
    • Salt
    • Pepper

    Instructions:

    Preheat the oven to 350°. Remove the stems from one bunch of Tuscan kale and tear the leaves into 1" pieces (mustard greens, collards, spinach, and chard are great, too). Coarsely chop half a head of green cabbage. Combine the greens in a large baking dish and add 4 cloves of thinly sliced garlic. Adding some sliced onions and shiitake mushrooms at this point is optional, but highly recommended (I'll sauté the onions and mushrooms in a cast iron baking dish right on the stove before adding to the greens). Coat the greens with some olive oil and pour ½ cup chicken stock or broth over everything. Cover the dish with foil and bake until the greens are wilted, about 15 minutes. Remove foil and season with salt and pepper. Continue to bake until cabbage is tender, about 20-25 minutes more.

    Meanwhile, heat a little olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Prick four sweet Italian sausages with a fork and cook until browned on all sides and cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. When the greens are done, slice the sausage and toss into the greens with a splash of your favorite vinegar (I like sherry or red wine).

  • Paszteciki (Polish Pasties)

    Paszteciki (Polish Pasties)

    Category: Beef

    Area: Polish

    Ingredients:

    • 1 cup Flour
    • 1/4 tsp Salt
    • 1 Yolk Egg
    • 1 Egg
    • 5 tbs Butter
    • 6 tblsp Butter
    • 1/3 cup Onion
    • 1/2 cup Swede
    • 1/2 lb Beef Brisket
    • 2 Beaten Eggs
    • 1 tsp Salt
    • 1/4 tsp Pepper

    Instructions:

    Sift flour and salt into a large mixing bowl.
    Use a spoon to push the egg yolk through a fine sieve into the flour.
    Add the raw egg and mix well.
    Beat in butter 1 tablespoon at a time.
    Place dough on a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, then wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate until firm (at least 30 minutes).
    In a heavy skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat; saute the onion and rutabaga until the onion is soft and transparent (5 minutes).
    Put the onions, rutabaga, and beef through a meat grinder twice if you have one, if not just chop them up as fine as possible.
    Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat, and add the meat mixture.
    Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until all of the liquid has evaporated and the mixture is thick enough to hold its shape.
    Remove from heat and let cool, then stir in 1 egg, and season with salt and pepper.
    Preheat oven to 350°F.
    On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into a 13×8" rectangle (1/8" thick).
    Spoon the filling down the center of the rectangle lengthwise, leaving about an inch of space on each end.
    Lightly brush the long sides with cold water, then fold one of the long sides over the filling and the other side over the top of that.
    Brush the short ends with cold water and fold them over the top, enclosing the filling.
    Place pastry seam side down on a baking sheet and brush the top evenly with the remaining scrambled egg.
    Bake in preheated oven until rich golden brown (30 minutes).
    Slice pastry diagonally into 1.5" long pieces and serve as an appetizer or with soup.

  • Tarte Tatin

    Tarte Tatin

    Category: Dessert

    Area: French

    Ingredients:

    • 300g Puff Pastry
    • Dusting Plain Flour
    • 6 Braeburn Apples
    • 100g Caster Sugar
    • 85g Butter
    • to serve Creme Fraiche

    Instructions:

    Roll the pastry to a 3mm-thick round on a lightly floured surface and cut a 24cm circle, using a plate as a guide. Lightly prick all over with a fork, wrap in cling film on a baking sheet and freeze while preparing the apples.
    Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Peel, quarter and core the apples. Put the sugar in a flameproof 20cm ceramic Tatin dish or a 20cm ovenproof heavy-based frying pan and place over a medium-high heat. Cook the sugar for 5-7 mins to a dark amber caramel syrup that’s starting to smoke, then turn off the heat and stir in the 60g diced chilled butter.
    To assemble the Tarte Tatin, arrange the apple quarters very tightly in a circle around the edge of the dish first, rounded-side down, then fill in the middle in a similar fashion. Gently press with your hands to ensure there are no gaps. Brush the fruit with the melted butter.
    Bake in the oven for 30 mins, then remove and place the disc of frozen puff pastry on top – it will quickly defrost. Tuck the edges down the inside of the dish and, with a knife, prick a few holes in the pastry to allow steam to escape. Bake for a further 40-45 mins until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
    Allow to cool to room temperature for 1 hr before running a knife around the edge of the dish and inverting it onto a large serving plate that is deep enough to contain the juices. Serve with crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.

  • McSinghs Scotch pie

    McSinghs Scotch pie

    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.