This or That: Christmas Edition with Neven Maguire!🎄
We’re getting into the festive spirit with a little Christmas fun – Neven style! Let us know – are you team Traditional Turkey or Slow-Roast Ham? Brussels sprouts or carrots and parsnips? Let the festive debates begin! 👇✨
Make your mark this Christmas by always looking out for the Bord Bia Quality Mark when choosing your festive food favourites.
And don’t forget – tune into Neven’s Christmas in Limerick on RTÉ One tonight at 8pm for Part 1! Proudly sponsored by Bord Bia 💚
This recipe for Bangers & Cheesy Mash from our Simply Better brand ambassador @nevenmaguire is the perfect comfort food. Find the full recipe below:
Bangers & Cheesy Mash with Caramelised Red Onion Gravy Ingredients (Serves 4) 2 Packs Simply Better Irish Pork Spring Onion & Black Pepper Sausages 2 Tubs Simply Better Irish Made Beef Gravy 3 Tbsp. Simply Better Handmade Caramelised Red Onion Relish 1 Tbsp. Simply Better Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 Tbsp. Simply Better Italian Balsamic Vinegar Steamed Greens, to serve Cheesy Mash 100g Simply Better West Cork Co-Op Extra Mature Drinagh Cheddar, grated 750g Rooster Potatoes, cut into chunks 75g Butter Method 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/Gas Mark 6). Place the sausages on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, drizzle with the olive oil and cook in the oven for 25 minutes, turning halfway through cooking to ensure they are golden brown on all sides. 2. To make the mash, put the potatoes in a pot of cold salted water. Cover and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until tender. Drain the potatoes and return to the pot over a low heat for 1-2 minutes to remove as much moisture as possible. Remove the pot from the heat, then mash with a potato masher or pass through a potato ricer until smooth. Beat in the cheese and butter and season to taste. 3. To make the gravy, heat the gravy in a saucepan over a medium heat, whisk in the caramelised red onion relish and balsamic vinegar and simmer for 2-3 minutes. 4. To serve, place a large spoonful of mash in the centre of a plate or serving bowl. Top with 3 of the roasted sausages and pour over the onion gravy. Serve with some of the steamed greens.
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.
Sticky Beef Skewers with Satay Sauce & Pickled Cucumber by Neven Maguire
Recipe, Method & Chef’s Top Tip below
For all of the Today Show recipes and hundreds more please visit RTE.ie/Food
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 Quality Assured Irish Angus Striploin Steaks
14 bamboo skewers
Rocket leaves, to serve
Marinade
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp Cajun spice
2 tbsp honey
4 tbsp Soy & Ginger Sauce
Zest ½ lemon
1 tsp thyme leaves
Satay Sauce
400g coconut milk
100g crunchy peanut butter
2 tbsp Soy & Ginger Sauce
2 tbsp Sweet Chilli Sauce
1 tsp muscovado sugar
Juice 1 lime
Pickled Cucumber
4 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp caster sugar
½ cucumber, peeled, seeded, thinly sliced
Method
Beef Skewers
Thread beef strips onto skewers (1 piece each). Mix marinade ingredients in a shallow dish, coat beef and chill 2–3 hrs or overnight. Heat griddle with 2 tbsp oil until smoking. Cook skewers 2–3 mins per side, spooning over marinade. If it catches, add 1 tbsp water.
Satay Sauce
In a pot combine coconut milk, peanut butter, soy & ginger sauce, chilli sauce, sugar, lime. Stir, simmer to thicken, season.
Pickled Cucumber
Mix vinegar, sugar, pinch of salt until dissolved. Add cucumber, stir and set aside.
Serve
Place skewers on rocket leaves with satay sauce and pickled cucumber.
Chef Tip: Soak skewers in cold water first to stop burning.
