Category Archives: Mains

Ultimate Roast Chicken

Chicken, Christmas, Mains

Ingredients

  • 1x 1.6kg whole chicken – adjust your cooking time for different weights.  The general rule is 20mins per 450g (1lb) plus 10-15mins on top.
  • 1 large or 2 medium onions
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 celery sticks
  • 1 small whole bulb of garlic
  • Olive oil
  • 1x lemon
  • 1 bunch of mixed herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage

Method

  • Remove your chicken from the fridge around 30mins before cooking to bring it up to room temperature
  • Preheat your oven to 240C/220C Fan/Gas 9
  • Wash and roughly chop the onions, carrots and celery – you don’t need to peel any of them
  • Break the garlic bulb up into cloves and leave them unpeeled
  • Pile all of the vegetables into a baking tray with some of the herbs and drizzle with olive oil
  • Drizzle the chicken with olive oil and rub with salt and pepper
  • Place the chicken on top of the vegetables
  • Prick some holes in the lemon with a sharp knife (this will release the flavour) and place inside the chicken with the rest of the herbs
  • Put the tray in the oven and immediately turn the temperature down to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6
  • Cook for the allotted time, which is 1hr 20mins for our chicken
  • At this point, you can get on with your vegetables such as my perfect roast potatoes and whatever else you fancy.
  • Take the chicken out of the oven when it’s done, cover it with foil and a tea towel, and leave it for at least 15mins to rest.
  • When you’re ready, carve the chicken and serve 🙂

Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

Mains, Pasta and Rice

Chef’s tip: If you want to add a bit of spice to this, you can throw in a few slices of fresh chilli when you add the spinach.

Ingredients (serves 2 people)

  • 3-4 rashers of smoked bacon
  • 1 large chicken breast
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed/chopped
  • 50g fresh spinach
  • 500ml milk
  • 150-200g spaghetti/linguine
  • 60-70g green pesto

Method

  • In a large frying pan/wok/low sided large saucepan cook the bacon with some olive oil until crispy
  • Add the chicken to the pan and season well with salt, pepper and the garlic powder
  • Cook until all the pink in the chicken is gone and then remove the chicken, placing it in a bowl to the side (keep the bacon in the pan).
  • Add the onion and garlic to the pan and cook until the onions are soft and brown
  • Add the spinach and once it’s wilted, add the milk
  • Bring it to the boil and then add the dry pasta.
  • Stir continuously for around 7-8 minutes, until the pasta is cooked (you may need to add more milk and cook for longer if using thicker pasta or wholewheat)
  • Mix the chicken back in and add the pesto
  • Serve and sprinkle generously with parmesan

Swedish Meatball Pasta

Mains, Pasta and Rice

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

  • 450g mince (beef or pork)
  • Half an onion, diced
  • Breadcrumbs (amount is subjective but around 30-40g)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tablespoon salt
  • 1/2 tablespoon pepper

For the sauce:

  • 500ml beef stock (I use knorr which makes 490ml)
  • 500ml milk
  • 1/2 tablespoon salt
  • 1/2 tablespoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Approx 400g spaghetti/linguine/tagliatelle (or however much you’d make for 4 people).
  • Grated parmesan
  • 1/2 bunch chopped parsley

Method

  • In a large bowl, combine the mince, onion, egg, salt and pepper. Add the breadcrumbs gradually until the mixture is smooth and doesn’t fall apart if you try to make a meatball.
  • Roll the mixture into golf ball sized meatballs and cook with a little oil over a medium heat in a large frying pan or wide large saucepan.
  • Add the beef stock, milk, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce, and stir.
  • Bring the sauce to the boil then add the pasta.
  • Stir constantly for around 7-8mins (a bit longer if you use wholewheat pasta) until the pasta is cooked and coated with the sauce. You may find that you want to add a bit more milk if it thickens before the pasta is fully cooked.
  • Add a sprinkling of parmesan and the parsley and stir through.

Creamy chicken pie

Chicken, Mains

There are many variations you can make here so I’ve written in the options/substitutes where I can but it’s a very flexible recipe so you can adapt it your own way.

