Category: How To Eat

Chicken Stew with Couscous

Harissa, a mild chili sauce, brings a lovely warmth to this cosy stew.

1 tbs. vegetable oil
2 medium red onions, halved and thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
sea salt flakes
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, halved
1/2 cup chicken stock, plus more if needed
6 carrots, peeled and cut into batons
2 celery stalk, cut into batons
1 can chickpeas
1 heaping tsp. harissa
cooked couscous, to serve
toasted pine nuts, to serve

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onion. Cook gently until tender, about 10-12 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cinnamon, cumin and cayenne pepper for a minute or two. Nestle in the chicken, sprinkle with salt and brown on both sides.

Add the chicken stock, carrots and celery, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour. Check several times and add more stock if the stew seems dry. Stir in the chickpeas to heat them up, then add the harissa.

Prepare the couscous according to the package directions. Serve the stew over the couscous and sprinkled with pine nuts.

Serves 4

Ratatouille

Serve this lovely veg stew on it’s own for a meat-free main or as a side to roasted chicken, pork or beef.

6 tbs. olive oil
2 medium onions, halved and sliced
2 bell peppers, deseeded and roughly chopped
1 eggplant, cut into large chunks
5 smallish or 3 large zucchini, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 x 14oz. tin chopped tomatoes
1 tsp. ground coriander
salt and freshly ground pepper
2-3 tbs. chopped fresh basil or parsley

Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan. Tip in the onions and cook gently until softened, but not browned. Add the peppers, eggplant and zucchini. Cover and cook for 40 minutes on low, stirring now and then. Add the garlic, tomatoes, coriander and seasoning. Continue to cook, uncovered for 30 minutes more, or until the veggies are tender, but not mushy. Stir in the basil or parsley to serve.

Sunday Night Chicken Soup

Any night chicken soup!

4 tbs. sake or sherry
3 tbs. mirin or dry white wine
1 tbs. soy sauce
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 tsp. dried chili flakes
2 boned, skinned chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
2 nests of Asian egg noodles
1 bunch Asian vegetables (such as box choy) or 1 bag frozen Asian vegetable mix
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. sesame oil
3 cups chicken stock

Mix together the sake, mirin, soy sauce, garlic and chili flakes. Toss in the chicken and leave to marinate 1 hour, if you have time.

Heat a pot of water and cook the noodles according to the package directions adding the veg a few minutes before the end. Drain and set aside

Heat the oils in a small skillet and cook the chicken. Tip in the marinade and bubble until glossy.

Heat the stock. Arrange the chicken, noodles and veg in bowls, then ladle over the hot stock.

Serves 2

Linguini with Clams

Classic for a reason, this never fails to disappoint.

1/2 lb. linguini
1 garlic clove
2 tbs. olive oil
1/2 tsp. dried chili flakes
1/3 cup dry white wine or vermouth
1 large can whole or chopped clams, drained
1-2 tbs. chopped fresh parsley, to serve
grated Parmesan cheese, to serve

Cook the linguini according to the package directions. Keep out a cup of water, then drain.

Meanwhile, in a skillet that will fit the pasta later, cook the garlic in the olive oil for a few minutes, then stir in the chili flakes, the wine or vermouth and the clams. Bubble to heat the clams, then tip in the cooked pasta. Add enough pasta water to make a sauce. Sprinkle with parsley and Parmesan cheese to serve.

Serves 2

Cod Wrapped in Ham

So simple!! A perfect sauce to serve alongside would be a mixture of equal parts basil pesto and sour cream or plain yogurt.

6 cod fillets
6 tbs. butter, melted
12 slices prociutto

Heat the oven to 400°F. Place two slices of prosciutto on a work surface. Place a cod fillet in the middle. Season, brush with butter and wrap the prosciutto over. Place seam-side down on a parchment lined baking sheet and brush the top with more butter.

Repeat with the remaining code. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and the procuitto in crisp.

Beef and Beans with Pasta

What’s better than a comforting bowl of pasta? The fact that everything is cooked in one pot!

1 medium onion
1 garlic clove
1 medium carrot
1 medium celery stalk
2 tbs. olive oil
1/2 lb. ground beef
1 x 14oz. tin beans, drained – red kidney, cannellini, ect.
2 cups beef stock
1 x 14 oz. chopped tomatoes
2 tbs. ketchup
2 tbs. red wine (optional)
1 tbs. Italian herbs
1/2 tsp. chili flakes
1 2/3 cup macaroni
grated Parmesan, to serve

Put the onion, garlic, carrot and celery in a food processor and whiz to a chunky rubble. Heat the oil in a large pot and cook the veggies until soft, but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until browned.

