oliveoilandlemon

recipes for healthy living

Category: Healthy Eating – For any Day

October 24, 2017

Spiced Lentils, Potatoes and Fish

Spiced Lentils Potatoes and Fish

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This is such an easy dish and you can omit the fish & chorizo if you would like a completely vegetarian meal. Gently spiced, crispy fish, the goodness of lentils, tomatoes and the spices –  a meal the whole family will like. This is spiced with Punchpooran which is a mix of fennel, fenugreek, coriander cumin and nigella. If you can not find this, make up your own using 1 tsp of each.

Serves 4

2 tbsp punchpooran spice mix

1 tsp each of sweet and smoky paprika

2 tbsp oil divided

1 medium onion sliced

50g chorizo sliced

1 tbsp tomato puree

250gr lentils of choice, soaked and drained

1 vegetable sock cube make up in 200ml hot water

½ tin chopped tomatoes

12 baby potatoes, cleaned chopped into 2cm slices parboiled

4 portions of fish of choice, pin-boned

2 tbsp fresh chopped coriander

Method

In a dry pan toast the punchpooran until it starts to release aromas

Tip into spice grinder ( or do by hand) and blend

Stir in the paprika

Heat the oil in a large deep pan or cooking pot and add the onion and chorizo and cook over a low heat until soft.

Tip in the spice mix and stir well and cook for a minute.

Add the tomato puree stir well to combine followed by the tinned tomatoes and lentils.

Cook for about 20 minutes until the lentils are nearly done, then add the potatoes, stir well to cover and complete the cooking about 5-8 minutes. Just as done, stir in 2 tbsp chopped coriander,

Meanwhile heat the oil and on a hot pan cook the fish until done.

Keep warm while you serve the lentils topped with a piece of fish.

 

 

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October 16, 2017

Spiced Lamb and Beans with punchpooran

Spiced Leg of Lamb with Potatoes Boulangere, Green Beans with Punchpooran

This is a very popular recipe in our house and one i love doing when we have people coming over. It is easy too, so I don’t have to be slaving away in the kitchen when people arrive.   This is family food at its best.-

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Serves 5-6

1 leg or shoulder of lamb

2 cloves of garlic peeled and roughly chopped

1 shallot roughly shopped

2 tbsp of garam masala spice mix

2-3 tbsp coconut or olive oil

8 medium white potatoes or a mix of white and sweet potatoes

400ml vegetable stock

2tsp fresh thyme chopped

 

Oven at 200C

Peel the potatoes and thinly slice

Layer the potatoes, seasoning well as you go in a roasting tin big enough to hold the leg of lamb. Sprinkle over the chopped thyme.

Splash the stock over the potatoes.

Add the oil garlic shallot and spices to a blender and blend to a rough paste.

Pierce the lamb and lay out on a board and spread the paste over both sides.

Season well with salt and pepper.

Lay the lamb on top of the potatoes and cover the pan with foil and roast for 20 mins per lb and 20 minutes over for medium.  After about an hour, remove the oil and press the potatoes down to ensure they are still in the stock. Replace the foil lid and continue to cook.

If you want to slow roast it then turn the oven down to 150C and roast for about 4-4/12 hours until the lamb is falling off the bone.

Remove the lamb to a warm plate, cover and let rest. Keep the potatoes warm in the oven while you prepare the beans below.

Green Beans with punchpooran

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This is a whole mixed spice blend of cumin fennel mustard nigella and fenugreek seeds. If you can’t get this, substitute with equal quantities (1/4 tsp) of each of the above.  It is delicious addition to the green beans.

500gr green beans, washed and trimmed

1 tbsp punchpooran

Zest and juice of ½ lemon

2 tbsp olive oil

Blanch the green beans for 3 minutes, plunge into ice cold water and drain then set aside.

Toast the punchpooran on a hot pan until the aromas release then tip into a bowl and let cool

Add the lemon zest, juice, olive oil and mix to combine

When ready to serve add 2 tbsp hot water to a frying pan and tip in the beans to reheat.

