#Ad | Strawberry season is in full swing and this Irish Strawberry Baked Cheesecake from our @simplybetterds brand ambassador @Neven Maguire is the perfect way to use our delicious Simply Better Irish strawberries from @clarkesfreshfruit. Find the recipe below and shop the ingredients online or in your local @dunnesstores
Ingredients | Serves 6-8
FOR THE BASE 1 Pack Simply Better Normandy Butter Vanilla Sablé Biscuits 60g Simply Better Abernethy Sea Salted Butter, melted FOR THE CHEESECAKE FILLING 3 Tubs Simply Better Irish Original Cream Cheese 180g Simply Better Greek Yogurt (10% Fat) 200g Caster Sugar 3 Simply Better Irish Free Range Corn Fed Large Eggs 1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
FOR THE TOPPING 1 Bag of Simply Better Frozen Irish Strawberries 1 Pack Simply Better Irish King Strawberries, sliced 3 Tbsp. Water 3 Tbsp. Sugar 1 Tbsp. Cornflour
Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C Fan. 2. Combine the frozen strawberries, water, sugar and cornflour in a saucepan and bring to the boil, reduce the heat then simmer for 5-10 minutes until the strawberries are soft, then hand blend and simmer again for a further 10 minutes until reduced and thickened. Allow to cool before you stir in the fresh strawberries. 3. Blitz the biscuits until you achieve fine breadcrumbs and mix through the melted butter. 4. Line a spring form tin with baking parchment so that it is coming up the sides. Tip the biscuit into the base and spread out with the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Remove and allow to cool. 5. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 160°C Fan. 6. Mix all of the cheesecake filling ingredients until well combined. Pour over the cooled base and bake for 45-50 minutes, it should have a slight wobble in the centre. Turn off the oven and allow it to sit for another 10-15 minutes before removing. Allow to cool then leave to chill in the fridge overnight. 7. Top with the strawberries before serving.1w
Experiment with other flavour additions – a little chopped cooked ham or Parma ham, diced cooked mushrooms, a few herbs or some sliced artichoke heart can all go into the base before you crack in the egg. For a really extravagant addition, add a drop or two of white truffle oil over the cream.
Ingredients
Butter, for greasing
2 ripe vine tomatoes, peeled, seeded and finely chopped
4 large eggs
4 tblsp cream
25g (1oz) mature cheddar cheese, finely grated
1 tsp snipped fresh chives
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Griddled sourdough bread sliced into chunky fingers, to serve
Method
Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F/gas mark 5).
Butter 4 blini pans or ramekins and scatter the tomatoes in the bottom.
Crack an egg into each blini pan and season with salt, then add 1 tablespoon of cream to each one and scatter the cheddar on top.
Arrange the blini pans in a shallow roasting tin and pour in enough boiling water to come about halfway up the side of each pan.
Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, until the eggs are set and the cheese is bubbling.
Set each blini pan on a plate and scatter over the chives, then add the chunky bread fingers to serve.
These pancakes are quick to prepare & an ideal recipe for this coming Pancake Tuesday!
A good non stick pan is essential for lovely golden pancakes! Check out Neven’s range Dunnes Stores for non stick pans, lemon juicers, whisks and lots more!…
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.