Ingredients

Filling:

  • 2-3 chicken breasts
  • 1 onion OR 1 leek
  • 1 large or 2 small garlic cloves crushed/chopped
  • Optional: mushrooms
  • 50g butter
  • 2tbsp plain flour
  • 300ml milk
  • 1 chicken or beef stock cube (I use beef for more flavour)
  • 100ml boiling water
  • Ground nutmeg (optional)
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Small handful of fresh parsley, chopped

Topping or side dishes:

  • Ready rolled shortcrust pastry OR
  • Ready rolled puff pastry OR
  • Potatoes for mashing

Method

  • Cook the chicken in a frying pan and set aside
  • In a new pan, heat a little olive oil and cook the onions and garlic on a medium heat
  • When soft, add the butter and once it’s melted, sprinkle over the flour
  • Combine into a paste and add the stock cube with the water
  • Gradually add the milk while whisking/stirring and make sure it stays thick (you don’t have to use all of the milk)
  • Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg
  • Once you’ve reached your desired consistency, add the chicken back in and simmer for 10mins.
  • At this point you can either cook your pie crust or mash your potatoes
  • You can either put the pie crust on top, cover with potatoes and cook in the oven for 20mins or serve with potatoes on the side.

Slow cook beef casserole

Beef, Mains

Serves 2 people

Chef’s tip: You can either use a casserole for the whole process or use a frying pan and oven dish which is how I’ll describe it.

Ingredients

  • 600g stewing beef (either casserole beef or brisket is fine) cut into chunks
  • 1 onion
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 sticks of celery
  • Optional other veg: mushrooms, potatoes etc
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1tbsp butter
  • 1tbsp olive oil
  • 1.5tbsp plain flour
  • 1.5tbsp tomato puree
  • 1.5tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 beef stock cube (I use Knorr)
  • 400ml boiling water
  • 100ml red wine

Method

  • Preheat your oven to 150C/140C Fan/Gas 2
  • Heat the butter and oil in a large frying pan on a medium-high heat.
  • Add the onion, carrots, celery (plus mushrooms if using) and bay leaves and soften for 10-15 minutes.
  • Sprinkle the flour in and stir until it’s not dusty anymore.
  • Add the purée and stir through
  • Add the Worcestershire sauce and stir through
  • Add the wine and wait for it to mostly cook away
  • Add the stock cube and water.
  • Stir until it simmers
  • Add your potatoes now if using (I usually cut them into big chunks)
  • Add the beef and simmer for 5 mins.

Transfer to an oven dish/casserole dish, cover and cook for at least 3hrs.

  • Turn the oven up to 200C/180C Fan and remove the lid.
  • Make your dumplings! Pop the dumplings on top of the sauce.
  • Cook for another 20-30mins or until the sauce has thickened up and the dumplings are crispy on top.

 

Steak and Ale or Red Wine Pie

Beef, Mains

Ingredients

  • Approx 500-600g stewing/casserole beef
  • Plain flour
  • 1 medium sized onion
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 sticks of celery
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 tbsp tomato puree
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (optional – I have made without this and it’s fine)
  • 350ml beef stock OR if using wine instead of ale 400ml beef stock
  • 250ml ale – I find that something dark works best as it gives a richer flavour OR 200ml red wine
  • Ready rolled puff pastry

Method

  • Preheat oven to 150C/140C Fan/Gas mark 4
  • Cut the beef into 1cm squares and dust with the flour. I find it easiest to pour flour onto a plate/bowl and then add the beef and stir it around until covered.
  • Fry the beef until browned and then set it aside.
  • Put your casserole dish or a large high-sided frying pan on a medium heat to fry the onion, carrot and celery for 5-10mins to soften.
  • Add the beef back into the pan, along with the paprika, bay leaf, puree and Worcestershire sauce. Stir until covered.
  • Add the beef stock and ale, and bring to the boil.
  • Put the dish in the oven with the lid on (or if you’re using a frying pan, transfer to a dish first) and cook for at least 3 hours.
  • You can turn up the heat towards the end and remove the lid to thicken it up and add some more flour if needed.
  • At this point, it’s your choice what you do with the pastry but make sure you brush it with beaten egg or milk before it goes in the oven:
    • Cut the pastry into individual portions, cook in the oven on a baking sheet for around 20mins and then dish up the meat onto a plate and top with the cooked pastry.
    • Pour the meat and sauce into an oven dish, cover with pastry and cook in the oven for around 20mins.
    • Make mini pies by cutting rounds out of the pastry (large circles for a base and small circles for a lid). Line a cupcake tray with the bases, fill with meat and pop the lid on top to cook for 15-20mins.

