Coriander is probably my favourite herb and I find it makes its way into lots of my cooking. One dish it hadn’t yet made it into was a risotto and, after fancying a different kind of risotto this week, I decided to have a little experiment with a Mexican style creation. The result was delicious. The risotto itself is creamy and indulgent yet bursting with fresh and vibrant flavours and the Cajun prawns add that little bit of extra oomph to the dish.
A few years ago the hubbie and I but devoured every episode of Rick Stein’s India cooking show. After the series finished, we picked up the accompanying cookbook and we have made a few bits and pieces from it but I can never seem to follow a recipe without tweaking it for myself.
Korean gochujang chilli paste is one of my favourite store cupboard essentials. I use it in lots of my recipes and, as it’s always in my cupboard/fridge, I love to come up with new ways to use it in my everyday meals. Last week, after fancying something summery for tea, I thought I would give it a whirl as part of a potato salad dressing and the result was delicious. Bursting with flavour, colour and goodness, the best thing about this recipe is that the dish can be on the table in the time it takes to boil the potatoes.
Satay sauce from the Chinese takeaway is one of my favourite treats. Meaty, nutty with a nice little kick, it goes with so many different treats, I always find it irresistible. Last week, after having a serious craving for some, I decided to try and create a healthy version of this sauce and make it into a whole meal. All the flavour and none of the guilt! The result was delicious, a lovely different flavour and a really easy dinner to rustle up.
Batch cooking is a great way to prepare for the week ahead and, now I’m cooking for 4 adults on a daily basis, I’ve also found it’s the quickest way to also ‘prepare’ lunch for the next day. This recipe is a real quick and easy treat which tastes like it has taken a lot more effort to prepare than it has!
Mexican chicken fajitas are one of my favourite go to quick and easy dinners on a Friday night but equally, we do love a good Indian treat so last week, whilst brainstorming my weekly menu, I thought why not combine two of my favs and come up with a new Friday night mash up….. Indian chicken fajitas!
One of my favourite changes brought about by Flex was that salmon, one of my favourite fish, became 0sp. I’d always eaten a lot of salmon anyway but, since the change, I’ve been using it in ways I may have avoided a little before, such as here with pasta and a creamy sauce.
This recipe came about one Saturday night when I wanted to make a quick and easy dinner with the ingredients I had in the fridge/store cupboard. I threw them all into a plastic bag, headed to my sisters and freestyled to see what I could come up with. The result was the delicious pasta dish which we both thoroughly enjoyed (I could have quite happily licked the bowl!).
There is nothing better than a classic chilli con carne and I’m always looking for ways to mix things up to put a little twist on an everyday classic. Last week my friends and I went out for a few gins and the bar we were in served a small tapas dish with each drink. One of the dishes was a tiny bowl of the most delicious chorizo and chicken chilli and as soon as I tasted it I knew I needed to recreate it in my kitchen at home. The result was delicious and enjoyed by both my friends and family. I served the chilli with rice, homemade guacamole, a little light cheese and a sprinkle of jalapenos. Because the chilli itself is so low in points, you can have a little bit of what you fancy with it, whether that be rice, a jacket potato, chips, nachos or even a pita bread.
Some nights just call for a quick and easy tea which can be whacked together in less than half an hour. This dish is definitely one of those. The stir fry sauce itself is very simple but the finished result is so, so tasty, it really is worth giving a go.
I love a good home made scotch egg and so a few weeks ago, when I was having an Indian themed dinner party, I thought I would try and put an Indian style twist on this classic snack for a low smart point, tasty starter. The result went down an absolute treat with my guests and they’ve been in demand ever since!