Hungarian Cucumber Salad

At last, I've found a really feisty cucumber salad.  It goes well with almost any dish and the bite of the vinegar and the crunch of the cucumber works so well.

Pinchitos de Pollo

Discovering this tapas dish whilst on a food tour of San Sebastian was one of the highlights of the experience, as were the padron peppers but I'll post that recipe another day.  These are amazing as a starter or as part of a BBQ.  Get the coals on honey!

Ingredients for 4 
3 skinless chicken breasts, cut into small bite-size pieces
1 teasp cumin seeds, crushed
1 teasp coriander seeds, crushed
3 garlic cloves, finely sliced
Olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 limes, quartered
8 wooden skewers, 12-14 cm long, soaked in water.

Method
Marinate the chicken by placing it in a large bowl with the cumin, coriander, garlic, 12 dashes of olive oil and three generous pinches of pepper and two of salt. Drop in 4 lime quarters (unsqueezed). Mix everything together so that the chicken is coated in the oil and spices. Cover with cling film and leave to marinate in the fridge for up to 12 hours. When you are ready to cook, place a griddle plate on a high heat. Divide the marinated chicken pieces between the soaked wooden skewers.  Place the skewers on the griddle and grill for 2 minutes on each side.  Serve with lime wedges on the side.

Monday Mushroom Soup

Mushroom soup is a really such a simple soup to make. I like to use value packs of mushrooms as they don’t need to be perfect looking or all the same shape. Large open cup or field mushrooms will give the best flavour, simply wipe with a damp piece of kitchen paper to remove any bits of earth.  

Ingredients for 4

100g butter

4 shallots, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped

700g mushrooms, wiped and roughly chopped

1 litre vegetable stock

Salt and white pepper

200ml double cream or creme fraiche

Freshly chopped parsley and finely chopped mushroom, to garnish.

Method

Heat the butter in a large pan and fry the shallots and garlic for 5 mins until softened but not brown. Add the mushrooms and fry gently for 5 mins, stirring occasionally.

Pour in the stock and season with salt and freshly-ground black pepper. Simmer for 10 mins until the mushrooms are very tender.

Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 5 mins, then puree the soup with a stick blender or transfer to a food processor and process until smooth.

Stir the cream into the pureed soup and heat through gently for 2-3 mins. Adjust the seasoning to taste and serve in warmed bowls garnished with parsley and chopped mushrooms.

Prawns with Garlic and Chilli

So quick, so easy, so tasty!  Thanks to Madhur Jaffrey, Curry Easy, for this flavour packed starter, I think it has all my favourite flavours in one dish.

Ingredients for 4

12 raw jumbo prawns, peeled and deveined

¼ teasp cayenne pepper, or to taste

1 teasp finely chopped fresh hot green chillies

2 tbsp olive, rapeseed or peanut oil

½ teasp whole brown or yellow mustard seeds

1 large clove of garlic, peeled and finely chopped

15 fresh curry leaves or 10 fresh basil leaves, torn

5 tbsp grated tomato, using coarse side of the grater and discarding the skin
White cabbage and carrot, shredded, serve as a garnish.

Method

Wash the prawns well. Leave in a sieve for a while, then pat dry. Put in a bowl, adding the cayenne pepper, some freshly ground black pepper, a quarter teaspoon of salt and the chillies. Mix well. The prawns may be covered and refrigerated until needed. Put the oil in a wok or frying-pan and set over a medium-high heat. When hot, put in the mustard seeds. As soon as they begin to pop, a matter of seconds, add the garlic and stir once or twice. Quickly put in the prawns and curry leaves. Stir a few times. Add the grated tomato. Stir a few times. Turn the heat down to medium-low and let the prawns cook gently, stirring until they just turn opaque, a matter of two or three minutes. Serve immediately on a bed of shredded white cabbage and carrot.

Tomato and Curd Cheese Tart

I came across a tub of curd cheese at the supermarket and bought it on impulse, without having a clue what to do with it. Thanks to BBC Good Food, for supplying this recipe that I've tinkered with to suit my tastes and to Drew's for their amazing tomatoes.  I'll serve a slice of tart with some dressed watercress and soft herbs. The addition of some buttered Jersey royals would turn this into a lovely main dish at suppertime. 

Ingredients for 8 starters

Pre made shortcrust pastry

Small bunch basil or flat-leaf parsley, leaves roughly chopped

175g curd cheese

8 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced

A little olive oil, to serve

Handful mixed soft herbs and watercress, I like chives, mint and flat-leaf parsley, to serve.

Method

Keep the pastry in the fridge until you are ready to use it. Mix the chopped herbs and remaining cheddar into the curd cheese, then season. Heat oven to 200C. Roll the pastry until large enough to cut a round about 27cm across (use a dinner plate as a guide). Dust the work surface with flour, then roll out the pastry into a circle, lay it carefully into a 23cm fluted tin, prick the base with a fork and chill for at least 10 minutes, ideally 20 minutes.  Bake blind, using baking parchment and baking beans for 15 mins, then let it cool for 10 minutes. Spread the herby curd cheese over the pastry, taking it almost to the edge, then arrange the tomatoes on top in overlapping circles. Season and bake for 15 mins until the pastry is golden around the edges. Turn oven down to 150C and bake for another 30 minutes until the tomatoes look quite dried out and the pastry is cooked through. To serve, let the tart cool a little, then drizzle with olive oil. Toss the herbs and watercress with more oil, then pile in the middle of the tart to serve.

