Mojo rojo: spiced red pepper sauce

Mojo rojo is one of my favourite sauces that I have enjoyed on many a holiday in Spain. Continue reading “Mojo rojo: spiced red pepper sauce”

Black truffle arancini

Light, crisp risotto balls bursting with the flavours of black truffle, garlic and Parmesan, with a melting Fontina cheese centre: terrific little bites. Continue reading “Black truffle arancini”

Confit garlic: a must-have ingredient!

Fat cloves of garlic, cooked very slowly in the oven in oil until it softens and slightly caramelises is a foodie treat: perfect mashed into potatoes, mixed with bread dough or eaten just as it is….. Continue reading “Confit garlic: a must-have ingredient!”

Smoky butternut squash hummus

Roasted squash and smoked chickpeas give what I think is a lovely autumnal twist on hummus. Continue reading “Smoky butternut squash hummus”

Smoked hummus

Forget that sludgy beige-grey slop that passes itself off for hummus in the shops. Home-made hummus is infinitely better than any you can buy and it is elevated to spectacular heights when you use smoked chickpeas. Continue reading “Smoked hummus”

Quick Mongolian beef

Made in about 15 minutes, this insanely tasty dish – think hoisin sauce coating tender strips of gingery beef – has THE most addictive sauce and it easily tops any dish you can buy from a take-away. Continue reading “Quick Mongolian beef”

Thai Sticky Quorn wraps (vegan)

Sticky, spicy, sweet and fragrant, this Thai dish proved to be a massive hit at a recent vegan supper I gave recently. So much so that I was asked for the recipe by several of my guests. Continue reading “Thai Sticky Quorn wraps (vegan)”

Saffron and roasted garlic bread

Delicately scented but with much depth of flavour, my saffron and roasted garlic bread is a real treat when eaten with good butter and perhaps some cheeses. Continue reading “Saffron and roasted garlic bread”

Nalli Gosht: lamb shanks in a spiced yoghurt sauce

This majestic curry, with melt-in-the-mouth spiced lamb and a thick sauce that is, quite frankly, to die for, is easy to make. It can be made a couple of days ahead, reheating gently when you are ready to eat. Continue reading “Nalli Gosht: lamb shanks in a spiced yoghurt sauce”

Spiced onion & chilli bread

Think onion bhajis in a bread, with a chilli kick, and that will give you the idea behind what I think is a wonderful tear-and-share bread. Continue reading “Spiced onion & chilli bread”

Brinjal pickle: spicy aubergine & tamarind

If you crave a sticky, spicy, smoky pickle then look no further: this will have you diving back into the jar! Perfect as an accompaniment to Indian food, or simply served with cheese, this recipe is both easy and satisfying to make. Continue reading “Brinjal pickle: spicy aubergine & tamarind”

Thai fish cakes

Very simple and immensely satisfying – both to make and eat – these Thai fish cakes never last long in my house. And nor should they…. Continue reading “Thai fish cakes”

Aubergine & onion pakoras with roasted cumin salt

Crisp, spicy and bursting with flavour, pakoras are a joy to eat. They are also very easy and as customisable as you want. Continue reading “Aubergine & onion pakoras with roasted cumin salt”

Pan-fried sweetbreads in a lemon, garlic & caper sauce

Sweetbreads might be one of those “love them or hate them” foods, but pan-fried and finished with a lemony butter sauce, served with caramelised onions, they are a real treat. Continue reading “Pan-fried sweetbreads in a lemon, garlic & caper sauce”

My ultimate Italian ragù sauce

If you have ever had a disappointing ragù and want an excellent recipe for a rich, flavoured-packed version, then look no further.

Continue reading “My ultimate Italian ragù sauce”

Spiced soy sauce-glazed chicken wings

One of several favourite starters in my local Thai restaurant is melt-in-the-mouth glazed chicken wings: smothered in a sticky and dark spicy soy sauce glaze, it ticks every box for me. Continue reading “Spiced soy sauce-glazed chicken wings”

Panzanella: one of the best & quickest salads in the world. With YouTube version

Great food does not need to be at all complicated or time-consuming. Sometimes the right combination of humble ingredients can become something quite majestic; panzanella is a case in point….

