Auntie Maureen’s Plum Pudding by Neven Maguire @macneanhouse

Makes 2x 1.2 litre (2 pint) puddings

Nothing beats the flavour of homemade Christmas pudding, but it’s important to get good-quality fruit and it’s best made at least 1 month in advance.

I love plum pudding, hot or cold, with lashings of cream, but the spiked almond custard is even more special. I always look forward to it. A big thank you to Auntie Maureen for this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 50g (2oz) plain flour
  • 1/2 tsp ground mixed spice
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 225g (8oz) sultanas
  • 175g (6oz) butter, melted, plus extra for greasing
  • 175g (6oz) fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 175g (6oz) light brown sugar
  • 175g (6oz) raisins
  • 50g (2oz) currants
  • 50g (2oz) candied mixed peel
  • 50g (2oz) blanched almonds, hopped
  • 1/2 eating apple, peeled, cored and diced
  • 1/2 small carrot, grated finely grated rind and juice of
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 300ml (1/2 pint) stout
  • fresh redcurrant sprigs, to decorate (optional)
  • icing sugar, to decorate (optional)
  • spiked almond custard, to serve

Method

  1. Sift together the flour, mixed spice, cloves and nutmeg. Add the sultanas, melted butter, breadcrumbs, sugar, raisins, currants, mixed peel, almonds, apple, carrot and the lemon rind and juice and mix until well combined. Gradually add the beaten eggs, stirring constantly, followed by the stout. Mix everything together thoroughly and cover with a clean tea towel, then leave in a cool place overnight.
  2. Use the fruit mixture to fill 2 x 1.2 litre (2 pint) greased pudding bowls. Cover with a double thickness of greaseproof paper and tin foil, then tie tightly under the rim with string. Store in a cool, dry place overnight.
  3. To cook, preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F/gas mark 2).
  4. Stand each pudding basin in a large cake tin three-quarters full of boiling water, then cook in the oven for 6–8 hours (or you can steam them for 6 hours in the usual way). Cool and re-cover with clean greaseproof paper. Again, store in a cool, dry place.
  5. On Christmas Day, re-cover with greaseproof paper and foil. Steam for 2–3 hours, until completely cooked through and tender. Decorate with the redcurrant sprigs and a light dusting of icing sugar, if liked.
  6. To serve, cut the plum pudding into slices and arrange on serving plates. Have a separate jug of the spiked almond custard so that everyone can help themselves.

Rachel Allen’s Baked Mushroom Risotto

rach mush ris mar 16

 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.

Serve immediately with grated Parmesan on top.

http://www.rachelallen.com/post/baked-mushroom-risotto

 

Neven Maguire’s Ham, Cheese and Egg Crêpes with Griddled Asparagus – perfect tea for lots of hungry children

Neven Maguire's Ham, Cheese and Egg Crêpes with Griddled Asparagus
Neven Maguire’s Ham, Cheese and Egg Crêpes with Griddled Asparagus
This is a perfect tea for lots of hungry children, but it would also be a good weekend late breakfast, depending on your mood. It’s the classic way that many crêpe stallholders cook crêpes to order late at night around the major tourist attractions in Paris. They are always very popular, often with long queues, and once you’ve tasted them it’s easy to understand why.

Ingredients

  • 24 asparagus spears
  • 8 eggs
  • 450 g swiss cheese, such as gruyère or emmental (thinly sliced)
  • 8 slices of cooked ham
  • 1 tblsp olive oil
  • Crêpes:
  • 100 g plain flour
  • 1 egg
  • 300 ml milk
  • sunflower oil (for frying)
  • sea salt
  • black pepper (freshly ground)

Method

  1. Sift the flour and a pinch of salt into a bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the egg and whisk well with a balloon whisk.
  2. Gradually beat in the milk, drawing in the flour from the sides to make a smooth batter. Leave to rest for 5 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, trim the asparagus spears and blanch in a pan of boiling water for 1–2 minutes, until almost tender but still with a slight bite.
  4. Drain and refresh under cold running water to prevent them from cooking any further and set aside until needed.
  5. Heat a little oil in an 18cm (7in) heavy-based pancake or frying pan. Pour in just enough batter to thinly coat the base of the pan.
  6. Cook over a moderately high heat for about 1 minute, until golden brown. Turn or toss the crêpe and break in an egg, then gently whisk to spread it evenly all over the crêpe.
  7. Season to taste.

https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/recipes

Neven Maguire’s mushroom & leek strudel with madeira wine sauce from Neven’s Portuguese Food Trails

Neven Maguire’s mushroom & leek strudel with madeira wine sauce

Ingredients

Serves 4-6

For the strudel

  • 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for oiling
  • 1 small onion, peeled and finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
  • 225g mixed wild mushrooms roughly chopped
  • 1 small leek, washed and finely sliced
  • 2 tbsp double cream
  • 2 tbsp Madeira Wine
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 4-5 sheets filo pastry, thawed if frozen (about 100g/4oz in total)
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • mixed salad leaves, to serve

