Put the oil and the onion in a saucepan, and cook for 5 mins. Stir in the garlic and cook for a further 1 min, then stir in the spices and butternut squash. Combine everything together. Tip in the chopped tomatoes, stock and chutney, and season well. Bring to the boil, then gently simmer for about 10 mins. Add the lentils and simmer for another 20 mins until the lentils and squash are tender. Stir in the coriander and serve with warmed naan bread.
Pre-soak wooden skewers in warm water for 20 mins. (You will need about 32 skewers and they must be able to fit inside a griddle pan or frying pan.) Meanwhile, mix the marinade ingredients and some seasoning in a large bowl, then tip half into another bowl. Add the chicken to 1 bowl and the aubergine to the other. (If you’re not catering for vegetarians, you can mix them together in one bowl.) Leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 20 mins, or up to 24 hrs. To make the dukkah, toast the sesame, cumin and coriander seeds in a dry pan until aromatic. Meanwhile, tip the pistachios into a small food processor and blitz until finely chopped, but still with some texture, then transfer to a bowl. Tip the toasted seeds and spices into the processor and blitz again until finely chopped, then add these to the pistachios, along with the paprika, black pepper and a good pinch of salt. Mix, then set aside until ready to serve. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Thread the aubergine onto skewers, about 4-5 chunks per skewer, and place on 2 parchment-lined trays. Bake for 20-25 mins until tender and golden, turning the skewers and swapping the trays halfway through cooking. Meanwhile, heat a griddle pan or a frying pan (or use both to speed up the cooking) over a medium-high heat. Thread the chicken pieces onto the remaining skewers. Cook the chicken skewers in batches in the hot pan, turning regularly to prevent the honey burning. When nicely charred, but not cooked through, transfer to a baking tray. When all the chicken skewers are browned, drizzle them and the aubergine skewers with the remaining honey. Pop the chicken into the oven with the aubergine for the final 5-10 mins cooking, or until they are cooked through and sticky. Serve the skewers with a bowl of dukkah for dipping.
Cut 2-3 slashes in each chicken thigh, sprinkle the spices over and turn to coat. If you have time, cover and leave to marinate at room temperature for 2 hrs, or overnight in the fridge. Heat half the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and cook for 4 mins. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 secs more. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the remaining oil to the pan and sprinkle over the sugar. Cook over a medium heat until the sugar begins to caramelise. When it turns dark brown, add the chicken and cook for 4 mins, turning. Pour in the passata, stock and vinegar, then add the pepper, onion and garlic. Season and stir. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 25 mins, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, put the rice in a saucepan, cover with water and add salt. Bring to the boil and cook for 10-12 mins. Drain and return half to the pan with half the kidney beans, then cover. (Run the other half of the rice under cold water, drain and leave until cold, then mix with the remaining kidney beans. Chill in a container for Thursday’s recipe.). Serve the chicken with the rice and beans, and spoonfuls of natural yogurt.
Slash the lamb leg all over and put in a big food bag, or in a large casserole dish. Smash the marinade ingredients together using a pestle and mortar. Add some black pepper and rub all over the lamb. Marinate overnight, or up to 24 hrs. Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Sit the lamb in a big roasting tin, scraping off any leftover marinade on the top. Cover the tin with foil, pinching the edges to seal. Cook for 6-7 hrs, basting every hour or so, until the meat is incredibly tender. Remove the roasting tin from the oven and increase oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pour the juices from the lamb into a measuring jug, cool slightly and skim off the fat. Put the shallots in the tin with the lamb and toss to coat in some of the juices. Roast for 15 mins, then add the apricots and almonds. Whisk the cooking juices with the lemon, ras el hanout, honey and stock, then pour over the lamb and roast for another 20 mins. Rest for 10 mins, then scatter over the herbs and serve with couscous and yogurt.
