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  • Chicken Fajita Mac and Cheese

    Chicken Fajita Mac and Cheese

    Category: Chicken

    Area: American

    Ingredients:

    • 500g macaroni
    • 2 cups chicken stock
    • 1/2 cup heavy cream
    • 1 packet fajita seasoning
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 3 diced chicken breast
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 small finely diced onion
    • 2 finely diced red pepper
    • 2 cloves minced garlic
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese
    • garnish chopped parsley

    Instructions:

    Fry your onion, peppers and garlic in olive oil until nicely translucent. Make a well in your veg and add your chicken. Add your seasoning and salt. Allow to colour slightly.
    Add your cream, stock and macaroni.
    Cook on low for 20 minutes. Add your cheeses, stir to combine.
    Top with roasted peppers and parsley.

  • 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.

  • Fresh sardines

    Fresh sardines

    Category: Side

    Area: Croatian

    Ingredients:

    • 500g Sardines
    • Dash Vegetable Oil
    • To Glaze Flour
    • Dash Salt

    Instructions:

    Wash the fish under the cold tap. Roll in the flour and deep fry in oil until crispy. Lay on kitchen towel to get rid of the excess oil and serve hot or cold with a slice of lemon.

  • Red Peas Soup

    Red Peas Soup

    Category: Beef

    Area: Jamaican

    Ingredients:

    • 2 cups Kidney Beans
    • 1 large Carrots
    • 2 chopped Spring Onions
    • 4 sprigs Thyme
    • 1 Diced Onion
    • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
    • 2 chopped Red Pepper
    • 4 Mashed Garlic Clove
    • 1 tbs Allspice
    • 2 Lbs Beef
    • 2L Water
    • 4 Potatoes
    • 1 cup Plain Flour
    • 1/4 cup Water
    • 1 cup Coconut Milk

    Instructions:

    Wash and rinse the dried kidney beans.. then cover with water in a deep bowl. Remember as they soak they will expand to at least triple the size they were originally so add a lot of water to the bowl. Soak them overnight or for at least 2 hrs to make the cooking step go quicker. I tossed out the water they were soaked in after it did the job.

    Have your butcher cut the salted pigtail into 2 inch pieces as it will be very difficult to cut with an ordinary kitchen knife. Wash, then place a deep pot with water and bring to a boil. Cook for 20 minutes, then drain + rinse and repeat (boil again in water). The goal is to make the pieces of pig tails tender and to remove most of the salt it was cured in.

    Time to start the soup. Place everything in the pot (except the flour and potato), then cover with water and place on a high flame to bring to a boil. As it comes to a boil, skim off any scum/froth at the top and discard. Reduce the heat to a gentle boil and allow it to cook for 1 hr and 15 mins.. basically until the beans are tender and start falling apart.

    It’s now time to add the potato (and Yams etc if you’re adding it) as well as the coconut milk and continue cooking for 15 minutes.

    Now is a good time to start making the basic dough for the spinner dumplings. Mix the flour and water (add a pinch of salt if you want) until you have a soft/smooth dough. allow it to rest for 5 minutes, then pinch of a tablespoon at a time and roll between your hands to form a cigarette shape.

    Add them to the pot, stir well and continue cooking for another 15 minutes on a rolling boil.

    You’ll notice that I didn’t add any salt to the pot as the remaining salt from the salted pigtails will be enough to properly season this dish. However you can taste and adjust accordingly. Lets recap the timing part of things so you’re not confused. Cook the base of the soup for 1 hr and 15 minute or until tender, then add the potatoes and cook for 15 minutes, then add the dumplings and cook for a further 15 minutes. Keep in mind that this soup will thicken quite a bit as it cools.

    While this is not a traditional recipe to any one specific island, versions of this soup (sometimes called stewed peas) can be found throughout the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa. A hearty bowl of this soup will surely give you the sleepies (some may call it ethnic fatigue). You can certainly freeze the leftovers and heat it up another day.

