Tuesday 10 August 2010

Mediterranean Gnocchi Bake

Another @deliciousmag August edition recipe…

For 2 people you need:
400g mixed veg e.g. peppers, courgettes, onions, tomatoes
350g pack fresh gnocchi
1 tub four cheese sauce
small bunch fresh oregano, leaves picked
8 sunblush tomatoes

Roast the veggies in some olive oil with half the oregano. Cook the gnocchi and drain. Mix them together with the cheese sauce. Scatter over the sunblush tomatoes and the remaining oregano and bake in the oven for 20 mins till bubbling.

Turkish Menemen with Sumac Yogurt

Yet another @deliciousmag recipe from their August edition… This is a lovely brunch dish. I love brunch…

For 4 portions you need:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp fennel seeds
½ tsp each of cumin seeds, mustard seeds and chilli flakes
1 inch piece of ginger, grated
1 red onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 large red pepper, chopped
400g tinned tomatoes (or about 8 plum toms) diced
4 medium eggs
small bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped

25ml olive oil
½ tsp sumac
1 clove garlic, crushed
100g yogurt
Squeeze lemon juice

Sautee the spices till they pop then add the ginger, onion and garlic. Fry till softened then add the tomatoes and pepper and a couple of tbsp water. Cook gently for 10 mins or so. Season.

Meanwhile make the sumac yogurt – mix everything together adding lemon juice and seasoning to taste.

Make 4 hollows in the veg mix and crack in the eggs. Cook gently till done. Drizzle with some more oil and scatter over the parsley. Serve with flatbread.

Tofu and Green Vegetable Stir Fry (v)

A quick, easy and very very non french dinner to welcome us home :)

For 3 people you need:

1 cup rice, cooked
1 pack stirfry veggies (I used M&S tender veg stir fry)
1 pack tenderstem broccoli, stems sliced, heads left whole
1 packet marinated tofu
1 jar wagamama teryaki sauce
1 onion, sliced

Boil the rice. Meanwhile stirfry the onion and broccoli stems in a little oil for 4-5 mins. Add everything else and cover with a lid to steam the veggies. Serve with the rice. Sigh with contentment that you are no longer confined to cheese, cheese, more cheese and eggs :)

Sunday 8 August 2010

Mango Fool

This works well with canned lychees too. This is another recipe from @deliciousmag August edition.

For 4 portions you need:
400g mango, diced
Grated zest and juice of ½ lime
150ml double cream
2 tsp light brown soft sugar
50ml greek yogurt
1 tbsp toasted desseciated coconut
Coconut biscuits to serve

Blitz the mango and lime juice till smooth. Whip the cream, sugar and yogurt together till thickened. Stir through half the mango mixture. Fold in the rest to make a rippled effect.

Serve in glasses topped with the coconut and with a biscuit on the side.

Quick Thai Salad (v)

A healthy and deliciously quick salad perfect for lunch or as a side to a Thai themed meal. This is from @deliciousmag August edition.


For 2 portions you need:
125g beansprouts
½ cucumber sliced in to think batons
3 spring onions, finely shredded
1 small red chilli, deseeded and sliced into thin strips
Small handful fresh mint leaves
Small handful fresh basil leaves
1 tbsp light soya sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp caster sugar
50g unsalted roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
large handful coriander, roughly chopped

Mix everything together and scoff.

Courgette, Onion and Cheddar Tart

I love quiche and its many varied fillings. This recipe comes from the August edition of @deliciousmag

For 4-6 portions you need:
400g shortcrust pastry made from 300g flour and 150g butter (use any leftovers for jam tarts!)
2 medium courgettes
1 tbsp olive oil
knob butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 large cloves garlic, crushed
small bunch fresh thyme, leaves picked off
150ml double cream
1 large egg plus 2 egg yolks
150g mature cheddar, coarsely grated

Begin by lining a quiche tin with the pastry. Prick all over and leave to rest for 30 mins. Then bake blind for 15 mins or so. Brush some of the beaten leftover egg white on to the base and continue to bake till it is set and sealed. Leave to cool.

Meanwhile grate the courgettes in to a sieve, sprinkle with a little salt and leave to drain for 5-10 mins. Sautee the onion and garlic in the butter and oil. Squeeze out the courgettes and add to the pan, increasing the heat.

Mix the cream, egg, yolks and cheese in a jug. Season and add the thyme. Spoon the vegetables over the base of the tin and then pour over the egg and cream mix. Bake in a moderate oven for about 25 mins. Serve with a green salad. Yum!

Baked Polenta with Griddled Summer Vegetables (v)

A lovely light lunch dish (omit the parmesan for a vegan version). This is from @deliciousmag August edition.

For 4 portions you need:
800ml vegetable stock
200g quick cook polenta
100g finely grated parmesan (use dark stock instead if making it vegan)
100g asparagus tips
1 large courgette, peeled in to ribbons
150g cherry tomatoes
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
120g roasted red peppers (either do your own or use a jar), sliced
Squeeze of lemon juice
Large handful of rocket leaves

Bring the stock to the boil in a large pan and then slowly add the polenta, whisking all the time till it thickens. Season well and add the parmesan. Pour into a lined baking tin (e.g. swiss roll tin) and leave to set for 5 mins then bake at 180 degrees for about 20 mins.

Meanwhile griddle the veggies on batches. Mix with the lemon juice and season well.

Serve the polenta dressed with rocket and the griddled veggies on the top. Sophistocated but easy ☺

Pottage aux Legumes et Pois Chiches (v)

A simple but filling soup.

For 4-6 portions you need:
2 leeks, sliced
1 onion, chopped
4 carrots, sliced
2 turnips, diced
3 cloves garlic, sliced
4-6 salad potatoes, diced
1 tin chick peas, drained
1.5 litres vegetable stock
Crusty bread to serve.

Sautee all the veggies in a little olive oil for 10 mins or so. Add the stock and chickpeas and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 mins till tender and serve.

Salad au Chevre Chaud

This is a classic French salad and one I almost always go for when en france.

For 2 portions you need:
1 medium chevre log, cut into 6 slices
6 slices baguette, cut reasonably thinly
green salad
French vinaigrette
Salt and pepper
A little chilli oil

Place the cheese onto the baguette slices and season with pepper and chilli oil. Grill till browned and starting to melt. Serve on a bed of dressed green salad. Simples.