2 – 4 Thai Birds Eye chillies – depending on your spice tolerance!
50ml fish sauce, plus extra to season
3 cloves garlic
pinch ground turmeric
6 chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces
500g cooked white rice
pinch white pepper
2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 red onion
Sesame oil, to serve
Handful of coriander leaves
Handful of mint
Method
First, get the chicken stock into a pan. Slice half of the ginger, chilli and lemongrass and add to the pot. Peel the zest off a lime then bring to a boil, and season with the 25ml of the fish sauce. Turn down to a simmer whilst you prepare the rest of the dish.
Finely chop the remaining ginger, chilli and lemongrass and place into a bowl. Grate in the garlic and add the remaining fish sauce. Chop the chicken thighs into inch pieces and add to the bowl along with a pinch of turmeric and mix everything together.
Get a wok over a high heat and add the oil followed by the chicken pieces. Cook, stirring, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
Scoop the aromatics from the broth and discard then add the rice to the broth and warm through for at least 5 minutes.
To finish, slice the red onion finely and season the broth with some white pepper, soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice and some extra fish sauce if needed.
Add the rice and broth to your bowls then top with the chicken, followed by the sliced onions. Garnish with extra sliced red chillies, if you can handle them!, and lots of coriander and mint.
Sea spinach is at its sweetest and most delicious at present…. I absolutely love it and really want you to know about it so if you live near a rocky strand, look out for it – the shiny green leaves are unmistakable. It is, in fact, the ancestor to most cultivated varieties of beet, from beetroot to spinach beet. It can be cooked exactly like garden spinach and used in the same way, for example, try serving it in Middle Eastern style with raisins and pine kernels and a touch of cinnamon. Not surprisingly, because sea spinach is washed by the tides, it is full of iodine, minerals and other trace elements and it has an addictive salty tang. Sea spinach is tougher and slightly stronger in flavour than garden spinach, so it takes a little longer to cook.
The trick with these green soups is not to add the greens until the last minute, otherwise they will overcook and the soup will lose its fresh taste and bright green colour.
50g (2oz/1/2 stick) butter
110g (4oz/1 cup) onion, chopped
150g (5oz/1 cup) potatoes, chopped
600ml (1 pint/2 1/2 cups) homemade chicken stock, vegetable stock or water
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. When it foams add the onions and potatoes and turn them until well coated. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper. Cover and sweat on a gentle heat for 10 minutes. Add the boiling stock and milk, bring back to the boil and simmer until the potatoes and onions are fully cooked. Add the sea spinach and boil with the lid off for about 3-5 minutes, until the sea spinach is tender. Do not overcook or the soup will lose its fresh green colour.
Liquidise and taste and add some freshly grated nutmeg. Serve in warm bowls garnished with a blob of whipped cream and some chopped parsley
I adore this delicious and nutritious soup. It’s great either for family suppers or for a dinner party. The soup can be frozen and the Dubliner toasts prepared in advance, then grilled at the last moment. Ideal if you need a meal in an instant. Rachel Allen
Melt the butter in a medium to large saucepan, and add the potatoes and onion, salt and pepper. Cover with a piece of wax paper and sweat over a gentle heat for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the broccoli florets from the stalk. Using a small knife, remove the outer layer of skin from the stalk and discard, then chop the stalk into 1/2-inch pieces. Add to the onion and potato, cover and sweat for a further 5 minutes. Add the hot stock to the potatoes, onion and broccoli stalk, bring up to a boil, then add the chopped broccoli florets. Boil without the lid over a high heat for 4–5 minutes until soft, then add the cream. Remove from the heat, puree in a blender and season to taste.To make the Dubliner toasts, toast the bread on both sides, sprinkle with grated Dubliner Cheese and pop under a hot grill or into a hot oven for 2 minutes or until the cheese melts. Cut the toast into fingers and serve on the side with the soup.