  • Portuguese fish stew (Caldeirada de peixe)

    Portuguese fish stew (Caldeirada de peixe)

    Category: Seafood

    Area: Portuguese

    Ingredients:

    • 2 finely chopped Onions
    • 1 Diced Red Pepper
    • Small bunch Coriander
    • 1 small Red Chilli
    • 3 cloves Garlic
    • 400ml Dry White Wine
    • Pinch Saffron
    • 1 Bay Leaf
    • 300g Potatoes
    • 400g Plum Tomatoes
    • 600g Cod
    • 300g Squid
    • 8 Tiger Prawns
    • 500g Clams
    • 500g Mussels
    • 1 sliced Baguette

    Instructions:

    STEP 1

    Heat a drizzle of oil in a large, deep-sided frying pan, and fry the onion and pepper on a medium heat until softened but not browned. Finely chop the coriander stalks (keep the leaves for later), and add to the pan with the chilli and chopped garlic. Fry for another few minutes. Add the wine, saffron and bay leaf and let it simmer until reduced by half.

    STEP 2

    Add the potatoes, tomatoes, and 300ml water and bring to a gentle boil. Break up the tomatoes with a spoon on the side of the pan and simmer for 20-25 minutes until the potatoes are just tender, and the tomatoes have broken down.

    STEP 3

    Season well, then gently push the fish into the sauce, and arrange the squid, prawns, clams and mussels on the surface. Put the lid on and cook for 6-8 minutes until the mussel and clam shells have opened, the prawns are cooked and the fish is flaky. Toast the bread, rub lightly with the halved garlic clove and drizzle with olive oil. Serve the stew scatted with chopped coriander leaves, and the toasts for dunking.

  • Canadian Butter Tarts

    Canadian Butter Tarts

    Category: Dessert

    Area: Canadian

    Ingredients:

    • 375g Shortcrust Pastry
    • 2 large Eggs
    • 175g Muscovado Sugar
    • 100g Raisins
    • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
    • 50g Butter
    • 4 tsp Single Cream
    • 50g Walnuts

    Instructions:

    Preheat the oven to fan 170C/ conventional 190C/gas 5. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface so it’s slightly thinner than straight from the pack. Then cut out 18-20 rounds with a 7.5cm fluted cutter, re-rolling the trimmings. Use the rounds to line two deep 12-hole tart tins (not muffin tins). If you only have a regular-sized, 12-hole tart tin you will be able to make a few more slightly shallower tarts.
    Beat the eggs in a large bowl and combine with the rest of the ingredients except the walnuts. Tip this mixture into a pan and stir continuously for 3-4 minutes until the butter melts, and the mixture bubbles and starts to thicken. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Don’t overcook, and be sure to stir all the time as the mixture can easily burn. Remove from the heat and stir in the nuts.
    Spoon the filling into the unbaked tart shells so it’s level with the pastry. Bake for 15-18 minutes until set and pale golden. Leave in the tin to cool for a few minutes before lifting out on to a wire rack. Serve warm or cold.

  • Beef Dumpling Stew

    Beef Dumpling Stew

    Category: Beef

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 2 tbs Olive Oil
    • 25g Butter
    • 750g Beef
    • 2 tblsp Plain Flour
    • 2 cloves minced Garlic
    • 175g Onions
    • 150g Celery
    • 150g Carrots
    • 2 chopped Leek
    • 200g Swede
    • 150ml Red Wine
    • 500g Beef Stock
    • 2 Bay Leaf
    • 3 tbs Thyme
    • 3 tblsp chopped Parsley
    • 125g Plain Flour
    • 1 tsp Baking Powder
    • 60g Suet
    • Splash Water

    Instructions:

    Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

    For the beef stew, heat the oil and butter in an ovenproof casserole and fry the beef until browned on all sides.

    Sprinkle over the flour and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.

    Add the garlic and all the vegetables and fry for 1-2 minutes.

    Stir in the wine, stock and herbs, then add the Worcestershire sauce and balsamic vinegar, to taste. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

    Cover with a lid, transfer to the oven and cook for about two hours, or until the meat is tender.

    For the dumplings, sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.
    Add the suet and enough water to form a thick dough.

    With floured hands, roll spoonfuls of the dough into small balls.

    After two hours, remove the lid from the stew and place the balls on top of the stew. Cover, return to the oven and cook for a further 20 minutes, or until the dumplings have swollen and are tender. (If you prefer your dumplings with a golden top, leave the lid off when returning to the oven.)

