Friday Night Nachos

 

As much as I love guacamole and salsa sometimes I can’t be bothered on a Friday night to make them to go with some corn chips.

This is a quick chilli meat fix with avocado, tomatoes and beans layered on top and all that you need to go with it is some sour cream, an easy and VERY popular meal for the boys!

I like to create a lower layer of beans and tomatoes so that even the fussiest boy will get some on his plate! Clean plates = pudding in our house!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons oil

1 onion, cut into thin wedges

3 cloves garlic, minced

500g minced pork

1-2 tablespoons smoked paprika

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1/2 – 1 teaspoon chipotle chilli powder

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Salt and pepper

10 tomatoes, deseeded and diced

2 avocados, cut into large chunks

425g tin black beans, drained

100g cheese, grated

300g corn chips, gluten free

Method

In a large frying pan, heat the oil and cook the onion until soft.

Add the garlic and cook for 2 mins.

Break the mince into the pan and add the seasoning too.

Cook over a medium heat, stirring regularly, until the meat is beginning to crisp a little.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Centigrade.

Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and layer up the corn chips, beans, tomatoes, meat, avocado and cheese.

Bake for 10-15 mins until the cheese has melted.

 

Red Quinoa Salad with Middle Eastern Influences

I first started cooking with quinoa a few years ago and always made the same salad, this salad is a huge leap from my previous efforts but we all love it and the flavours really pack a punch!

Leftovers are still lovely and zesty the next day and are super in wraps and pittas. I have also used leftovers to stuff large portobello mushrooms, delicious!

Serves 10.

Ingredients

2 cups red quinoa, cooked as per instructions and cooled completely

2 red onions, very finely sliced

10 Roma tomatoes, deseeded and cut into small cubes

2 lemons, zest of one and juice of both

2 teaspoons sumac

4 tablespoons Za’atar

50mls olive oil

salt  and pepper to taste

Method

Cook the quinoa as per the packet instructions, allow to cool.

Cut the onion up very finely and then set aside in a bowl of water for 10-20 mins.

Dry the onion and assemble the salad.

In a large bowl combine the cooled quinoa, onion, tomatoes and lemon zest, mix well.

In a small jug, combine the lemon juice and oil.

Pour the dressing over the salad, sprinkle over the sumac and 3 tablespoons of Za’atar, mix well.

Season with salt and pepper and check the seasoning.

Spoon into your serving dish and sprinkle over the remaining Za’atar.

 

Hot Smoked Trout Salad with Honey, Mustard and Dill Dressing

Asparagus is in season, hoorah!

This salad is all about asparagus and smoked trout, simple and delicious without too much effort!

I serve this with some crusty bread, it really doesn’t need anything else.

Serves 4 as a main.

Ingredients

1 whole smoked trout

2 bunches asparagus

200g mixed lettuce leaves

2 large tomatoes, sliced

2 avocados, sliced

3 eggs

a few dill fronds

Dressing

4 teaspoons olive oil

1 teaspoon white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon dill fronds

Method

In a small bowl whisk the oil, vinegar, honey and mustard.

Remove the whisk and stir in the dill, a little salt and a good grinding of pepper.

Bring a small pan of water up to the boil.

Pop the eggs in, bring back to the boil and boil for 5mins.

Fill a jug with ice and water, after the eggs have boiled for 5 mins, put them into the iced water and set aside.

Take the trout and gently peel off the skin. Pull the meat off the bones, double check you haven’t picked any bones, just in case!

Preheat a large frying pan over a high heat.

On a large serving plate, lay the lettuce, top with the tomatoes and avocado slices.

Add the trout and drizzle a little dressing over.

Peel the eggs and cut into quarters, the yolks should still be a little runny, pop them around the salad.

Add the asparagus to the hot pan, gently shake to turn it for around 2mins. Remove from the heat, cut into thirds and top the salad with the asparagus.

Drizzle a little more dressing over the top and sprinkle a few dill fronds.

Tofu, Broad Beans and Paneer in a Spicy Tomato Sauce

Bit of a long name for this one I’m afraid!

This started life as a Mattar Paneer but over the years has developed more to suit our tastes and what I have to hand in the kitchen.

This is not a hot curry, it’s full of flavour and I think, only needs some rice to go with it. This quantity serves 8-10 on its own but if you serve with another curry and dhal you have enough food for 25-30!

I have made this up until the paste has been made, allowed the paste to cool and stored it in the fridge for a couple of days to make at a more convenient time.

Ingredients

6 large tomatoes, chopped

50g peeled, fresh ginger, cut small

5 garlic cloves, skin removed

200mls water

4 tablespoons ghee

4 teaspoons cumin seeds

2 cinnamon sticks

6 cloves

8 peppercorns

2 large onions, peeled, halved and sliced thinly

1 green chilli, deseeded and cut into small pieces

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

4 teaspoons ground coriander

3 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons Kashmiri chilli powder

750mls milk

500g firm tofu, cubed

500g broad beans, blanched and skins removed

200g paneer, cubed

Method

Process the tomatoes, ginger, garlic and water, I use my stick blender, set aside.

Heat the ghee in a large frying pan over a medium to high heat, add the cumin seeds, cinnamon, cloves and peppercorns and fry until the cumin seeds are darkening.

Add the onion and chilli and cook until the onion is soft, this will probably take 15-20 minutes.

Add the turmeric, coriander, ground cumin and chilli powder, cook until fragrant.

Pour the tomato mix into the pan, reduce the heat to low and simmer slowly until all the water has evaporated and a paste is left in the pan with the ghee leaching from it.

Now, pour in the milk and stir well.

Bring up to the boil and simmer, uncovered for 5 mins.

Add the Tofu, cook gently for 5 minutes.

Add the beans and paneer, cook gently for 5 minutes.

Serve with rice.

 

Black Dhal

This is my all time favourite dhal. Much richer than my usual every day style dhal it is a real treat!

I make a large batch and freeze leftovers in takeaway boxes for another night. I also have a little weakness of having this for breakfast with rice, it tastes even better the next day, who says gluten free breakfasts should be boring!

Traditionally, this would be cooked slowly overnight. This version still achieves that same great taste but with a few cheats, stove top cooked and tinned tomatoes and tomato paste instead of fresh tomatoes.

Serves 10-12

Ingredients

300g Urad/Urid dhal, split

1.5litres water

1 x 400g tin, chopped tomatoes

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon Kashmiri chilli

4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

5cm piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated

300mls cream

120g butter

salt to taste

Method

Wash the dhal, several times in cold water.

In a large pan, combine the dhal, water, tomatoes, paste, cumin, chilli, garlic and ginger.

Bring to the boil, cover and simmer gently for 3 hours.

Add the cream and butter and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour.

Season with salt and serve.