800ml (1pt 9fl oz) good-quality chicken or vegetable stock
50g (2oz) butter
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
400g (14oz) risotto rice, such as carnaroli or arborio
200ml (7fl oz) white wine
8 tablespoons grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving
100g (3oz) butter, soft, cut into cubes
4 tablespoons marjoram or parsley, chopped
Good squeeze of lemon juice
2-3 tablespoons mascarpone (optional)
Directions
In a heatproof bowl, combine the dried porcini mushrooms and boiling water. Soak for 20 minutes or until soft.
Preheat the oven to 180°C, 350°F, Gas 3. Place the chicken or vegetable stock, whichever you are using, in a saucepan over a medium-low heat and bring to just under a simmer.
Add the butter to a large saucepan or casserole dish with a lid, and place on a medium heat. Add the chopped onion and the chopped garlic and cook for 6-8 minutes until soft.
As the onion is cooking, drain the porcinis but reserve the soaking liquid. Roughly chop the porcinis and set aside, then strain the soaking liquid and add to the simmering stock. Season this liquid with salt and pepper.
Add the chopped porcinis to the onion and cook, stirring frequently, for 1-2 minutes. Next, stir in the risotto rice and cook for two minutes, stirring gently. Add in the white wine, stir and cook for 2-3 minutes until it has evaporated. Pour in the simmering stock, stir to combine, place a lid on top and put it into the oven. Cook for 10-12 minutes until just al dente.
Remove the risotto from the oven, add the grated Parmesan and cubes of butter, then use a wooden spoon to beat everything together. Stir in the marjoram or parsley, whichever you are using, lemon juice and mascarpone, if using.
Of course this recipe is great with just parsley but experiment with a combination of soft fragrant herbs sauce as parsley, chives, tarragon or chervil depending on what’s available.
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 x 175g hake fillets, skin on and boned
1 tablesp. olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
50g butter
½ lemon, pips removed
1 tablesp. chopped mixed herbs (parsley, chives and tarragon)
To Cook
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and add the seasoned hake fillets, skin side down. Cook for a couple of minutes until the skin is just beginning to crisp, then add little knobs of butter to the pan around each hake fillet and cook for another couple of minutes until the skin is crisp.
Turn the hake fillets over and cook for another 3-4 minutes until cooked through. This will depend on the thickness of the fillets. Transfer to warmed plates while you make the sauce.
Add the rest of the butter to the frying pan and allow it to gently melt over a moderate heat. When it has melted, add a squeeze of lemon juice and the herbs, swirling to combine. Season to taste. Spoon this sauce over the hake fillets and serve with steamed broccoli and some sautéed new potatoes.
Serving Suggestions
Steamed broccoli and sauté new potatoes
Tips
Above all be careful not to overcook the fish. To check, gently prod the thickest part of the fish with a small knife. If it is cooked, the flesh will look opaque and the flakes will separate easily. If it isn’t done yet, it will still have the translucent look for raw fish.
Other fish you could use: Whiting, haddock or trout fillets
Bring a pan of water to the boil, add the potatoes and cook for 10 minutes until par-boiled, not fully cooked through. Remove and allow to cool whilst you prepare the rest of the dish.
Combine the sausagemeat, hazelnuts and parsley in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
Divide the sausagemeat filling between the pockets in each chicken breast. Season the chicken with a pinch of salt and roll each chicken breast in 3 slices of pancetta. Place the chicken breasts on a baking tray and bake for 10–15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the breast. When the chicken is cooked through, remove from the oven and rest for 5 minutes.
Grate the par-boiled potatoes on a box grater. Meanwhile, put a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, then the grated potato, garlic powder, onion powder and a pinch of salt and fry until golden.
In a separate pan, melt the butter and add the garlic and sage leaves. Fry until the leaves are wilted, then add the mushrooms and a pinch of salt. Cook for 1–2 minutes until golden.
Add the chicken stock and reduce to a sauce consistency. You can add an extra knob of butter to finish the sauce, if you like.
To serve, place the fried potato on a serving plate. Carve the chicken and arrange on top, finishing with the mushroom sauce.