Pop the chicken in a large dish and slash the legs a few times with a sharp knife. Mix together the lemon juice, chilli powder and 1 tsp salt. Pour this over the chicken, turning so that it coats both sides. Cover with cling film and chill for 1 hr. Meanwhile, whizz the remaining ingredients (except the oil) and some black pepper in a blender until smooth. Remove the chicken from the fridge and spoon over the spicy paste, making sure it covers both sides. Chill for at least 4 hrs, preferably overnight. Light a lidded barbecue and let the flames die down. Once the coals have turned ashen, mound them up on one side. Drizzle the skin of the chicken with the oil and place, skin-side down, on the side of the barbecue with the coals underneath. Cover with the lid and cook for 15-20 mins until charred. Flip the chicken over and move to the side with no coals underneath. Close the lid and cook for a further 20-25 mins until cooked through. Check that the juices run clear; if not, return to the barbecue for a further 10 mins, then check again. (To cook in the oven, heat to 200C/180C fan/gas 6, place on a wire rack over a tray and cook for 45-55 mins. To char the skin, grill for a further 5-10 mins if needed.) Leave the chicken to rest for 20 mins, then scatter over the coriander and serve with chapatis warmed on the barbecue, raita and your favourite chutney.
Make the marinade. In a large bowl, juice both the limes. Add the oregano, spices, olive oil and garlic, and mix together. Dice the chicken, then get your child to stir it through the marinade, and set aside. Prepare the vegetables. Deseeding the peppers and halving the onion is tricky, so do this yourself. Children aged from about seven or above can cut them into chunks using a child-friendly knife. Make your skewers. Carefully thread alternate pieces of chicken, peppers and onion onto your skewers. Smaller children might find this a little hard, so the best way is to stab the ingredients and push them up the skewers. When you’ve used up all the ingredients, set aside. Can be made several hours ahead and chilled until ready to cook. Prepare the guacamole. Stone and peel the avocados, then tip into a bowl with the other ingredients. Get your child to use a potato masher to mash everything together and tip into a serving dish. Cook the skewers. Heat a barbecue or griddle pan. Cook the skewers for 10-12 mins, turning, until they are cooked all the way through. A child from the age of eight can watch over a griddle and turn the skewers with a pair of tongs. Serve the skewers on heated tortillas with the guacamole, soured cream, chopped coriander, lime wedges on the side and chilli sauce for those who like a touch of spice.
Up to 2 days before, sit the duck legs in your slow cooker or a small casserole or baking dish – if you don’t have a slow cooker, heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Pour over the stock and pomegranate juice so that the legs are submerged. Poke in the cinnamon stick, cover with the lid, or tightly with foil, and slow-cook for 4 hrs on High, or in the oven for 2hrs, until the duck is really tender. Cool in the liquid, then chill until you make the salad. One hour before you want to start the salad, lift the duck legs from the liquid, pat dry with kitchen paper and sit in a roasting tin to dry out a little. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Rub the cumin and cinnamon all over the duck legs with plenty of salt and some ground black pepper, and roast for 15-20 mins. Meanwhile, cook the bulghar wheat following pack instructions, then drain well. Heat a dry griddle pan, brush the halved plums with a little olive oil and griddle for about 5 mins on either side. Set everything aside to cool a little while you prep the rest of the ingredients. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil, add the green beans and cook for 2-4 mins until tender but still with some bite. Drain under cold running water to cool. Whisk together all the dressing ingredients with plenty of seasoning. When the duck is cool enough to handle, shred the meat and crispy skin from the bones. Transfer to a platter with the roasted plums, pomegranate seeds, red onion, bulghar wheat, green beans, flaked almonds, feta and herbs. Toss everything together gently with the dressing and eat immediately.
