Ballymaloe’s Famous Chocolate Orange Cake recipe

Serves 12

For the Orange Cake:

  • 4 eggs
  • softened butter
  • sugar
  • plain flour
  • 2 oranges
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

For the orange butter icing:

  • 1 orange
  • 110g (4oz, 1/2 cup) icing sugar
  • 55g (2oz, 1/4 cup) softened butter

For the chocolate icing:

  • 170g (6oz) chocolate
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 50g (2oz, 4 tablespoons) softened butter
  • 2 large eggs
Weigh the eggs. Take the same weight in butter, sugar and flour. Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and light in texture. Wash the oranges and add the finely grated rind of 2 and the juice of 1 to the butter mixture. Mix the flour and baking powder and add alternately with the eggs. Beat thoroughly. Bake in a 24cm (91/2in) tin in a moderate oven, 180°C/350°F/gas 4, for 50 minutes approx. Cool the cake and split it in two. Sandwich with the orange butter icing and spread the chocolate icing over the top and sides allowing any excess to run off.
To make the orange butter icing, finely grate the rind of the orange and squeeze out the juice. Beat the icing sugar, butter and orange rind together. Add in enough juice to make the icing a spreading consistency.
To make the chocolate icing, melt the chocolate in the water. Remove from the heat and beat in the butter and then the eggs very thoroughly. Leave to cool and set before icing and filling the cake.

MacNean Organic Oats with Irish Mist and Honey @nevenmaguire

 
 


By Neven Maguire

Celebrity Chef

Porridge is one of our most popular breakfasts in the restaurant, and this recipe goes down a treat. On cold winter mornings, it gets you off to a good start and takes no more than 10 minutes to prepare.

Ingredients

  • 100 g (4oz) porridge oats (organic if possible)
  • 300 ml (1/2 pint) whole-fat milk (plus extra if necessary)
  • 4 dsp clear honey
  • 4 dsp irish mist
  • 150 ml (1/4 pint) cream (optional)

Method

  • Simmer the porridge oats and milk together in a saucepan for 8-10 minutes, until the mixture is slightly thickened, stirring all the time. It is important that the porridge has a nice soft dropping consistency so add a little more milk if you think that it needs it.
  • To serve, spoon the porridge into warmed bowls. Drizzle each one with some honey and Irish mist and finally, serve with cream if you wish.

MacNean Organic Oats with Irish Mist and Honey @nevenmaguire

 
 


By Neven Maguire

Celebrity Chef

Porridge is one of our most popular breakfasts in the restaurant, and this recipe goes down a treat. On cold winter mornings, it gets you off to a good start and takes no more than 10 minutes to prepare.

Ingredients

  • 100 g (4oz) porridge oats (organic if possible)
  • 300 ml (1/2 pint) whole-fat milk (plus extra if necessary)
  • 4 dsp clear honey
  • 4 dsp irish mist
  • 150 ml (1/4 pint) cream (optional)

Method

  • Simmer the porridge oats and milk together in a saucepan for 8-10 minutes, until the mixture is slightly thickened, stirring all the time. It is important that the porridge has a nice soft dropping consistency so add a little more milk if you think that it needs it.
  • To serve, spoon the porridge into warmed bowls. Drizzle each one with some honey and Irish mist and finally, serve with cream if you wish.

Neven Maguire’s Salmon Burger with Roasted Red Pepper Salsa @RTEfood

 
 
 
 

 

Great when you’re entertaining.

 

Ingredients

  • 550g (1¼lb) salmon fillet, skinned and boned (well chilled)
  • 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • Wasabi paste
  • 2 tsp sesame seeds
  • 1 tblsp seasoned flour
  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 4 Little Gem lettuce leaves
  • Handful of fresh coriander sprigs
  • Lime wedges, to serve

For the Roasted Red Pepper Salsa:

  • 2 roasted red peppers, finely diced (from a jar is fine)
  • 2 plum tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped
  • Finely grated rind of 1 lemon
  • 2 tblsp sweet chilli sauce
  • 1 tblsp rapeseed oil
  • 1 tblsp chopped fresh coriander
  • 1 tblsp shredded fresh basil sea salt and freshly ground
  • Black pepper

Method

  1. Using a sharp knife cut away any brown bits from the salmon fillet, then finely chop.
  2. Place in a bowl, then stir in the spring onions, mustard and sesame seeds. Season to taste.
  3. Divide into 4 portions, then using slightly wetted hands, shape into patties. Dust the patties in the flour, shaking off any excess. Place in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm up.
  4. Meanwhile, make the roasted red pepper salsa. Place the red peppers in a bowl and stir in the tomatoes, lemon rind, sweet chilli sauce, oil and herbs. Season to taste and set aside at room temperature to allow the flavours to develop.
  5. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the olive oil to the frying pan and then add the salmon burgers. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until lightly golden but still slightly pink in the centre. Be careful not to overcook them or they will quickly become dry. Set aside.
  6. Meanwhile, heat a griddle pan until smoking hot. Add the slices of sourdough bread and chargrill for 1-2 minutes on each side, until nicely marked.
  7. Arrange on warmed plates and top with Little Gem lettuce leaves and the burgers. Spoon over the roasted red pepper salsa, then scatter over the coriander sprigs and serve with lime wedges.
  8. Great when you’re entertaining.

     

     

MacNean Organic Oats with Irish Mist and Honey @nevenmaguire

 
 


By Neven Maguire

Celebrity Chef

Porridge is one of our most popular breakfasts in the restaurant, and this recipe goes down a treat. On cold winter mornings, it gets you off to a good start and takes no more than 10 minutes to prepare.

Ingredients

  • 100 g (4oz) porridge oats (organic if possible)
  • 300 ml (1/2 pint) whole-fat milk (plus extra if necessary)
  • 4 dsp clear honey
  • 4 dsp irish mist
  • 150 ml (1/4 pint) cream (optional)

Method

  • Simmer the porridge oats and milk together in a saucepan for 8-10 minutes, until the mixture is slightly thickened, stirring all the time. It is important that the porridge has a nice soft dropping consistency so add a little more milk if you think that it needs it.
  • To serve, spoon the porridge into warmed bowls. Drizzle each one with some honey and Irish mist and finally, serve with cream if you wish.