My brother, Kenneth, loves Asian food and he is in no doubt that he is far better than me at cooking it! I don’t disagree. He is proud of this chicken satay dish and often makes it for the family. This dipping sauce also works well with pork, prawns, beef strips or turkey. And remember, kids just love anything on sticks!
SERVES 4
4 tbsp dark soy sauce
2 tsp clear honey
2 tsp medium curry powder
450g (1lb) skinless chicken breast fillets, cut into long strips
FOR THE PICKLED CUCUMBER SALAD:
4 tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp caster sugar
pinch of salt
½ small cucumber, peeled, halved, deseeded and thinly sliced
FOR THE DIPPING SAUCE:
2 tbsp crunchy peanut butter
2 tsp dark soy sauce
1 tsp light brown sugar
juice of ½ lime
1 x 160ml (5½fl oz) tin of coconut milk (Thai Gold, if possible)
½ red chilli, deseeded and finely diced
2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 To make the dipping sauce, place the peanut butter in a small pan and stir in the soy sauce, light brown sugar and lime juice. Gradually whisk in the coconut milk and heat gently until you have achieved a smooth sauce. Stir in the chilli and coriander, then leave to cool, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming.
2 Soak 8 x 15cm (6in) bamboo skewers in a shallow dish of cold water for at least 30 minutes. Preheat a griddle pan until it’s smoking hot or light a barbecue.
3 Whisk together the soy sauce, honey and curry powder. Season with pepper and stir in the chicken pieces. Leave to marinate for 2 minutes, then thread the chicken pieces onto the soaked bamboo skewers and arrange on the barbecue. Cook the chicken skewers over medium-hot coals for 4–6 minutes, turning once or twice, until completely tender and cooked through. If using a griddle pan, reduce the heat to medium as soon as you’ve put the skewers on.
4 Meanwhile, to prepare the pickled cucumber salad, place the vinegar in a bowl and stir in the sugar and a good pinch of salt until both have dissolved. Tip in the cucumber, stirring to combine, and set aside to allow the flavours to develop. 5 To serve, arrange 2 chicken satay skewers on each warmed plate. Divide the dipping sauce among individual bowls and place to the side of the skewers. Add the pickled cucumber salad, leaving behind any excess liquid, to serve.
Butter Chicken
Swap your usual takeaway curry for this homemade chicken makhana, which combines marinated chicken with a rich, buttery sauce. This is an authentic Indian curry with its origins in Delhi, where it was first made to use up pieces of leftover tandoori chicken.
Serves 4–6
500g skinless and boneless chicken breasts or thighs
juice and finely grated rind of 1 lemon
3 tbsp mild curry seasoning
4 tbsp natural yogurt
3 tbsp sunflower oil
30g butter
2 red onions, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1 red chilli, seeded
3cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and sliced
20g fresh coriander
400ml passata (Italian sieved tomatoes)
120ml cream
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Trim the chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces. Put in a bowl and stir in half the lemon juice with a good pinch of salt. Add 2 tablespoons of the curry seasoning, the yogurt and 1 tablespoon of the oil. Mix to combine, then season generously with pepper. Cover and leave to marinate for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days in the fridge.
Heat the rest of the oil and a knob of the butter in a wok or skillet over a high heat, and quickly sear the marinated chicken in batches until golden brown, transferring with a slotted spoon to a clean bowl as you go. Add the onions to the pan and sauté for 4–5 minutes until they start to caramelise.
Tip in the garlic, chilli and ginger, then add another knob of the butter and sauté for 1–2 minutes. Chop the stalks from the coriander and add them to the pan with the rest of the curry seasoning and another knob of the butter. Toast for a few minutes until very fragrant. Pour the passata into the pan and bring to a simmer, then add the cream and the rest of the lemon juice.
Transfer to a blender and blend until you have a very smooth sauce. Return to the pan and add the chicken with any juices and reheat gently for about 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tender. Season to taste, then fold in the lemon rind with the rest of the butter and the coriander leaves, reserving a few sprigs to garnish. Transfer to bowls and garnish with the coriander sprigs.