Remove the lamb from the fridge and allow to come to room temperature while you prepare the stuffing. Heat half the oil in a large frying pan, add the onion and fry for 8-10 mins until starting to turn golden. Add the garlic and spices and cook for 1 min more, then scoop out into a large bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, herbs, pistachios, feta, cherries, lemon and tahini. Season and mix everything together. Unroll the lamb and season well on both sides. Pack the stuffing down the centre of the lamb, pressing to help it stick, then re-roll and tie up with kitchen string (see tip, below left). Flip the lamb over so it is seam-side down, and pack any stuffing that has fallen out back in. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Now assemble the gratin. Slice the squash in half to separate the thinner top half and the bulbous bottom half. Peel both pieces with either a sturdy peeler or a sharp knife. Cut down the centre of the thinner piece, then slice very thinly into half moons. Halve the bottom piece and scoop out the seeds, then thinly slice this too. Whisk the tahini, cream and stock in a jug with some seasoning. Arrange the sliced squash in a shallow ovenproof baking dish, approximately 22 x 30cm, seasoning well between the layers. Finish with a layer of neatly lined-up half moon slices. Pour over the tahini stock. Place the lamb on top of the gratin, seam-side down, and rub with the remaining oil. Place in the centre of the oven and roast for 1 hr 20 mins for slightly pink lamb. Lift the lamb off the gratin and transfer to a plate, covered with foil to keep warm, and leave to rest. 4 While the lamb rests, increase oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Spoon any excess fat off the top of the gratin, then return to the oven for 20 mins until golden and crisp. Place the lamb back on top of the gratin to serve, scattered with mint leaves and a pot of Saffron yogurt (see tip, below left) on the side.
To make the sauce, place all the ingredients in the small bowl of a food processor, with 2 tbsp boiling water and a pinch of salt. Blend and taste, adding another squeeze of lime juice if needed. Rub the chicken with the spices, chilli and 1 tsp each of salt and pepper. Pour a third of the sauce over and marinate for at least 3 hrs, or overnight. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Transfer the chicken to a roasting tin and roast for 1 hr, or until crisp and the meat pulls away from the bone. Serve the chicken with the remaining sauce and some coconut rice.
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onion, garlic, carrot, spices and a pinch of salt. Cover and cook for 10-15 mins on a low heat until softened. If the onion starts to brown, add a splash of water. Meanwhile, cook the mince in a large frying pan until brown and starting to caramelise. Stir the beef in with the onion, add the tomato purée and stock, and simmer for 30 mins until most of the stock has been absorbed. While the beef is cooking, peel and cut the potatoes into chunks. Tip into a saucepan and cover with cold salted water. Bring to the boil, then turn down and simmer for 20 mins. Drain the potatoes and mash together with the chickpeas, butter, milk and za’atar. Stir the peas into the mince and simmer for 2 more mins, then take off the heat and stir in the chopped parsley. Divide between 4 small freezer-proof pie dishes. Top each with mashed potato and rough up the top with a fork. If serving straight away, put the pies on a baking tray and cook in the oven for 30 mins. To freeze, leave the pies to cool completely, then wrap well in cling film and foil. To cook from frozen, put the pies on a baking tray in a cold oven, turn to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and cook for 1 hr-1 hr 20 mins until piping hot.
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Put the peanut butter, garlic, spices and egg in a small bowl and whisk with a fork until blended. Add the chicken, one piece at a time, turning them in the mixture until coated, then place on the baking tray. Any mix left over in the bowl can be put on top of the chicken. Bake for 20 mins until the coating is firm and the chicken is tender. Mix the vinegar and oil in a bowl then add the salad leaves, cucumber, carrot, shallot and coriander, if using. Mix and serve with the chicken.
Melt the butter and oil in a wide, lidded pan, and add the onions and garlic. Soften gently for 5 mins, then tip in the rabbit and cook for 5 mins more, stirring until it changes colour all over (it doesn’t need to be particularly browned). Turn up the heat a little, add the spices and fry for 2 mins until aromatic. Lift out the pieces of loin and set aside. Tip in the rice, squash and prunes, cover with the stock and season. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook gently for 10 mins. Put the loin meat on top of the rice, re-cover and cook for another 5 mins or until you can see channels appearing in the surface of the rice and most or all of the liquid has disappeared. Remove from the heat and set aside for 10 mins. Fluff up the tender rice with a fork, check the seasoning and scatter with the fresh herbs and the nuts. Serve each portion with a blob of yogurt topped with a sprinkling of chilli or paprika, plus a drizzle of tangy pomegranate molasses or lemon juice.
