Friday 14 November 2014

MOROCCAN MUSSELS with Tapenade Toasties & Cucumber Salad

Mussels. Cheap, quick, easy. I think everyone should eat mussels.

Cuisine : Jamie Oliver
Serves : 4
Difficulty : Easy
Duration : 15 minutes
Calories : 549
 

INGREDIENTS

·         Mussels

o    olive oil
o    3 cloves of garlic
o    2 heaped tsp harisa
o    2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
o    ½ bunch of fresh coriander
o    2 preserved lemons
o    1 pinch of saffron
o    2 ½kg mussels, scrubbed clean and debeared     

·         To serve

o    1 ciabatta loaf
o    1 small soft round lettuce
o    ½ a cucumber
o    a few springs of fresh mint
o    ½ a lemon
o    4 tbsp fat-free natural yoghurt
o    ½ a clove garlic
o    90g jar of sun-dried tomato tapenade

METHOD

Ingredients out • Large high sided roasting tray, low heat • Liquidizer • Food processor (fine slicer) • Large griddle pan, high heat pan, high heat

START COOKING
Pour 2 tablespoon of oil into the roasting tray • Squash in the unpeeled garlic through a garlic crusher and stir in the harissa • Pour the tomatoes into the liquidizer with most of the coriander, salt, pepper, the preserved lemons and the saffron, puree, then pour into the tray and turn the heat up.

Bring the sauce to boil, then stir in the mussels (throw away any open ones that don't close when tapped) and cover well with a double layer of tin foil, pinching it at the sides to seal (use a tea towel to protect your hands) • Cut the ciabatta lengthways into quarters and put on the griddle pan, turning when golden and charred • Cut the lettuce into quarters and place on a big board

Using a box gratter, coarsely grate the cucumber in long strokes, add a good pinch of salt, then toss and squeeze to get rid of the excess salty liquid, and pop in a bowl • Rip off the top leafy half of the mint, finely chop it and add to the cucumber with the lemon juice and the yoghurt, then season to taste and spoon over the lettuce • Check to see if the mussels have opened up (throw away any that remain closed), then sprinkle with the remaining coriander leaves, correct the seasoning of the sauce and serve with the toasties and salad
 

 

Sunday 9 November 2014

BEEF STROGANOFF, fluffy rice, red onion & parsley pickle



Cooked with mushrooms and a splash of brandy, this quick beef stroganoff recipe is creamy, light and cooks in the time it takes to do the rice .



 


Cuisine : Jamie Oliver
Serves : 4
Difficulty : Easy
Duration : 15 minutes
Calories : 625


INGREDIENTS

·         For the rice

o    1 mug (300g) 10-minute wholegrain or basmati rice
o    ½ bunch fresh thyme
o    200 g baby spinach

·         For the pickle

o    2 small red onions
o    1 handful gherkins
o    1 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley

·         For the stroganoff

o    300 g mixed mushrooms
o    olive oil
o    3 cloves of garlic
o    2 x 200 g quality sirloin steaks, fat removed
o    1 heaped teaspoon sweet paprika
o    1 lemon
o    1 swig brandy
o    4 heaped tablespoons fat-free natural yoghurt
o    1 swig semi-skimmed milk

 

METHOD


Ingredients out • Kettle boiled • Medium lidded pan, medium heat • Food processor (fine slicer) • Large frying pan, high heat

START COOKING
Put 1 mug of rice, 2 mugs of boiling water, the thyme leaves and a pinch of salt and pepper into the medium pan and put the lid on, stirring occasionally • Peel the onions, then finely slice them with the gherkins in the processor and tip into a bowl • Finely slice the parsley stalks and roughly chop the leaves, then toss into the bowl with a swig of gherkin vinegar and a pinch of salt, scrunching together well

Tear or slice the mushrooms into the frying pan with 2 tablespoons of oil, then squash in the unpeeled garlic through a garlic crusher and add two- thirds of the parsley pickle, stirring regularly • Slice the steaks about 1cm thick and toss with salt, pepper, the paprika and the finely grated lemon zest • Tip the mushrooms on to a plate, then add 2 tablespoons of oil and the steak to the pan in one layer, turning when golden

Add the spinach to the rice pan and replace the lid • Add the brandy to the steak, carefully light it with a match (if you want), let the flames subside, then return the mushrooms to the pan with the yoghurt and milk and bring to the boil • Transfer the wilted spinach to a nice serving platter, then fluff up and scatter the rice over the top • Spoon over the stroganoff, squeeze and drain the remaining pickle, then scatter over from a height