For the madeira wine sauce

  • 700ml beef stock
  • 1 tbsp tomato purée
  • 3 tbsp Madeira Wine
  • 3 tbsp cream

Method

For the strudel

  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/ gas mark 5.
  2. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan.
  4. Add the onion, garlic and mushrooms and cook over a medium to high heat for 2-3 minutes until almost tender.
  5. Reduce the heat, add the cream and Madeira to the pan and cook for another minute.
  6. Add herbs and salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Sauté for another minute until the spring onions are just tender and the liquid has almost completely reduced.
  8. Allow to cool completely.
  9. Unroll the sheets of filo pastry and place them all, one on top of the other, on a work surface.
  10. Brush the top sheet of pastry with beaten egg and then spread over the mushroom mixture to within 4cm (1½in) of the edges.
  11. Fold the short ends inwards a little to meet the mushroom mixture and then, starting with a long edge, roll up the pastry fairly tightly like you would a Swiss roll, keeping the mushrooms in place as you roll.
  12. Place the strudel seam-side down on the parchment paper and brush it all over with the remaining beaten egg.
  13. Bake for 20-25 minutes until crisp and golden brown.
  14. Allow to cool for a few minutes before carefully placing on a chopping board.
  15. Cut the strudel into thick slices and arrange on warmed plates. Drizzle some sauce beside it and serve with some mixed salad leaves.

For the madeira wine sauce

  1. Heat a heavy based saucepan, add the Madeira Wine and reduce by half.
  2. Gradually whisk in the beef stock until smooth, followed by the tomato purée.
  3. Simmer for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened.
  4. Whisk in the cream, bring to the boil, season to taste and thicken with some diluted cornflower.
  5. Set aside until required.

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Creamy Chicken and Spinach Pasta recipe @donalskehan @dunnesstores

donalskehan

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  • Creamy Chicken & Spinach Pasta | I love recipes that come with a dash of nostalgia and this one never fails to deliver. In what now feels like another life, I was in a band with my Swedish pal Jonathan and, while staying at his place, I picked up this great recipe from his family. Ingredients from @dunnesstores 💛

    Serves: 4
    Time: 30 mins

    300g tagliatelle
    1 tbsp olive oil
    A knob of butter
    400g skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thick strips
    3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
    50g ready-to-use sun-dried tomatoes
    150g baby spinach leaves
    250ml single cream
    Parmesan shavings, to serve 
    Basil leaves, to serve
    Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 

    1. Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large frying pan and, when foaming, fry the chicken for about 4–6 minutes or until cooked through. Season with salt and pepper before adding the garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and fry until the spinach has wilted.
    2. Add the cream and bring to a steady simmer for 3–4 minutes. Once the pasta is cooked, drain and add to the sauce. Toss well and serve straightaway with some fresh basil leaves & Parmesan shavings.6d

Odlums Christmas Plum Pudding (Light Recipe)

Christmas Plum Pudding (Light Recipe)

CategoryChristmas

Cook Time5 hours

What you need:

  • 75g/3oz Odlums Self Raising Flour
  • 175g/6oz Shamrock Light Brown Sugar
  • 175g/6oz Margarine
  • 3 Eggs (lightly beaten)
  • 1 teaspoon Mixed Spice
  • 500g packet Shamrock Luxury Fruit Mix
  • 1 Apple (grated)
  • 100g packet Shamrock Ground Almonds
  • 175g/6oz Breadcrumbs
  • 1 bottle Stout (1/2 pint)

How to:

  1. Cream margarine and sugar until light and fluffy.
  2. Add the lightly beaten eggs and mix well.
  3. Stir in the sieved flour and mixed spice.
  4. Next add the fruit mix, grated apple and ground almonds. Mix well.
  5. Finally, add the breadcrumbs and bottle of stout.
  6. Stir well, cover and leave to stand overnight. Transfer to a 3 pint greased pudding bowl. Steam for 5 hours.

To steam pudding in oven:

  1. Put two long strips of tin foil crosswise on work top or table. Place roasting tin on foil. Sit pudding bowl into the tin and fill with boiling water to within 1″ of top of tin. Then bring tin foil around to form a parcel, which should be airtight to prevent any steam escaping.
  2. Place in preheated oven at 150°C/300°F/Gas 2 for the same length of time as above. There is no need to top up with water during cooking.

Recipe Notes:

The quantities may be doubled if more than one pudding is required.

Neven Maguire’s Fish Curry @BordBia @macnean_house_restaurant

Ingredients

  • 4 x 175g hake fillets, pin boned, scaled and skin on
  • 2 tbsp rapeseed oil
  • ¼ butternut squash, deseeded and cut into cubes
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2cm piece of ginger, peeled and grated
  • ½ red pepper, cored and cut into thin strip
  • s½ yellow pepper, cored and cut into thin strips
  • ½ green pepper, cored and cut into thin strips
  • ½ red chilli, seeds removed and thinly sliced
  • 2 tsp mild curry powder2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
  • 1 x 400g tin coconut milk (Thai Gold brand, if possible)
  • 100ml vegetable or fish stock
  • 2 tbsp mango chutney
  • 1 x 400g tin chickpeas, drained and rinsedJuice of
  • 1 limeHandful of baby spinach leaves
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Steamed basmati I rice, to serve
  • 1 tbsp basil, chopped
  • 1 tbsp coriander, chopped

Method

 

Preheat a large heavy based saucepan with the rapeseed oil over a medium heat

Add the butternut squash, onion, garlic, and ginger to the pan and stir to combine. Add in the sliced peppers, sliced chilli followed by the spices. Mix well to coat the vegetables in the spices, scraping the base of the pan.

