Category: Uncategorized

  • Split Pea Soup

    Split Pea Soup

    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.

  • Beef Brisket Pot Roast

    Beef Brisket Pot Roast

    Category: Beef

    Area: American

    Ingredients:

    • 4-5 pound Beef Brisket
    • Dash Salt
    • 3 Onion
    • 5 cloves Garlic
    • 1 Sprig Thyme
    • 1 sprig Rosemary
    • 4 Bay Leaves
    • 2 cups beef stock
    • 3 Large Carrots
    • 1 Tbsp Mustard
    • 4 Mashed Potatoes

    Instructions:

    1 Prepare the brisket for cooking: On one side of the brisket there should be a layer of fat, which you want. If there are any large chunks of fat, cut them off and discard them. Large pieces of fat will not be able to render out completely.
    Using a sharp knife, score the fat in parallel lines, about 3/4-inch apart. Slice through the fat, not the beef. Repeat in the opposite direction to make a cross-hatch pattern.
    Salt the brisket well and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

    2 Sear the brisket: You'll need an oven-proof, thick-bottomed pot with a cover, or Dutch oven, that is just wide enough to hold the brisket roast with a little room for the onions.
    Pat the brisket dry and place it, fatty side down, into the pot and place it on medium high heat. Cook for 5-8 minutes, lightly sizzling, until the fat side is nicely browned. (If the roast seems to be cooking too fast, turn the heat down to medium. You want a steady sizzle, not a raging sear.)
    Turn the brisket over and cook for a few minutes more to brown the other side.

    3 Sauté the onions and garlic: When the brisket has browned, remove it from the pot and set aside. There should be a couple tablespoons of fat rendered in the pot, if not, add some olive oil.
    Add the chopped onions and increase the heat to high. Sprinkle a little salt on the onions. Sauté, stirring often, until the onions are lightly browned, 5-8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 1-2 more minutes.

    4 Return brisket to pot, add herbs, stock, bring to simmer, cover, cook in oven: Preheat the oven to 300°F. Use kitchen twine to tie together the bay leaves, rosemary and thyme.
    Move the onions and garlic to the sides of the pot and nestle the brisket inside. Add the beef stock and the tied-up herbs. Bring the stock to a boil on the stovetop.
    Cover the pot, place the pot in the 300°F oven and cook for 3 hours. Carefully flip the brisket every hour so it cooks evenly.

    5 Add carrots, continue to cook: After 3 hours, add the carrots. Cover the pot and cook for 1 hour more, or until the carrots are cooked through and the brisket is falling-apart tender.
    6 Remove brisket to cutting board, tent with foil: When the brisket is falling-apart tender, take the pot out of the oven and remove the brisket to a cutting board. Cover it with foil. Pull out and discard the herbs.
    7 Make sauce (optional): At this point you have two options. You can serve as is, or you can make a sauce with the drippings and some of the onions. If you serve as is, skip this step.
    To make a sauce, remove the carrots and half of the onions, set aside and cover them with foil. Pour the ingredients that are remaining into the pot into a blender, and purée until smooth. If you want, add 1 tablespoon of mustard to the mix. Put into a small pot and keep warm.
    8 Slice the meat across the grain: Notice the lines of the muscle fibers of the roast. This is the "grain" of the meat. Slice the meat perpendicular to these lines, or across the grain (cutting this way further tenderizes the meat), in 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch slices.
    Serve with the onions, carrots and gravy. Serve with mashed, roasted or boiled potatoes, egg noodles or polenta.

  • 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.

  • Portuguese barbecued pork (Febras assadas)

    Portuguese barbecued pork (Febras assadas)

    Category: Pork

    Area: Portuguese

    Ingredients:

    • 2 Pork
    • 200ml White Wine
    • 1/2 tsp Paprika
    • 2 Lemon
    • 1/2 Lemon Juice
    • Dash Olive Oil
    • To serve Mayonnaise
    • 1 kg Potatoes
    • For frying Vegetable Oil

    Instructions:

    STEP 1

    Cut the tenderloins into 5 equal-size pieces leaving the tail ends a little longer. Take a clear plastic bag and slip one of the pieces in. Bash it into an escalope the size of a side-plate with a rolling pin and repeat with the remaining pieces.

