Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients

1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp malt vinegar
1 tbsp corn flour
  tomato purée
450g tin chopped tomatoes
1 pinch chilli
250 ml water
large onion, chopped

Method

  1. Fry the onion, until soft and golden.
  2. Mix the corn flour with a little of the water to make a paste.
  3. Add all the ingredients to the pan, with the onions.
  4. Bring to the boil and simmer until the flavours are nicely mixed.

Chilli Con Carne

You will need:

500g mince
1 medium onion
½ tsp chilli flakes (or fresh chopped chilli)
2 tbsp oil
1 garlic clove
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1 tin of red kidney beans, drained
Tabasco, to taste
beef stock cube
other diced veg., if required

Method

  1. Add the oil to a frying pan and heat gently with the chilli flakes or fresh chopped chilli.
  2. Chop the onion and crush the garlic.  Add to the frying pan and fry gently until soft (about 5 minutes).  At this stage any other diced vegetables that you want to add can be added (e.g. pepper, carrot, celery)  Cook for another 5 minutes if adding veg.
  3. Add the mince and fry on a medium heat until cooked through and no longer red.
  4. Add the chopped tomatoes and kidney beans, turn the heat down and simmer until some of the liquid has been absorbed (about 10 minutes)  If more liquid is needed, add a beef stock cube in a little boiling water.
  5. Check the seasoning and add Tabasco, if needed.

Serve with rice.

Daal

Ingredients

oil/butter/marge/ghee
ginger
garlic
green chillies
onions
tomatoes (tinned, chopped) (optional)
salt
garam masala
turmeric
paprika
cumin
chilli powder
red split lentils

Instructions

  1. Fry the onion until nicely soft and golden.
  2. Add the finely chopped ginger, garlic and chillies.  Sauté for another few minutes.
  3. Add the spices and cook for another 5 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile... wash the lentils thoroughly until the water runs clear.
  5. Boil the lentils up in a separate pan with more turmeric and salt.
  6. When it is nicely boiling add it to the frying pan with the onions and spices.
  7. Add the tin of chopped tinned tomatoes and simmer until ready.

Serve with rice and yoghurt.

Hot Chicken Sandwich

You will need

1 large sheet greaseproof paper
chicken breasts
baguette or other fresh bread
oil, for cooking
optional
ingredients
spices and herbs
(e.g. smoked paprika, or chilli, or grated lemon peel with fresh thyme, etc.)
guacamole
mayonnaise
salad

Method

  1. Get out a large sheet of greaseproof paper.  Put the breasts in the middle.
  2. Season them and sprinkle with the spices or herbs.
  3. Cover the top of the breasts with the rest of the greaseproof and bash with a rolling pin.  This makes the breasts thinner, so they cook more evenly and quickly.  Tenderised meat also releases more flavour when cooked.  Move the meat around to make sure it picks up all the flavouring.
  4. Add a teaspoon or two of oil to a non-stick pan (more if it isn’t non-stick) and fry on a medium high heat until golden on each side (about 5 mins each side).
  5. To make sure it is cooked, take it out of the pan, and cut through the middle with a sharp knife.  If it is white all the way through it is ready.  If it isn’t, put it back and turn down the heat slightly.
  6. Slice it and put in a baguette with some guacamole or mayonnaise, and some salad.

Lemony Prawn Risotto

Ingredients

1 bag of prawns, defrosted
3 tbsp olive oil, for cooking
1 red chilli, finely chopped
1 litre vegetable or fish stock, hot
1 onion, finely chopped
300 g rice
1 small glass white wine
200 g frozen peas
1 lemon

Method

  1. If the prawns are shelled, peel them, and make fish stock with the heads and shells.
  2. Saute the onion until softened, add the chilli and continue to cook gently.
  3. Add the rice and stir until it’s all covered in the oil.
  4. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer.
  5. Add the prawns and peas and stir, then leave covered and simmering very gently for 15 mins.
  6. Add the lemon juice and zest if available.  When the rice has absorbed most of the liquid it’s ready.