Add the beans, beef stock, tomatoes, ketchup, red wine (if using) herbs and chili flakes. Bring to a boil, then tip in the pasta. Cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the pasta is tender, adding more stock if necessary. Season well with salt and pepper and serve with grated Parmesan scattered on top.

Cottage Pie

Everyone loves a cottage pie. This version uses already cooked meat – it’s perfect for left overs.

For the topping:
1 1/2 lbs. potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
6 tbs. butter
1/4 cup milk

For the filling:
1 tbs. olive oil
few sprigs of parsley, minced
1 large shallot or small onion, minced
1 fat garlic clove, peeled and minced
1/2 stalk celery, minced
1 small to medium carrot, peeled and minced
1 cup left over cooked meat, cubed
1 tsp. all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/3 cup milk
2 tbs. heavy cream
1 tbs. butter
2 tbs. shredded cheddar (optional)

To make the topping, put the potatoes in a saucepan with cold, salted water and bring to a boil. Cook until soft enough to easily mash. Drain and mash with the butter and milk. Set aside.

For the filling, heat the oil in a heavy-based skillet and add the parsley, shallot, garlic, celery and carrot. Cook over a gentle heat until soft but not browned, about 15 minutes. Add the meat and a little more oil if necessary. Sprinkle over the flour, stir it for 2-3 minutes, then tip in the tomatoes and bubble over a low heat for 10 minutes. Stir in the milk and cream and season well.

Heat the oven to 350°F. Spoon the filling into a baking dish, top with the mash and sprinkle with the cheddar, if using. Bake for 15 minutes.

Serves 4

Chicken with Scallions, Chili and Yogurt

The sauce is similar to tzatziki and brightens the lemon-marinated chicken.

6 chicken cutlets
juice of 2 lemons
6 tbs. olive oil, plus more if needed
6 scallions, thinly sliced
1 green chili, seeded and minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cucumber, cut into a small dice
3-4 tbs. chopped fresh cilantro
1-2 tbs. chopped fresh mint
1 3/4 cups plain yogurt

Marinate the chicken in the 3 tbs. of the oil, lemon juice and some seasoning for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the sauce by stirring together the scallions, chili, garlic, cucumber, cilantro, mint and yogurt. Season and set aside.

Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet and cook the chicken for 5 minutes or so on each side. (You can also grill the chicken outside.) Arrange on a plate and serve with the sauce.

Serves

These wonderful chicken cutlets can be pan-fried or grilled, weather dependent!

6 chicken cutlets
juice of 2 lemons
6 tbs. olive oil
6 scallions
1 green chili, seeded and minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cucumber, cut into small dice
3-4 tbs. chopped coriander
1-2 tbs. chopped mint
1 3/4 cup plain yogurt

Marinate the chicken in the lemon juice and 3 tbs. of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

To make the sauce, stir together the scallions, chili, garlic, cucumber, coriander, mint and yogurt. Check for seasonings.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and either heat the grill or heat the remaining oil in a skillet. Cook them quickly for 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Add a bit more oil if needed to the skillet. Serve with the sauce.

 

Salmon Scallops with Warm Balsamic Vinaigrette

The simplicity of this lovely salmon is what makes it perfection and the sweet acidity of the balsamic vinegar is an ideal flavor pairing. It is wonderful with Bulgar Wheat with Flaked Almonds and Nigella seeds.

1 tbs. vegetable oil
8 thin scallops or fillets of salmon
6 tbs. balsamic vinegar
6 tbs. olive oil
small bunch chives, snipped (optional)

Heat a heavy-bottomed, well-seasoned skillet or a good non-stick skillet. Tip in the 1 tbs. of vegetable oil, then add the salmon and cook for about 1-2 minutes on each side, or to your liking. Keep warm with tented foil.

In a small saucepan, heat the vinegar and the 6 tbs. of olive oil until warm. Serve poured over the salmon and sprinkled with chives.

Serves 4-6

Shrimp with Garlic and Chili Pepper

Sheer simplicity in flavor and preparation! Serve over pasta or rice.

2 tbs. olive oil
1/2 – 1 fresh red chili (according to size and taste), minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 lb. medium raw shrimp
1/2 cup white wine
1 tbs. chopped fresh parsley

Pour the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet, then add the chili and garlic. Cook over a moderate heat for 2 minutes, stirring all the time. Turn the heat to high and add the  shrimp and stir-fry for another 2 minutes until they just begin to turn pink. Tip in the wine and let it bubble for another minute or so, then season with salt, if necessary and stir through the parsley.

Serves 1