Add in the chopped tomatoes, coconut milk, stock, mango chutney, chickpeas and lime juice. Stir to combine, cover with a lid and bring to the boil.

Once the curry has come to the boil, carefully place the hake portions on top and cover with the lid. Reduce the head to a low to medium and slowly poach the hake for 15 minutes, until cooked through.

Add in the spinach and nestle between the fish to wilt.

Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and finish with chopped basil and coriander.

Neven has a Halloween recipe up his sleeve for us this week: Penne with pumpkin, crispy bacon, sage and Parmesan

neven pumkin penne

I love this time of year. Conor and Lucia have made their pumpkin lanterns and I never let anything go to waste. I make soup with the flesh that they have scraped out – which is also good with pasta. Sage is a herb that tastes particularly well with pumpkin.

This is a recipe that you could use any time of the year with butternut squash or with sweet potatoes instead of the pumpkin.

I mentioned recently how many butchers are making their own sausages and here is another chance to try some out. With colcannon, this makes a very tasty meal.

Colcannon is also delicious with any grilled meat or with Sunday lunch. I often use this onion gravy with roast meats or pork chops. Allowing it to carmelise adds great depth of flavour.

Happy cooking,

Neven

Penne with pumpkin, crispy bacon, sage and Parmesan

Serves four to six

4 tbsp olive oil

175g (175g) smoked streaky bacon lardons

500g (1¼lb) pumpkin, peeled, seeded and finely diced

15g (½oz) packet fresh sage, finely shredded

500g (1¼lb) penne pasta

50g (2oz) freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra to garnish

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 Heat the oil a large frying pan and fry the bacon for two to three minutes until crisp. Add the pumpkin with the sage. Season with salt and pepper and cook for four to five minutes, stirring occasionally until the pumpkin is cooked through.
  • 2 Cook the penne according to the packet instructions, then drain and add to the pumpkin with the crispy bacon. Stir in the Parmesan and season to taste, then divide among bowls.
  • 3 Garnish with extra Parmesan and black pepper.

Sausages with colcannon

Serves eight to 10

1.5kg (3lb) floury potatoes (such as Rooster), peeled and cut into chunks

8 traditional jumbo Irish pork sausages

225g (8oz) kale, finely shredded

2 scallions, very finely chopped

120ml (4fl oz) milk

75g (3oz) butter

Salt and pepper

Stout onion gravy, to serve (optional, see point 3)

  • 1 Steam the potatoes until tender. Cook the sausages in a frying pan in a little oil or under the grill. Place a knob of the butter and a tablespoon of water in a pan over a high heat. Add the kale and scallions with a pinch of salt. Cover, shake vigorously and cook for 1½ minutes. Shake again and cook for another 1½ minutes, until the cabbage or kale is tender but still crisp.
  • 2 Heat the milk in a small pan or in the microwave. Mash the potatoes and then beat in the butter with enough of the milk to make a smooth, creamy mash. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with the sausages and some gravy, if liked.
  • 3 Stout onion gravy: sauté thinly sliced onions in butter and season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with a little sugar to caramelise. Stir in a spoonful of flour and then pour in enough Guinness or beef stock from a cube to make a thick smooth gravy.

Apple Parsnip Soup @KerrygoldUSA

Ingredients:
  • 4 ounces Kerrygold Unsalted Butter
  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • 1 leek (white part only), halved lengthwise, washed and dried, cut into ¼ inch pieces
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 large (¾-pound) Yukon Gold potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 parsnips (about ½-pound), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped into 2-inch pieces
  • 5 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups apple juice
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ cup flat leaf parsley
  • Kosher salt and freshly black pepper
Directions:

Place a large saucepan on the stove over a medium heat. Add the butter, and when melted, add shallots, leeks and garlic and using a wooden spoon to occasionally stir. Cook until leeks are tender, about 7 minutes.

Add the potato, parsnips and apples and cook until just potatoes are starting to soften, about 5 minutes.

Add the broth and apple juice; reduce stove temperature to a simmer. Cover the saucepan and cook until the vegetables are very soft, about 30 minutes.

Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the parsley and using a blender, or an immersion blender, thoroughly purée the mixture.

Return the saucepan to the stove over a medium-low heat and stir in the milk. Heat the soup, stirring occasionally, until the soup is heated through and boils. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Tasted and perfected in the Sur La Table kitchen.

APPLE PARSNIP SOUP