Potato Rosti

Snacktastic! This was a great little supper dish perfect for a chilly night in with a couple of beers. I ate it very simply with some amazing German smoked ham and sour cream but it’s also a great side dish to many meat or fish meals.

RECIPE: 3-4 people

Tandoori Fish

Yum Yum! This is fabulous and healthy. It’s a simple marinade made for fish. It just goes under the grill!! What could be easier? I tried this thinking I knew what I was in store for, but I was amazed just how delicious it really was. Great for dinner parties as you can pre marinade the fish and stick it in the fridge. Plenty of time left to clean the toilet and have a wash before your guests arrive!

RECIPE: (serves 2)

Dolmades

I’d always avoided even contemplating making dolmades for some reason. I had assumed they’d be impossibly difficult and fiddly to make. I was wrong. They were easy as can be and the taste was out of this world. I shall be making them on a regular basis. Fantastic!

RECIPE: (makes 20+ depending on vine leaf size)

Zucchini & Parmesan Fritters

These were simple little patties that I made for a dinner party the other day. They were very tasty indeed. I served them with a mint yoghurt sauce. I just whizzed together in the food processor 4 tablespoons greek yoghurt with 4 tablespoons freshly chopped mint. Simple. Vegetarian. Healthy (ish).

RECIPE:

Fava Bean Dip

This is a sensational little dip. I can’t really add much to that, just that it’s lovely and creamy and lasted about 5 minutes on the table.

RECIPE:

Nepalese Chicken Curry with Cauliflower and Peas

This nepalese dish is amazing! I was a little dubious of how tasty it would be as I didn’t really trust the recipe. However, I’m so glad I made this. The freshness and ease of preparing was a real surprise. Cauliflower’s one of my favourites and it really comes to life in this curry. It’s a very healthy option too. All those vegetables don’t get a chance to lose all their goodness as they’re not in the pan all that long. Give this a go, it’s a curry you’ll never find on any menu.

RECIPE:

Moroccan Zucchini & Tomato Dip

This was a snack item. I had eaten a huge lunch and so didn’t want a massive dinner. I made this to eat alongside some bread. It worked a treat. It was fresh and flavoursome.

RECIPE:

Northern Thai Chicken Curry

This has a distinctive flavour of Northern Thailand. There’s a heavy use of ginger which is a characteristic of the region. The curry paste (Kua Red Paste) is also slightly different to the ususal red curry paste. The use of turmeric gives a stunning bright orange appearance. What isn’t so stunning is the bright orange hands I ended up with for 3 days. I looked like I smoked 300 fags a day. I urge caution while handling fresh turmeric. Thai food is fast becoming my favourite (of the month).

RECIPE:

Mini Moroccan Fish Cakes

These little Moroccan morsels were utterly delicious. I used my one of my favourite spice mixes “ras el hanout”. It blends some 14 spices to create a wonderfully rich and complex flavour. Unfortunately, I ‘tested’ too many before serving to my guests – leaving them with fewer each than I had planned. I simply beefed up the salad component to compensate – nobody was any the wiser.

RECIPE:

Thai Stir Fry Minced Pork

This is a brilliant dish that just explodes with flavour. It has an amazing fragrant flavour that has just the right amount of spice for anyone. It’s one of the best Thai dishes I’ve cooked in a while.

I strongly advise you to make the RED CURRY PASTE in advance. Minced pork is just one of the dishes you can create with this recipe, so the paste you make will last ages if you freeze it in 1 1/2 tablespoon portions. Try the same recipe with thin strips of pork, chicken, lamb, beef or even prawns. It’s also good with a firm fish, such as flathead or monkfish. It’s a really versatile dish that works with pretty much any meat or vegetable! I would live on it if I could – I’m sure millions of Thai people DO!

RECIPE: (serves 2)