Add to your serving bowl and drizzle over the dressing

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September 27, 2017

Waffles for Breakfast

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Pancakes don’t do it for me and I remain unimpressed by the pics of pancake piles which see to be everywhere. As an alternative I have been testing out new breakfast options especially for the weekend when you have more time to sit around and chat and enjoy a more leisurely breakfast. These are easy to prepare and will reheat happily in the toaster. They are gluten free and delicious !

Seed and Oat Waffles

Makes 6

60gr milled Flax Pumpkin and Sunflower seed mix

3tbsp oat flour or gf flour of choice

tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

2 eggs and 2tbsp milk of choice

1tbsp melted butter or coconut oil

Oven at 170C

Whisk the dry ingredients together

Beat the eggs with the milk, add the melted oil. Pour into the dry and mix well until you have a smooth batter.

Pour into the waffle molds and bake for approximately 15 minutes until golden and cooked through.

Serve straight away or let cook and then toast when needed.

Serve with a poached or fried egg and some turkey rashers and sour cream.

Delicious and not a pancake in sight!

 

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August 9, 2017

Tender Juicy Fauxtisserie Chicken

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You know that lovely rotisserie chicken which you can buy over the counter at some delis – well this is like this only it’s not brushed with load of fat every few minutes BUT you still get that lovely falling off the bone tender juice chicken that is so delicious. You could of course simply up the temperature to cook it a bit quicker but if you have the time, try it this way. Throw it in the oven and get out to the garden for some air!

Serves 4
2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp oregano
Zest of half a lemon
2tbsp fresh chopped thyme plus a few thyme sprigs (if you had lemon thyme, even better)
2 cloves garlic peeled chopped and mashed
1tbsp ground sea salt
50 ml oil
1 lemon cut in half
1 large chicken 2kg approx.
1lb baby potatoes

Oven at 150C for slow cooking
Oven at 200 for Regular Cook
Pound the fennel seeds, add the oregano garlic thyme together with the salt
Mix in half of the oil.
Dry the chicken with paper towels if it is a bit wet from the fridge
Rub the mixture all over the chicken.
Stuff one 1/2 of the lemon into the chicken.
Toss the remaining half, the thyme sprigs into your roasting dish
Place the chicken on top.
Clean the baby potatoes and cut the large ones in half, toss in the rest of the oil and season well then add to the roasting dish around the chicken.
Roast, basting the chicken and turning the potatoes every hour, until the chicken is dark golden brown, cooked through and potatoes are very tender about 3 hours. Alternatively you can up the temp and cook in about 1 and1/4 hour.

Check the chicken is done with a meat thermometer or by checking the juices run clear from thickest part of the chicken.
AMAZING!

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July 12, 2017

Sumac and Lemon Spiced Lamb Chops with Chickpea Puree

sumac lamp chops

This spice mix works so well on the lamp chops and is perfect with the chickpea puree. It is a quick and easy meal for family and friends.

Serves 4

8 lamb chops
1/2 tsp sumac
1 tsp nigella seeds
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp cumin and coriander seeds
1 tbsp plain flour
3 tbsp oil separated
2 tbsp fresh mint chopped
2 tins chickpeas (reserve half tin liquid)
1 clove garlic peeled chopped and mashed
1 shallot finely chopped
2 tbsp of madeira (Optional)
1 small knob of butter

Dry toast the coriander and cumin seeds until fragrant. Tip into a mortar and pestle and grind.  Tip out into a flat dish, add the sumac, nigella, zest and plain flour and mix well.
Season your lamp chops and press each side into the spice mix and set aside for 30 minutes to develop the flavors.
Meanwhile , heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and add the shallot and garlic and cook over a gentle heat until softened. Tip in the chickpeas and the reserved liquid and simmer for about 5 minutes over a gentle heat. Tip into a blender and blend well, adding the other tbsp of oil. Taste and season with salt and pepper as required. Tip into a pot and keep warm while you cook the chops.
Heat the oil and in batches, brown the chops well on both sides. IF you wish you can complete the cooking on the pan (medium is about 4-6 minutes depending on thickness) but I like to transfer to a hot oven to complete the cooking .
Deglaze the pan with 1 tbsp madeira, add lemon juice and 30ml water and a small knob of butter. Season and add the chopped mint.
Serve the chickpea mash with 2 chops and some of the pan sauce.

Easy and delicious!

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