Sticky Beef Skewers with Satay Sauce & Pickled Cucumber by Neven Maguire
Recipe, Method & Chef’s Top Tip below
For all of the Today Show recipes and hundreds more please visit RTE.ie/Food
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 Quality Assured Irish Angus Striploin Steaks
14 bamboo skewers
Rocket leaves, to serve
Marinade
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp Cajun spice
2 tbsp honey
4 tbsp Soy & Ginger Sauce
Zest ½ lemon
1 tsp thyme leaves
Satay Sauce
400g coconut milk
100g crunchy peanut butter
2 tbsp Soy & Ginger Sauce
2 tbsp Sweet Chilli Sauce
1 tsp muscovado sugar
Juice 1 lime
Pickled Cucumber
4 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp caster sugar
½ cucumber, peeled, seeded, thinly sliced
Method
Beef Skewers
Thread beef strips onto skewers (1 piece each). Mix marinade ingredients in a shallow dish, coat beef and chill 2–3 hrs or overnight. Heat griddle with 2 tbsp oil until smoking. Cook skewers 2–3 mins per side, spooning over marinade. If it catches, add 1 tbsp water.
Satay Sauce
In a pot combine coconut milk, peanut butter, soy & ginger sauce, chilli sauce, sugar, lime. Stir, simmer to thicken, season.
Pickled Cucumber
Mix vinegar, sugar, pinch of salt until dissolved. Add cucumber, stir and set aside.
Serve
Place skewers on rocket leaves with satay sauce and pickled cucumber.
Chef Tip: Soak skewers in cold water first to stop burning.
This Spaghetti Carbonara uses just four simple ingredients along with some salt and pepper and is ready in less than 15 minutes. Find the full recipe from our @simplybetterds brand ambassador @nevenmaguire below:
Ingredients 1 Pack Simply Better Italian Bronze Spaghetti 2 Packs Simply Better Guanciale Pepato, cut into strips 4 Simply Irish Better Free Range Corn Fed Large Eggs and 2 Yolks 1 Pack Pecorino Romano PDO, finely grated Simply Better Oriel Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Method 1. Bring a large saucepan of water to a rolling boil. Season with salt and cook the spaghetti for 10 minutes until al dente. 2. Meanwhile, heat a non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Sauté the Guanciale for 2-3 minutes until crisp. Drain off the excess fat and tip on to a plate to cool. 3. Beat the eggs and yolks in a mixing bowl until lightly and fluffy. Season generously with pepper and fold in most of the pecorino, reserving some to garnish. 4. Drain the spaghetti, reserving a small cupful of the cooking water and immediately tip into the bowl with the egg mixture. Add most of the Guanciale, reserving some for garnishing, and toss with a tongs until evenly combined. The heat of the spaghetti will be enough to create a smooth silky sauce – you can add a little of the reserved cooking water if you think it needs it. Divide among bowls and garnish with the rest of the Guanciale and Pecorino to serve.
Neven’s Top Tip: Reserving a small cupful of the pasta cooking water when draining can be used to enhance the silkiness of the cooking sauce before serving3d
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.
#ad | Looking for the perfect chicken dinner? Try this Chicken Parmigiana recipe from our @simplybetterds brand ambassador @nevenmaguire find the full recipe below and shop the ingredients in your local @dunnesstores
Ingredients (Serves 4) 2 Simply Better Irish Corn Fed Chicken Fillets 2 Simply Better Irish Free Range Corn Fed Large eggs 2 Tbsp. Simply Better Organic Irish Jersey Milk 150g Simply Better Rustic Ciabatta Breadcrumbs 50g Simply Better Parmigiano Reggiano grated, plus extra to garnish 2 Tbsp. Simply Better Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 Tub Simply Better Italian Mozzarella, cut into 4 slices 1 Jar Simply Better Italian Tomato & Mascarpone Pasta Sauce 25g Butter 75g Plain Flour A small handful of fresh basil leaves
To serve: 300g Simply Better Italian Bronze Die Spaghetti, cooked Mixed Leaf Salad
DIRECTIONS 1. Place the chicken on a chopping board and cut each fillet in half lengthways. Spread them out and cover with parchment paper, then bash with a rolling pin until they are about 1cm thick.