Using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, snip the wing tips from the wings at the first knuckle. Discard the tips or use to make stock (see above left). Cut the remaining wing through the joint. Put the wings in a large non-metallic bowl or a food bag. Mix together the marinade ingredients and pour over the wings, toss well to coat, then chill for at least 4 hrs or overnight. For the sauce, heat the oil in a pan, then add the garlic, ginger, lemongrass and chilli, and fry for 30 secs until aromatic. Stir in the cumin, toast for a few secs, then stir in the remaining ingredients. Simmer just long enough to make a slightly thickened sauce. Spoon into a bowl, cover and leave to cool. Can be made up to 3 days ahead and chilled. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Spread the wings over a large baking tray, sprinkle with a little salt and roast for 40-45 mins, turning halfway, until crisped and golden. If a large amount of juice has collected in the tray at the halfway point, pour it away before continuing to roast. Just before serving, warm the peanut sauce gently and remove the lemongrass and chilli. Serve with the wings, sweet chilli sauce and cucumber sticks.
Heat the oil in a large, wide pan. Add the onion and fry for 5 mins until softened, stirring every now and then. Stir in the garlic, ginger and cloves, and cook for 5 mins more, stirring frequently to stop it sticking. Add all the remaining spices and the fresh chilli, stir briefly, then tip in the tomatoes with 2 cans of water, plus the chutney and crumbled stock cube. Add the chicken thighs, pushing them under the liquid, then cover the pan and leave to cook for 35 mins. Stir well, add the potatoes and cook uncovered for 15-20 mins more until they are tender. Stir in the coriander. About 10 mins before you want to serve, make the rice. Put the butter, rice, raisins, sugar and spices in a large pan with 550ml water and 0.5 tsp salt. Bring to the boil and, when the butter has melted, stir, cover and cook for 10 mins. Turn off the heat and leave undisturbed for 5 mins. Fluff up and serve with the curry.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add the garlic, coriander stalks and lime zest, then fry for 2 mins until fragrant. Stir in the cumin and chilli flakes, fry for 1 min more, then tip in the tomatoes, beans and stock. Bring to the boil, then crush the beans against the bottom of the pan a few times using a potato masher. This will thicken the soup a little. Stir the kale into the soup, simmer for 5 mins or until tender, then tear in the chicken and let it heat through. Season to taste with salt, pepper and juice from half the lime, then serve in shallow bowls, scattered with the feta and a few coriander leaves. Serve the remaining lime in wedges for the table, with the toasted tortillas on the side. The longer you leave the chicken in the pan, the thicker the soup will become, so add a splash more stock if you can’t serve the soup straight away.
Mix the chicken thighs with the harissa in a large bowl and chill, covered, for 20-30 mins. Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole or tagine dish and fry the chicken for 2-3 mins until browned. Remove from the dish and set aside. Fry the onion for 8-10 mins until soft, then stir in the spices. Return the chicken to the dish, together with the stock, tomatoes and raisins. Season, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 45 mins. Add the chickpeas to the dish, and simmer, uncovered, for 15 mins until the sauce reduces slightly and thickens. Serve with couscous and a handful of mint leaves on top.
Put 2 tbsp of the yogurt in a bowl with the spices, chicken and a really good grinding of black pepper, and set aside for 30 mins, or longer if you have time, to marinate. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Arrange the squash on a large baking tray, crumble over the coconut oil (as it will be solid at this stage) and roast for 20 mins. Add the onions and chicken, spaced apart, and roast for 20 mins more until everything is cooked. Meanwhile, put the rest of the yogurt in a bowl with the garlic, mint and two-thirds of the coriander, and blitz with a hand blender until smooth. Tip the beans and remaining coriander into a bowl, and add the lime zest and juice with a couple of tbsp of the yogurt dressing. Tip in the squash, onions and chicken, add the chicory and toss everything together. Pile onto plates and drizzle with the remaining dressing. (If eating cold as a packed lunch, take the dressing in a pot and dress the salad when ready to eat.)