Asparagus with Poached Egg and Hollandaise Sauce

What more could you wish for than lightly steamed new season local asparagus from Great Witley, served on the patio with a chilled glass of Chase rose wine? I know you can buy the sauce ready made but the real thing is so much better and only takes a few minutes. Mouthwateringly good!

Ingredients for 2

10 asparagus spears, trimmed

Salt, large pinch

2 teasp white wine vinegar

2 eggs

2 slices of lightly toasted sourdough bread

A few snipped chives for garnish.

For the hollandaise sauce

1 medium free range egg yolk

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tbsp water

110g clarified butter, warmed

A small pinch of cayenne pepper and salt, to season.

Method

Steam the asparagus over plenty of boiling water for 3-5 minutes (depending on the thickness of the spears). Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and add the vinegar. Whisk to make a whirlpool. Once it has settled, crack an egg in the middle. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, remove and keep warm. Repeat with the other egg. Now make the hollandaise by putting the egg yolk, lemon juice and water into a blender. Turn on the machine and then slowly pour the warmed butter through the lid. Season with cayenne pepper and salt. Pile 5 spears of asparagus on to each slice of toast. Top with a poached egg. Spoon on the hollandaise sauce and serve.

French Onion Soup with Gruyère Croûtons

This is so satisfying and simple to make.  Making sure the onions caramelize well is the key to a really flavoursome dish.  I'll be using a local Gruyère cheese on the croûtons made by Lightwoods Cheese and the Hop Pole Inn. 

                              

Ingredients

50g unsalted butter

4 medium sized Spanish onions, cut in half and then sliced into 3mm slices

1 tbsp plain flour

200ml dry white wine, boiled for 30 seconds to remove the alcohol

1 tbsp Cognac, optional

1.5l boiling water

2 pinches salt & freshly ground black pepper.

To serve

12 slices baguette, cut 1cm thick

150g Gruyère cheese, grated.

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 200°C. Melt the butter without letting it brown in a large non stick frying pan. Add the onions and soften for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Season with 2 good pinches of salt and  2 pinches of pepper. Continue cooking the onions for 20–30 minutes to achieve an even, rich brown caramel colour. Don't skimp on this timing as it develops the flavour. Stir every 2–3 minutes to prevent them from burning. Sprinkle the flour on a baking tray and cook in the oven for 8–10 minutes, until it is very lightly coloured. Stir the flour into the caramelized onions and mix thoroughly. Gradually stir in the white wine and one third of the boiling water. Whisk well and add the remaining water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes, skimming off any impurities. Taste and season. Arrange the baguette slices on a baking tray and sprinkle two thirds of the grated Gruyère

over them. Place under a hot grill for 3–4 minutes to melt and slightly brown the cheese. Serve the soup in bowls, with the croûtons on top. Serve the remaining cheese separately.

Smoked Salmon Pate

The sun's shining and I fancy serving this bobby dazzler of a dish as a starter with a cold beer or a glass of fizz on the patio this evening. 

Ingredients

150g smoked salmon, trimmings are fine

200g tub soft cheese

1 tbsp crème fraîche, only if you have some

Juice half a lemon

Small bunch dill or chives, chopped

Lemon wedges

Breadsticks or granary toast, to serve

Method

I like to use supermarket basic smoked salmon trimmings as they taste just a good as the posh stuff but are half the price. If you have larger pieces then chop them into small pieces. Tip the soft cheese, crème fraîche and lemon juice into a food processor, season generously with black pepper and blitz together. Add the smoked salmon and pulse a few times if you want the paté chunky or blitz some more if you want the paté smooth and pink.

Stir the herbs into the paté and spoon into a large or four smaller bowls and serve with warm toast as a starter or with breadsticks as a dip with lunch on the patio.

Caesar Salad

A small portion of this classic salad is just what you need for a light supper or starter.  Ring the changes if you're feeling adventurous and use crispy bacon and avocado instead of chicken and call it a Roman Salad. 

Ingredients

1 medium ciabatta loaf

3 tbsp olive oil

2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 large cos or romaine lettuce, leaves separated

For the dressing

1 garlic clove

2 anchovies from a tin

A wedge of parmesan cheese for grating and shaving (you won't use it all)

5 tbsp mayonnaise

1 tbsp white wine vinegar.

Method

Heat oven to 200C. Tear the bread into big croutons or, if you prefer slice it. Place on a large baking sheet or tray and sprinkle over 2 tbsp olive oil. Rub the oil into the bread and season with a little salt if you like (sea salt crystals are best for this). Bake for 8-10 minutes, turning the croutons a few times during cooking so they brown evenly.

Rub the chicken breasts with remaining oil, season. Place pan over a medium heat for 1 minute, until hot, but not smoking. Lay the chicken on the pan and leave for 6 minutes. Turn the chicken, then cook for 6 minutes more. Check if it’s cooked by poking the tip of a sharp knife into the thickest part; there should be no sign of pink and juices will run clear.

Bash the garlic with the flat of a knife and peel off the skin and crush into a smooth paste. Mash the anchovies with a fork against the side of a small bowl. Grate a handful of cheese and mix with the rest of the dressing ingredients. Season to taste. It should be the consistency of yogurt, if needed stir in a few teasp water to let it down.

Shave the cheese with a potato peeler. Tear lettuce into large pieces and put in a large bowl. Pull chicken into bite-size strips and scatter half over the leaves, along with half the croutons. Add most of the dressing and toss with your fingers. Scatter the rest of the chicken and croutons, then drizzle with the remaining dressing. Sprinkle the Parmesan on top and serve straight away.