2. Put the flour in a dish and season generously with salt and pepper. Put the eggs in a separate dish with the milk and season, then beat lightly with a fork. Put the breadcrumbs and Parmesan into a third dish, stirring to combine. Dust each chicken escalope in the seasoned flour, then dip into the beaten eggs and finally coat it in the breadcrumbs. Arrange on a plate.
3. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/gas mark 4).
4. Heat the oil and butter in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Cook the escalope’s for 2 minutes on each side, until crisp and golden. Pour half of the tomato sauce on a baking tray or into a baking dish, then add the chicken. Spoon a little of the sauce on each one and top with a piece of mozzarella and a spoon of pesto. Transfer to the oven and cook for 10-12 minutes, until the mozzarella is bubbling.
5. Garnish the chicken with some fresh basil and serve straight to the table with a bowl of spaghetti and a bowl of salad so everyone can help themselves.
This Spaghetti Carbonara uses just four simple ingredients along with some salt and pepper and is ready in less than 15 minutes. Find the full recipe from our @simplybetterds brand ambassador @nevenmaguire below:
Ingredients 1 Pack Simply Better Italian Bronze Spaghetti 2 Packs Simply Better Guanciale Pepato, cut into strips 4 Simply Irish Better Free Range Corn Fed Large Eggs and 2 Yolks 1 Pack Pecorino Romano PDO, finely grated Simply Better Oriel Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Method 1. Bring a large saucepan of water to a rolling boil. Season with salt and cook the spaghetti for 10 minutes until al dente. 2. Meanwhile, heat a non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Sauté the Guanciale for 2-3 minutes until crisp. Drain off the excess fat and tip on to a plate to cool. 3. Beat the eggs and yolks in a mixing bowl until lightly and fluffy. Season generously with pepper and fold in most of the pecorino, reserving some to garnish. 4. Drain the spaghetti, reserving a small cupful of the cooking water and immediately tip into the bowl with the egg mixture. Add most of the Guanciale, reserving some for garnishing, and toss with a tongs until evenly combined. The heat of the spaghetti will be enough to create a smooth silky sauce – you can add a little of the reserved cooking water if you think it needs it. Divide among bowls and garnish with the rest of the Guanciale and Pecorino to serve.
Neven’s Top Tip: Reserving a small cupful of the pasta cooking water when draining can be used to enhance the silkiness of the cooking sauce before serving3d
Watch our Simply Better brand ambassador @nevenmaguire prepare this delicious Irish Strawberry & Lemon Tart using our new Simply Better Irish King Strawberries from Clarke’s Fresh Fruit. Find the full recipe below:
Ingredients (Serves 8) 500ml Simply Better Single Source Irish Jersey Cream 1 Jar Simply Better Sicilian Lemon Curd 250g Simply Better Irish King Strawberries, sliced 50g Pistachios For the Sweet Shortcrust Pastry 175g Plain Flour 100g Butter, diced and chilled 50g Caster Sugar Pinch of Salt 1 Simply Better Free Range Corn Fed Egg ½ Tbsp. Simply Better Organic Irish Jersey Milk Zest of ½ Lemon
Method 1. To make the pastry, place the flour, butter, sugar and salt into a food processor and blend for 20 seconds. Add the egg, milk and lemon zest and blend again just until the pastry comes together – do not overwork the dough or the pastry will be tough. Wrap in cling film and chill for 1 hour. 2. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/Gas Mark 4). 3. Roll the pastry out thinly on a lightly floured work surface. Transfer the pastry to a 23cm (9in) fluted loose bottomed flat tin ensuring the pastry is pushed into the edges of the tin. Transfer to the freezer for 10 minutes to firm up. 4. Remove the tart tin from the freezer. Line the pastry with baking parchment and fill with baking beans or rice. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the pastry is firm, then remove the beans or rice and cook for about 5 minutes more, until golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. 5. Whip the jersey cream in a bowl until you achieve soft peaks then fold in the lemon curd. Pour the lemon cream into the cooled pastry case. Arrange the sliced strawberries on top and scatter over the pistachio nuts. Keep chilled until ready to serve.