Pour the tamari into a large dish and stir in the curry powder, cumin, garlic and honey. Mix well. Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to make 4 fillets in total, then add to the marinade and mix well to coat. Set aside in the fridge for at least 1 hr, or overnight, to allow the flavours to penetrate the chicken. Meanwhile, mix the peanut butter with the chilli sauce, lime juice, and 1 tbsp water to make a spoonable sauce. When ready to cook the chicken, wipe a large non-stick frying pan with a little oil. Add the chicken and cook, covered with a lid, for 5-6 mins on a medium heat, turning the fillets over for the last min, until cooked but still moist. Set aside, covered, to rest for a few mins. While the chicken rests, toss the lettuce wedges with the cucumber, shallot, coriander and pomegranate, and pile onto plates. Spoon over a little sauce. Slice the chicken, pile on top of the salad and spoon over the remaining sauce. Eat while the chicken is still warm.
To make dukkah, toast the sesame seeds in a frying pan until lightly golden, then transfer to a bowl. In the same pan, toast the cumin and coriander seeds until fragrant. Now combine all the spices, sesame seeds and some seasoning in a mini food processor, coffee grinder or pestle and mortar and blend to a coarse mix. Mix the lemon juice, olive oil and tahini paste and rub all over the chicken wings. Leave to marinate in the fridge for 1 hr. Reserve 1 tbsp of the dukkah mix and sprinkle the rest over the wings with 1 tsp salt. Toss to coat, and leave for up to 24 hrs in the fridge. Light the barbecue and wait until the coals are covered with a thin layer of white ash, which means it is hot enough to cook (or heat oven to 200C/ 180C fan/gas 6). Barbecue the wings, turning, for 25-30 mins until charred and cooked through (or roast in the oven for 45-50 mins). Transfer the wings to a big platter. Scatter over the reserved dukkah, the pomegranate seeds and coriander leaves, and serve with lemon wedges.
Break the chicken carcass into a large pan and add the onion, 1.5 litres of water, the lemon juice and bay leaves. Cover and simmer for 40 mins. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly, to make things a bit easier to handle. Place a colander over a bowl and scoop out all the bones into the colander. Pick through them, stripping off the chicken and returning it with any onion as you work your way down the pile of bones. Return any broth from the bowl to the pan – and any jellified roasting juices – along with the chilli, ground coriander, cumin, coriander stems, lemon zest and garlic. Cook for a few mins until just bubbling – don’t overboil as you will spoil the delicate flavours. Taste, and season only if you need to. Meanwhile, heat the rice following pack instructions, then toss with the coriander leaves. Ladle the broth into bowls and top with the rice.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pan and heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Toss the pumpkin pieces in another 1 tbsp oil and some seasoning, and put on a large baking tray lined with baking parchment. Roast the pumpkin for 30 mins until almost tender but not too soft. Meanwhile add the shallots to the pan, rolling around now and then, until golden. Scoop the shallots out and set aside. Add the remaining oil to the pan and brown the venison – you’ll need to do this in batches so that you don’t overcrowd the pan. Take your time, ensuring the meat has a nice dark-brown crust before you remove it from the pan – this will give the tagine a good rich flavour. While the meat browns, heat a frying pan and tip in the cumin, coriander seeds, peppercorns, cinnamon stick and cloves. Warm the spices through, stirring them around from time to time, until they turn a shade darker and smell aromatic. Put the cinnamon stick to one side with the venison, and tip the remaining spices into the small bowl of a food processor or a mortar. Whizz or pound with a pestle to a powder. Add the coriander stalks, ginger, garlic, chilli and 1 tsp salt, and blend to a paste (you may have to add a little water if using a food processor). When all the venison pieces have been browned, return the meat to the pan with the cinnamon stick. Stir in the spice paste and sizzle for 1-2 mins, splashing in a little water if the paste starts to stick to the bottom of the pan. Add the saffron and pour in the stock. Bring to a simmer, cover with a lid and leave to bubble over a gentle heat for 1 hr 30 mins, stirring occasionally. Add the browned shallots, prunes and pomegranate molasses to the tagine, increase the heat a little and bubble without a lid for 30 mins more, until the liquid has reduced and the tagine is rich and tasty. Season and stir in the pumpkin 10 mins before the tagine is finished cooking. Stir through the coriander leaves and serve with your favourite grain – bulghar wheat, quinoa or brown rice goes well – and a dollop of yogurt. Even better if cooled and served the next day. This tagine will last for up to 3 days in the fridge or can be frozen for 2 months.