Tomato Beef Casserole

Beef, Mains

Ingredients

  • 600-800g casserole/stewing beef, diced
  • 1 onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 celery sticks
  • Optional: throw in any other veg you like
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1.5tbsp tomato puree
  • 1.5tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1tsp English mustard
  • 1/2 vegetable stock cube
  • 100ml red wine
  • 400ml passata

Method

  • Preheat your oven to 150C/130 Fan
  • Heat olive oil in a large casserole dish on a medium-high heat.
  • Add the onion and brown
  • Add the garlic, carrots, celery and bay leaves and soften for 10-15 minutes.
  • Add the purée and stir through
  • Add the balsamic vinegar and stir through
  • Add the wine and wait for it to mostly cook away
  • Add the half stock cube
  • Add the beef and stir til coated
  • Add the passata.
  • Stir until it simmers
  • Add any potatoes/squash now if using (I usually cut them into big chunks)
  • Transfer to the oven and cook for at least 4 hours
  • Turn the oven up to 200C/180C Fan and remove the lid. Cook for 20 minutes to thicken up the sauce
  • Make your dumplings! These are cooked with the lid on.
  • When the dumplings are cooked, remove the lid for the last 5 minutes so they go crispy on top.

Indian Summer – Mamaji’s Chicken

Chicken, Mains

Chef’s Tip: Try Indian Summer Rice as the perfect side dish.

Ingredients

  • 8 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 600-800g diced chicken
  • 2 large white onions
  • 300g tomatoes (chopped)
  • 4 whole dry red chillies
  • 1tsp fennel seeds
  • 75g garlic-ginger paste
  • 1tsp turmeric
  • 1tsp red chilli powder
  • 2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 100g cashew nuts OR 50g ground almonds
  • 1/4 bunch fresh coriander

Method

  • Place oil in a large saucepan on a medium heat.
  • To test the heat of the oil, drop a few fennel seeds in. They should float and sizzle but not too quickly.
  • When hot add fennel seeds and dry red chillies.
  • Add the onions straight away and brown for about 30mins. They should be soft and starting to brown. 
  • If you find that the oil is bubbling away, turn it down at touch.
  • Add the garlic/ginger paste and stir.
  • Add the turmeric, chilli powder and coriander powder which should make a nice paste. Cook for a few minutes while stirring.
  • Add tomatoes and salt.
  • Turn the heat down and simmer with a lid on until the mixture thickens (around 10-15mins).
  • At this point you can use a stick blender or masher to create your desired consistency.
  • Add the chicken and stir. Cook with the lid on for at least 30mins. Keep stirring it and making sure it’s still simmering away.
  • At this point, you can just leave it simmering for another 15-30mins as the chicken will become nice and soft.
  • If using cashews: Wash the cashew nuts and mix in a blender with about 100-150ml water, until it becomes a nice thick paste. It shouldn’t be too liquidy.
  • If using ground almonds: simply add water to 50g ground almonds until it becomes a nice paste. It shouldn’t be too liquidy but make sure all the almonds are mixed in.
  • Add this to the curry and stir in.
  • Add the chopped coriander right before dishing up.

 

Lasagne

Beef, Mains, Pasta and Rice

Ingredients

Method

  • Make your bolognese
  • Make your white sauce
  • Add a layer of meat to your dish, followed by lasagne, then a layer of white sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan
  • Repeat meat, pasta, white sauce, parmesan until you get to the top which should be parmesan.
  • Cover with a double layer of foil and cook for the required time of the lasagne sheets (usually dry for around 30mins and fresh for 20mins).
  • Take the dish out of the oven, cover the top with mozzarella and cook until cheese is melted and browning on top.

Meat Sauce for Lasagne

Beef, Mains

Serves 6-8 for bolognese or lasagne. Scale down the mince to 500g for 2-4 person bolognese, and based on your preference you can change to 1 tin of tomatoes.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 750g lean beef mince
  • 100ml red wine
  • 1 medium-large onion, finely sliced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced or finely chopped
  • 1/2 a stick of celery, diced small
  • 1 sprig of fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 2 tins of plum tomatoes
  • 1 200g tube of tomato puree
  • Dash of Worcestershire sauce
  • Dry basil
  • Dry oregano
  • Garlic granules (optional)
  • Salt and pepper
  • Olive oil

Method

  • Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large pan on a medium-high heat.
  • Add the mince and use a whisk to break it up and remove any chunks. Season the mince with salt and pepper.
  • Cook the mince until all of the liquid has evaporated and the meat is starting to brown/stick to the pan (don’t worry, it will come off). This will take your bolognese to another level of flavour.
  • Add the red wine and cook for about a minute to release the alcohol, then add the onion, garlic, celery and rosemary.
  • Cook for another 5mins or so to soften the onions then add the tomatoes. Break them up with a spoon/masher/knife if you want smaller chunks.
  • Take one of the tins and fill it 2/3 with water, and add that to your sauce.
  • Add about 2/3 of the puree (you might need to add a bit more later), a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and a good sprinkle of basil and oregano – I’d say around a tablespoon of each.
  • Re-season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Turn down to simmer with a lid on for 30mins