    STEP 2

    Put the wine, paprika, some salt and pepper and the juice of ½ a lemon in a bowl and add the pork. Leave to marinate for 20-30 minutes, while you get your barbecue to the stage where the coals are glowing but there are no flames.

    STEP 3

    To make the chips, fill a basin with cool water and cut the potatoes into 3cm-thick chips. Soak them in the water for 5 minutes and then change the water. Leave for 5 more minutes. Drain and then pat dry on a towel or with kitchen paper.

    STEP 4

    Heat the oil in a deep fryer or a deep heavy-based pan with a lid to 130C and lower the chips into the oil (in batches). Blanch for 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oil and drain well. Place on a tray to cool. Reheat the oil to 180C (make sure it’s hot or your chips will be soggy) and lower the basket of chips into the oil (again, do this in batches). Leave to cook for 2 minutes and then give them a little shake. Cook for another minute or so until they are well coloured and crisp to the touch. Drain well for a few minutes, tip into a bowl and sprinkle with sea salt.

    STEP 5

    The pork will cook quickly so do it in 2 batches. Take the pieces out of the marinade, rub them with oil, and drop them onto the barbecue (you could also use a chargrill). Cook for 1 minute on each side – they may flare up as you do so. This should really be enough time as they will keep on cooking. Take them off the barbecue and pile onto a plate. Repeat with the remaining batch.

    STEP 6

    Serve by piling a plate with chips, drop the pork on top of each pile and pouring the juices from the plate over so the chips take up the flavours. Top with a spoon of mayonnaise and a wedge of lemon.

  • Portuguese custard tarts

    Portuguese custard tarts

    Category: Dessert

    Area: Portuguese

    Ingredients:

    • 2 tbs Plain Flour
    • 2 tbs Icing Sugar
    • 375g Puff Pastry
    • 250g Caster Sugar
    • 2 strips Lemon Zest
    • 1 Stick Cinnamon
    • 2 Eggs
    • 4 Egg Yolks
    • 50g Corn Flour
    • 500ml Whole Milk
    • Pod of Vanilla
    • To serve Cinnamon

    Instructions:

    STEP 1
    Roll the pastry
    Mix the flour and icing sugar, and use this to dust the work surface. Roll the pastry out to make a 45 x 30cm rectangle. Roll up lengthways to create a long sausage shape.

    STEP 2
    Cutting pastry into rounds
    Cut the pastry into 24 wheels, about 1-2cm thick.

    STEP 3
    Roll out each pastry portion
    Roll each wheel lightly with the rolling pin to fit 2 x 12-hole non-stick fairy cake tins.

    STEP 4
    Press pastry into the tin
    Press the pastry circles into the tins and mould into the tins to make thin cases. Chill until needed.

    STEP 5
    Make the infused syrup
    Heat the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Make a sugar syrup by bringing the sugar, 200ml water, lemon zest and cinnamon stick to the boil. Reduce until syrupy, allow to cool, then remove the cinnamon and lemon. Whisk the eggs, egg yolks and cornflour until smooth in another large pan.

    STEP 6
    Making custard
    Heat the milk and vanilla pod seeds in a separate pan until just below the boil. Gradually pour the hot milk over the eggs and cornflour, then cook on a low heat, continually whisking.

    STEP 7
    Add syrup to custard
    Add the cooled sugar syrup to the custard and whisk until thickened slightly.

    STEP 8
    Pour custard into the tins
    Pour the custard through a sieve. Pour into the pastry cases and bake for 15 minutes until the pastry is golden and the custard has darkened.