SERVE WITH … This mild and creamy curry is sure to please all tastes. Make some Homemade Flatbreads, perhaps brushing them with a little melted butter and sprinkling with black onion seeds. A bowl of Pilau Rice completes the meal, alongside some spiced mango chutney, mint raita and lime pickle.
The dressing recipe makes more than you will need, but it keeps in the fridge for a week, if covered.
For the dressing, you will need:
100ml (3½fl oz) sunflower or vegetable oil
25ml (1fl oz) extra-virgin olive oil
1 x 25g (1oz) tin of anchovies, drained and rinsed
1 egg yolk
1 small clove of garlic, peeled and crushed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch of salt
½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
For the salad, you will need:
4 good-quality eggs
1 tablespoon sunflower oil, for frying
8 rashers of smoked streaky bacon, cut into 1cm (¼in) dice
4 handfuls of mixed lettuce leaves, including rocket and winter greens, such as baby spinach, mustard greens or beetroot leaves
50g (2oz) Parmesan cheese, grated, to serve
1 tablespoon chives, chopped, to serve
First, make the dressing – you can do this either in a food processor or by hand. First, pour the sunflower or vegetable oil, whichever you’re using, and the extra-virgin olive oil into a jug.
If you’re making the dressing by hand, mash the anchovies with a fork, then put them in a bowl along with the egg yolk, the crushed garlic, the lemon juice, the Dijon mustard, the pinch of salt, the Worcestershire sauce and the Tabasco sauce. Whisk together.
As you’re whisking, add the oil mixture from the jug very slowly and gradually. The dressing will become creamy as the emulsion forms.
When all the oil mixture has been incorporated, whisk in 25ml (1fl oz) of water to make the dressing the consistency of double cream, then add some extra seasoning to taste.
If you’re making the dressing in a food processor, add the anchovies, the egg yolk, the crushed garlic, the lemon juice, the Dijon mustard, the pinch of salt, the Worcestershire sauce and the Tabasco sauce. Whizz together, then gradually add the oil mixture from the jug and the water, as previously described, pouring them in through the machine’s feed tube.
To poach the eggs, first put a saucepan of water on a high heat and bring it to the boil.
Meanwhile, pour the sunflower oil into a frying pan on a high heat, add the bacon and fry it for 3-5 minutes, or until it is golden brown and crispy. Drain it on kitchen paper and set aside.
While the bacon is frying, tear the mixture of lettuce and winter greens into large, bite-sized pieces and place a handful on a plate. Drizzle with 1-2 tablespoons of the dressing, then sprinkle with the crispy bacon pieces.
Once the egg-poaching water has come to the boil, turn the heat down to low. Crack each egg into the lightly simmering water and poach for 3-4 minutes, or until the white is set and the yolk is still a little soft.
Turn the heat off under the saucepan and carefully lift each egg out, one by one, allowing all water to drain from the egg. Arrange one egg in the centre of each plate of dressed salad leaves, sprinkle with grated Parmesan and chopped chives.
My brother, Kenneth, loves Asian food and he is in no doubt that he is far better than me at cooking it! I don’t disagree. He is proud of this chicken satay dish and often makes it for the family. This dipping sauce also works well with pork, prawns, beef strips or turkey. And remember, kids just love anything on sticks!
SERVES 4
4 tbsp dark soy sauce
2 tsp clear honey
2 tsp medium curry powder
450g (1lb) skinless chicken breast fillets, cut into long strips
FOR THE PICKLED CUCUMBER SALAD:
4 tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp caster sugar
pinch of salt
½ small cucumber, peeled, halved, deseeded and thinly sliced
FOR THE DIPPING SAUCE:
2 tbsp crunchy peanut butter
2 tsp dark soy sauce
1 tsp light brown sugar
juice of ½ lime
1 x 160ml (5½fl oz) tin of coconut milk (Thai Gold, if possible)
½ red chilli, deseeded and finely diced
2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 To make the dipping sauce, place the peanut butter in a small pan and stir in the soy sauce, light brown sugar and lime juice. Gradually whisk in the coconut milk and heat gently until you have achieved a smooth sauce. Stir in the chilli and coriander, then leave to cool, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming.