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 | Strawberry season is in full swing and this Irish Strawberry Baked Cheesecake from our @simplybetterds brand ambassador @Neven Maguire is the perfect way to use our delicious Simply Better Irish strawberries from @clarkesfreshfruit. Find the recipe below and shop the ingredients online or in your local @dunnesstores
Ingredients | Serves 6-8
FOR THE BASE 1 Pack Simply Better Normandy Butter Vanilla Sablé Biscuits 60g Simply Better Abernethy Sea Salted Butter, melted FOR THE CHEESECAKE FILLING 3 Tubs Simply Better Irish Original Cream Cheese 180g Simply Better Greek Yogurt (10% Fat) 200g Caster Sugar 3 Simply Better Irish Free Range Corn Fed Large Eggs 1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
FOR THE TOPPING 1 Bag of Simply Better Frozen Irish Strawberries 1 Pack Simply Better Irish King Strawberries, sliced 3 Tbsp. Water 3 Tbsp. Sugar 1 Tbsp. Cornflour
Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C Fan. 2. Combine the frozen strawberries, water, sugar and cornflour in a saucepan and bring to the boil, reduce the heat then simmer for 5-10 minutes until the strawberries are soft, then hand blend and simmer again for a further 10 minutes until reduced and thickened. Allow to cool before you stir in the fresh strawberries. 3. Blitz the biscuits until you achieve fine breadcrumbs and mix through the melted butter. 4. Line a spring form tin with baking parchment so that it is coming up the sides. Tip the biscuit into the base and spread out with the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Remove and allow to cool. 5. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 160°C Fan. 6. Mix all of the cheesecake filling ingredients until well combined. Pour over the cooled base and bake for 45-50 minutes, it should have a slight wobble in the centre. Turn off the oven and allow it to sit for another 10-15 minutes before removing. Allow to cool then leave to chill in the fridge overnight. 7. Top with the strawberries before serving.1w
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.
I never tire of a bowl of steaming hot stew. It’s the attention to detail that makes this dish one of the world’s great classics. This is my version that I have developed over the years. It’s a meal in itself, but for a special celebration, try serving it buffet style with bowls of turnip mash, colcannon and maybe even some glazed parsnips and carrots and watch your guests’ faces light up!
SERVES 6–8
900g (2lb) boneless lamb neck or shoulder, trimmed and cut into cubes
900ml (1½ pints) lamb or chicken stock
50g (2oz) pearl barley, washed
225g (8oz) potatoes, cut into chunks
225g (8oz) carrots, thickly sliced
225g (8oz) leeks, well trimmed and
thickly sliced
225g (8oz) pearl onions, peeled
100g (4oz) rindless piece of smoked
bacon, diced
2 fresh thyme sprigs
sea salt and freshly ground
black pepper
chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley,
to garnish
turnip mash with crispy bacon and onion, to serve (optional)
colcannon, to serve
1 Place the boneless lamb pieces in a large heavy-based pan or flameproof casserole and pour over the stock. Bring to the boil, then skim off any scum from the surface and then stir in
the barley. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 50 minutes, until slightly reduced and the lamb is almost tender.
2 Add the potatoes to the lamb with the carrots, leeks, pearl onions, smoked bacon and thyme and simmer for 30 minutes, until the lamb and vegetables are completely tender but still holding their shape. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3 Put the stew straight onto the table and scatter over the parsley. Serve dishes of the turnip mash with crispy bacon and onion and colcannon alongside and allow everyone to help themselves.
Oatmeal, Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies
This recipe was given to me by Mary Flahavan. I like it so much that we now make it up in batches and keep them in Kilner jars in our rooms for guests in case they’re feeling a bit peckish after a long journey but don’t want to ruin their dinner.
275g (10oz) Flahavan’s
Progress Oatlets
225g (8oz) butter, at room
temperature
150g (5oz) caster sugar
100g (4oz) plain flour, plus a little
extra for dusting
½ tsp baking soda
100g (4oz) dried cranberries,
roughly chopped
100g (4oz) white chocolate,
finely chopped
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/gas mark 6). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Blend the oatlets in a food processor until quite fine. Add the butter, sugar, flour and baking soda and blend again until the dough just comes together.
Tip into a bowl and beat in the cranberries and white chocolate. Shape into 12 even-sized balls and arrange on the lined baking sheets well spaced apart, then squash them down with the palm of your hand to about a 4cm (1 ½in) thickness. Bake for 15–20 minutes, until they are a pale golden colour and soft to the touch. Remove from the oven and leave to cool and harden on the sheets for a minute, then transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool for a few minutes before tucking in with a nice cup of tea.
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.
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.