    STEP 9
    cool and dust with icing sugar
    Cool completely in the tins then sift over icing sugar and ground cinnamon to serve.

  • Walnut Roll Gužvara

    Walnut Roll Gužvara

    Category: Dessert

    Area: Croatian

    Ingredients:

    • 450g Flour
    • 55g Caster Sugar
    • 2 parts Yeast
    • 1/2 tsp Salt
    • 6 oz Milk
    • 2 Beaten Eggs
    • 30g Butter
    • 140g Walnuts
    • 85g Butter
    • 85g Brown Sugar
    • 1 tsp Cinnamon
    • To Glaze Milk
    • To Glaze Icing Sugar

    Instructions:

    Mix all the ingredients for the dough together and knead well. Cover the dough and put to rise until doubled in size which should take about 2 hours. Knock back the dough and knead lightly.

    Divide the dough into two equal pieces; roll each piece into an oblong about 12 inches by 8 inches. Mix the filling ingredients together and divide between the dough, spreading over each piece. Roll up the oblongs as tightly as possible to give two 12 inch sausages. Place these side by side, touching each other, on a greased baking sheet. Cover and leave to rise for about 40 minutes. Heat oven to 200ºC (425ºF). Bake for 30-35 minutes until well risen and golden brown. Bread should sound hollow when the base is tapped.

    Remove from oven and brush the hot bread top with milk. Sift with a generous covering of icing sugar.

  • Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)

    Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)

    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.

  • 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.

  • Portuguese prego with green piri-piri

    Portuguese prego with green piri-piri

    Category: Beef

    Area: Portuguese

    Ingredients:

    • 1 clove Garlic
    • 2 small Beef Fillet
    • 2 tbs Olive Oil
    • 1 tbs Vinegar
    • Leaves Parsley
    • 2 Ciabatta
    • 2 handfulls Rocket
    • Small bunch Basil Leaves
    • Small bunch Parsley
    • 1 Jalapeno
    • 1 tbs Vinegar
    • 2 chopped Spring Onions
    • 1/2 Garlic
    • 1/2 tsp Caster Sugar

    Instructions:

    STEP 1

    Rub the garlic over the steaks then put in a sandwich bag and tip in the olive oil, sherry vinegar and parsley stalks. Smoosh everything together, then use a rolling pin to bash the steaks a few times. Leave for 1-2 hours.

    STEP 2

    To make the sauce, put all the ingredients into a blender with 1 tbsp water and whizz until as smooth as possible. This will make more than you’ll need for the recipe but will keep for a week in an airtight jar.

    STEP 3

    Heat a griddle or frying pan to high. Brush away the garlic and parsley stalks from the steaks and season well. Sear the steaks for 2 minutes on each side then rest on a plate. Put the ciabatta halves onto the plate, toasted-side down, to soak up any juices.

    STEP 4

    Slice the steaks then stuff into the rolls with the green sauce and rocket.

  • Chicken Karaage

    Chicken Karaage

    Category: Chicken

    Area: Japanese

    Ingredients:

    • 450 grams Boneless skin Chicken
    • 1 tablespoon Ginger
    • 1 clove Garlic
    • 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon Sake
    • 2 teaspoon Granulated sugar
    • 1/3 cup Potato starch
    • 1/3 cup Vegetable oil
    • 1/3 cup Lemon

    Instructions:

    Add the ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sake and sugar to a bowl and whisk to combine. Add the chicken, then stir to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

    Add 1 inch of vegetable oil to a heavy bottomed pot and heat until the oil reaches 360 degrees F. Line a wire rack with 2 sheets of paper towels and get your tongs out. Put the potato starch in a bowl

    Add a handful of chicken to the potato starch and toss to coat each piece evenly.

    Fry the karaage in batches until the exterior is a medium brown and the chicken is cooked through. Transfer the fried chicken to the paper towel lined rack. If you want the karaage to stay crispy longer, you can fry the chicken a second time, until it's a darker color after it's cooled off once. Serve with lemon wedges.