Continue reading “Panzanella: one of the best & quickest salads in the world. With YouTube version”

Quick spiced beetroot dip & easy salads

This vibrantly coloured dish is one of the simplest I know: made in seconds (if using ready-cooked beetroot), it tastes absolutely wonderful and is a great vehicle eaten with flatbreads. Continue reading “Quick spiced beetroot dip & easy salads”

Char-grilled courgette salad

This is a very simple salad with bags of flavour that is a great way to use courgettes, which are very much in season here in the UK at the moment. Continue reading “Char-grilled courgette salad”

Bacon Jam

This jam is a glorious combination of salty, smoky, spicy and sweet and is a great partner for cheese. Continue reading “Bacon Jam”

Garlic & rosemary fougasse bread

Fougasse is such a lovely bread, with a very crisp, shattering, crust and a soft interior. It is especially great as a tear-and-share bread, but I invariably find that once I get my hands on fougasse, sharing is a difficult option!  Continue reading “Garlic & rosemary fougasse bread”

Bruschetta: when simplicity reigns!

Bruschetta is one of those things that cannot fail to put a smile on my face when I eat it. Perfect as a starter, served with barbeque food or just as a light bite at any time of the day, one slice is never enough. Continue reading “Bruschetta: when simplicity reigns!”

Roasted onion, chorizo & Parmesan focaccia

I have posted several focaccia recipes on this blog, and while I make my roasted garlic focaccia many times more than any other flavour, I do like to play around a little. This time, I used ingredients lurking around in the fridge and the larder! Continue reading “Roasted onion, chorizo & Parmesan focaccia”

Chilli Jam

This is one of the easiest preserves to make and it tastes wonderful.I always make a large batch towards late summer once the chillies are ready in the greenhouse. It is a great way to use up a glut of ripe tomatoes, but this chilli jam works very well using tinned tomatoes. Continue reading “Chilli Jam”

Bread & butter pickles: spicy, sweet cucumbers

These sweet, spiced and crunchy cucumbers are very easy and quick to make. These sliced cucumbers are basically bathing happily in a sweetened and well flavoured vinegar. Continue reading “Bread & butter pickles: spicy, sweet cucumbers”

Two flavours of savoury biscotti

As moreish as sweet biscotti unquestionably are, savoury biscotti are in a slightly higher league for me, but then more-ish savoury food is one of my weaknesses! Continue reading “Two flavours of savoury biscotti”

Parmesan, basil & toasted pine nut canelés

A savoury variation of my lemongrass and ginger canelés,  these are essentially pesto canelés, and are fantastic as light canapés when served warm. They have a thin exterior crust with a soft interior, bursting with flavour.

Continue reading “Parmesan, basil & toasted pine nut canelés”

“deconstructed pesto” sourdough loaf

 

To be honest, my heart usually sinks whenever I see the word “deconstructed” on a menu: rarely do such dishes seem to add anything new after all that tinkering with a classic! But in a very tongue-in-cheek way I felt I had to flirt with this trend in this bread in at least the title of this recipe! Continue reading ““deconstructed pesto” sourdough loaf”

Roasted garlic, red pepper & parmesan bread “flower”

This is my savoury version of the classic Fiore di pan brioche, this time using a standard bread dough into which roasted puréed garlic and olive oil are added prior to kneading. Packed with flavour, it is great fun to make and is excellent as a tear and share bread. Continue reading “Roasted garlic, red pepper & parmesan bread “flower””

Roasted garlic, rosemary and Parmesan focaccia

A rustic, but immensely satisfying focaccia, using three of my favourite savoury flavours: Parmesan, garlic and rosemary – very much a case of allowing simple ingredients to shine. Continue reading “Roasted garlic, rosemary and Parmesan focaccia”

Thai prawn bites in a coriander & sesame seed pastry

Juicy marinaded prawns in a coriander and sesame seed pastry make wonderful nibbles and are very easy to make. They are excellent served hot or cold. Continue reading “Thai prawn bites in a coriander & sesame seed pastry”

Focaccia: higher hydration, no knead

This is my take on a standard focaccia, going for a higher water content than many recipes, handling the dough differently and letting the dough sit in the fridge overnight for its first prove (bulk fermentation) to really develop its flavour. Continue reading “Focaccia: higher hydration, no knead”