    To serve, place a spoonful of mashed potato onto each of four serving plates and top with the stew and dumplings. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

  • Vegan Lasagna

    Vegan Lasagna

    Category: Vegan

    Area: Italian

    Ingredients:

    • 1 cups green red lentils
    • 1 Carrots
    • 1 onion
    • 1 small zucchini
    • sprinking coriander
    • 150g spinach
    • 10 lasagne sheets
    • 35g vegan butter
    • 4 tablespoons flour
    • 300ml soya milk
    • 1.5 teaspoons mustard
    • 1 teaspoon vinegar

    Instructions:

    1) Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius.
    2) Boil vegetables for 5-7 minutes, until soft. Add lentils and bring to a gentle simmer, adding a stock cube if desired. Continue cooking and stirring until the lentils are soft, which should take about 20 minutes.
    3) Blanch spinach leaves for a few minutes in a pan, before removing and setting aside.
    4) Top up the pan with water and cook the lasagne sheets. When cooked, drain and set aside.
    5) To make the sauce, melt the butter and add the flour, then gradually add the soya milk along with the mustard and the vinegar. Cook and stir until smooth and then assemble the lasagne as desired in a baking dish.
    6) Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes.

  • Beef Banh Mi Bowls with Sriracha Mayo, Carrot & Pickled Cucumber

    Beef Banh Mi Bowls with Sriracha Mayo, Carrot & Pickled Cucumber

    Category: Beef

    Area: Vietnamese

    Ingredients:

    • White Rice
    • 1 Onion
    • 1 Lime
    • 3 Garlic Clove
    • 1 Cucumber
    • 3 oz Carrots
    • 1 lb Ground Beef
    • 2 oz Soy Sauce

    Instructions:

    Add'l ingredients: mayonnaise, siracha

    1

    Place rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse until water runs clear. Add to a small pot with 1 cup water (2 cups for 4 servings) and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until rice is tender, 15 minutes. Keep covered off heat for at least 10 minutes or until ready to serve.

    2

    Meanwhile, wash and dry all produce. Peel and finely chop garlic. Zest and quarter lime (for 4 servings, zest 1 lime and quarter both). Trim and halve cucumber lengthwise; thinly slice crosswise into half-moons. Halve, peel, and medium dice onion. Trim, peel, and grate carrot.

    3

    In a medium bowl, combine cucumber, juice from half the lime, ¼ tsp sugar (½ tsp for 4 servings), and a pinch of salt. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, a pinch of garlic, a squeeze of lime juice, and as much sriracha as you’d like. Season with salt and pepper.

    4

    Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, 4-5 minutes. Add beef, remaining garlic, and 2 tsp sugar (4 tsp for 4 servings). Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until beef is browned and cooked through, 4-5 minutes. Stir in soy sauce. Turn off heat; taste and season with salt and pepper.

    5

    Fluff rice with a fork; stir in lime zest and 1 TBSP butter. Divide rice between bowls. Arrange beef, grated carrot, and pickled cucumber on top. Top with a squeeze of lime juice. Drizzle with sriracha mayo.

  • Fruit and Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastries

    Fruit and Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastries

    Category: Breakfast

    Area: American

    Ingredients:

    • 1 1/4 oz Cream Cheese
    • 1 1/4 cup Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • Flour
    • 2 Puff Pastry
    • Strawberries
    • Raspberries
    • Blackberries

    Instructions:

    Preheat oven to 400ºF (200ºC), and prepare two cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until fully combined. Lightly flour the surface and roll out puff pastry on top to flatten. Cut each sheet of puff pastry into 9 equal squares. On the top right and bottom left of the pastry, cut an L shape approximately ½ inch (1 cm) from the edge.
    NOTE: This L shape should reach all the way down and across the square, however both L shapes should not meet at the ends. Your pastry should look like a picture frame with two corners still intact.
    Take the upper right corner and fold down towards the inner bottom corner. You will now have a diamond shape.
    Place 1 to 2 teaspoons of the cream cheese filling in the middle, then place berries on top.
    Repeat with the remaining pastry squares and place them onto the parchment covered baking sheet.
    Bake for 15-20 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and puffed.
    Enjoy!