2 Soak 8 x 15cm (6in) bamboo skewers in a shallow dish of cold water for at least 30 minutes. Preheat a griddle pan until it’s smoking hot or light a barbecue.
3 Whisk together the soy sauce, honey and curry powder. Season with pepper and stir in the chicken pieces. Leave to marinate for 2 minutes, then thread the chicken pieces onto the soaked bamboo skewers and arrange on the barbecue. Cook the chicken skewers over medium-hot coals for 4–6 minutes, turning once or twice, until completely tender and cooked through. If using a griddle pan, reduce the heat to medium as soon as you’ve put the skewers on.
4 Meanwhile, to prepare the pickled cucumber salad, place the vinegar in a bowl and stir in the sugar and a good pinch of salt until both have dissolved. Tip in the cucumber, stirring to combine, and set aside to allow the flavours to develop. 5 To serve, arrange 2 chicken satay skewers on each warmed plate. Divide the dipping sauce among individual bowls and place to the side of the skewers. Add the pickled cucumber salad, leaving behind any excess liquid, to serve.
Butter Chicken
Swap your usual takeaway curry for this homemade chicken makhana, which combines marinated chicken with a rich, buttery sauce. This is an authentic Indian curry with its origins in Delhi, where it was first made to use up pieces of leftover tandoori chicken.
Serves 4–6
500g skinless and boneless chicken breasts or thighs
juice and finely grated rind of 1 lemon
3 tbsp mild curry seasoning
4 tbsp natural yogurt
3 tbsp sunflower oil
30g butter
2 red onions, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1 red chilli, seeded
3cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and sliced
20g fresh coriander
400ml passata (Italian sieved tomatoes)
120ml cream
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Trim the chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces. Put in a bowl and stir in half the lemon juice with a good pinch of salt. Add 2 tablespoons of the curry seasoning, the yogurt and 1 tablespoon of the oil. Mix to combine, then season generously with pepper. Cover and leave to marinate for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days in the fridge.
Heat the rest of the oil and a knob of the butter in a wok or skillet over a high heat, and quickly sear the marinated chicken in batches until golden brown, transferring with a slotted spoon to a clean bowl as you go. Add the onions to the pan and sauté for 4–5 minutes until they start to caramelise.
Tip in the garlic, chilli and ginger, then add another knob of the butter and sauté for 1–2 minutes. Chop the stalks from the coriander and add them to the pan with the rest of the curry seasoning and another knob of the butter. Toast for a few minutes until very fragrant. Pour the passata into the pan and bring to a simmer, then add the cream and the rest of the lemon juice.
Transfer to a blender and blend until you have a very smooth sauce. Return to the pan and add the chicken with any juices and reheat gently for about 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tender. Season to taste, then fold in the lemon rind with the rest of the butter and the coriander leaves, reserving a few sprigs to garnish. Transfer to bowls and garnish with the coriander sprigs.
SERVE WITH … This mild and creamy curry is sure to please all tastes. Make some Homemade Flatbreads, perhaps brushing them with a little melted butter and sprinkling with black onion seeds. A bowl of Pilau Rice completes the meal, alongside some spiced mango chutney, mint raita and lime pickle.
Foodaware 
Serves 2-4.
You will need:
50g (2oz) dried porcini mushrooms
400ml (14fl oz) boiling water
800ml (1pt 9fl oz) good-quality chicken or vegetable stock
50g (2oz) butter
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
400g (14oz) risotto rice, such as carnaroli or arborio
200ml (7fl oz) white wine
8 tablespoons grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving
100g (3oz) butter, soft, cut into cubes
4 tablespoons marjoram or parsley, chopped
Good squeeze of lemon juice
2-3 tablespoons mascarpone (optional)