Add the onions, garlic, butter, cardamom seeds and the chilli flakes to a large microwaveable bowl and cook in the microwave on High for 30 secs. Tip in the rice and stock and stir well with the turmeric, cumin, cinnamon and raisins, then cover with cling film. Place a few sheets of kitchen paper on your microwave turning plate to absorb any spills then place the bowl on top and cook on High for 2 mins. Remove and stir, then leave to stand for 1 min; it will continue to cook even after it has been removed, so allowing it to stand is really important. Repeat 2-3 more times until the rice is just cooked, the last time adding your finely chopped veg to the bowl and stirring through. Garnish with fresh coriander or mint, to serve.
Stir the garlic into the yogurt. Spoon 2 tbsp into a medium bowl, add the spices and oregano, and stir well. Add the chicken and toss until coated. Heat a griddle pan and griddle the chicken for 5 mins, turning once, until cooked all the way through but still moist. (If you want to fry the chicken, wipe a little oil in a non-stick pan first or the spices will burn.) Mix the tomatoes with the onion, chilli (if using), coriander and lime to taste. Heat the tortillas following pack instructions. Scoop the flesh from the avocado, squash half on top of each tortilla, then add the chicken and the salsa salad. Spoon over the garlicky yogurt, roll up and eat while still hot.
Heat a large non-stick pan over a medium heat and toast the coriander and cumin seeds for 1-2 mins until fragrant. Add the cinnamon, olive oil, aubergine and shallots. Coat the veg in the spices and cook on a medium-low heat for about 10 mins until the aubergine has softened slightly.
Add the harissa and peppers. Give everything a good stir, then add the tomatoes and crumble over the stock cube. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 mins until the veg is tender and the mixture is nice and thick.
Stir through the turkey meat and season well. Set aside to cool.
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and grease a 23cm springform tin with a little butter. Lay two sheets of filo over the base of the tin and brush with the melted butter. Cross over another two layers of filo and brush again with butter. Repeat once more, then put the cooled filling in the centre. Using the remaining four pastry sheets, cover the filling and brush with more melted butter. Scrunch the top of the pie together and bake for 30-35 mins.
Remove from the oven and scatter the pie with the flaked almonds. Cook for a final 10 mins until the pie is golden and piping hot. Serve straight away.
Heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan or sauté pan. Season the chicken and fry over a medium-high heat for 2-3 mins each side or until golden. Transfer to a plate. Add the onion and pepper to the pan and cook for 3 mins, stirring, until softened and lightly browned.
Tip in the garlic and beans, and stir-fry for 2 mins. Add the chilli and spices, then stir in the quinoa and sweetcorn. Pour in 700ml just-boiled water with 1/2 tsp flaked sea salt and bring to the boil.
Return the chicken to the pan, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 12 mins, stirring regularly and turning the chicken occasionally. Add the kale and cook for a further 3 mins or until the quinoa and chicken are cooked through.
In a food processor, roughly blitz the chicken thighs into chunky mince. Alternatively, chop into bite-sized pieces.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add half the onion and the chicken mince. Season well and cook for about 5 mins on a high heat to brown, breaking up the meat with a spoon. Add the spices, vinegar, chipotle paste, passata and sugar. Cook for another 5 mins, then remove from the heat.Â
In a small bowl, mix the remaining onion, the pineapple and coriander. Serve the chicken and the pineapple salsa with warm tortillas and hot sauce.
Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the pork. Return to the boil, skim, reduce the heat and simmer gently, partially covered, for 30 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
Using a potato peeler, remove 8 strips of zest from the orange. Put the star anise, cinnamon sticks, cumin seeds, dried chillies and orange zest in a piece of muslin and tie together tightly.
Make the braising liquid by combining all the ingredients in a very large pot and bringing the liquid to a simmer. Add the bag of spices and the blanched pork, and bring back to a simmer, partially covered, skimming all the while.
Cover the pot tightly and continue to simmer gently for 3 hours, until the pork fat and rind are very soft and tender. You can do this up to a day ahead, let the pork cool in the liquid, chill overnight, then reheat gently in the liquid before serving.
Cut the bok choi in halves or quarters depending on their size, or the Chinese leaves into 5cm/2in pieces. When the pork is done, remove it from the liquid. Remove the skin and cut the meat into small pieces. Add the bok choi to the pot and cook over high heat until it is very tender about 3 minutes. Remove the bok choi from the cooking liquid and place on a warm dish. Arrange the pork on top.
Skim off all the fat from the braising liquid and boil it to reduce it by about half. Pour some over the meat to moisten it and serve the rest separately. (You will probably have a lot leftover.) Serve with rice.
Using a pair of sharp kitchen scissors, cut each wing at the knuckle into two pieces. Mix the garlic, lemon zest and juice, cumin and oil with plenty of seasoning, then tip into a dish with the chicken wings and toss to coat. Cover and put in the fridge to marinate for at least 1 hr, or overnight if you have time. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6, or heat an outdoor barbecue. Bake the chicken wings on an oven tray for 45-50 mins until crisp, or barbecue for 20 mins, drizzling over the honey for the final 10 mins of each method. Serve on a platter with plenty of paper napkins. Fill small bowls with olives, pistachios or almonds, dates and pickled chillies and flatbreads to serve alongside, along with the dishes below.
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Brush a 23cm springform tin with melted lard and dust with a little flour.
Whizz the chicken thighs in a food processor to mince them. Add the onion and blitz again to chop it. Tip into a bowl. Add the spices, sausagemeat, lardons, parsley and some salt. Mix really well.
To make the pastry, melt the lard in a saucepan with 150ml water and the milk. When melted, remove from the heat, tip in the flour and beat well. Knead on a lightly floured work surface, then roll out and use two-thirds to line the tin.
Spoon in half the sausage mixture and top with the apricots and half the chicken breasts. Cover with the rest of the sausage mixture, then press the remaining chicken breasts on top.
Roll out the remaining pastry and use to cover the pie. Press firmly onto the filling, then bring the pastry from the sides over the top and seal. Make a hole in the top of the pie for steam to escape, and brush well with the egg. Bake for 30 mins, then reduce oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and bake for 1 hr more. Cool in the tin.
Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a wok or large frying pan until very hot. Add the pork and stir fry for 3-4 mins until it starts to brown. Remove from the pan, set aside and wipe the pan out with a piece of kitchen paper. Pour the remaining oil into the pan and tip in the spices. Cook over a medium heat for a minute to release their aromas. Pour in the chicken stock and cook for about 3-4 mins over a high heat until reduced by about half. Toss in the peas. Take it off the heat and stir in the yogurt. Season if you want to. Add the pork and warm through, then scatter over the coriander. Serve with some rice.
Heat a small pan over a medium heat. Add the peppercorns, fennel, coriander and cumin seeds, and dry-fry for about 1 min, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Tip into a small food processor with the chilli powder and turmeric. Put the garlic in the pan and fry for 1-2 mins until flecked golden. Add the garlic and vinegar to the spices and process to a coarse paste.
Put the pork in a bowl. Add the paste and mix with your hands to combine – it’s best to use disposable gloves, as turmeric stains. Leave to marinate for 15 mins.
Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Heat oil in a flameproof dish and fry the onions until beginning to colour. Increase heat to high, add the pork and fry, stirring often, for about 10 mins until darkened. Add the peppers, tomatoes and sugar, and cook for 10 mins more until the tomatoes have reduced and the paste clings to the meat. Stir in the chickpeas and stock. Put on the lid, bring to a simmer, then put in the oven for about 1½ hrs until the meat is tender and the sauce thickened. Eat immediately with rice, or cool before freezing in batches for up to 3 months.
Mix the oil and spices in a large bowl, then use the mixture to coat the chicken. Pan-fry the chicken (without extra oil) in a large non-stick frying pan for a few mins each side. Toss the tomatoes into any spiced oil left in the bowl, then add them to the pan. Cover and cook for 5 mins more until the chicken is cooked and the tomatoes are warm and starting to soften. Meanwhile, toss the onion, lettuce, coriander and avocados in the Caesar dressing and pile onto a large platter. Top with small handfuls of the beans and scatter with the tomatoes. Slice the warm chicken and pile on top. Serve with crusty bread or crunchy tortilla chips.
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