Fish

Lighter chicken katsu

For the chicken, pour the buttermilk into a wide, shallow dish. Season with pepper and a small pinch of salt. Pat the chicken breasts dry with kitchen paper, then put them in the dish and turn them over in the buttermilk to coat well. Leave in the fridge for 1 hr. Meanwhile, heat a large, non-stick frying pan. Tip in the panko breadcrumbs and flour, and toast in the dry pan for 2-3 mins until they turn pale brown, stirring regularly so they don’t burn. Tip the crumb mix into a bowl, season with pepper and set aside to cool. To make the curry sauce, heat the oil in a medium saucepan. Tip in the onion, garlic and ginger, and fry for 6-8 mins until the onion is tender and starting to brown. Stir in the garam masala, turmeric, chilli powder and tomato purée, and fry for 1 min, stirring to scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour in the stock and 250ml/9fl oz water. Add the carrot, soy sauce and honey, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently for about 20 mins, uncovered, until the carrots are tender. Mix the cornflour with 2 tsp cold water, stir into the sauce and simmer for 1 min. Remove from the heat. Whizz the mixture to a smooth purée in a food processor. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve, set over a large bowl, pressing it through well with the back of a wooden spoon so enough of the purée goes through to help thicken. Season with a small pinch of salt and set aside. Sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead and chilled. Heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Line a baking tray with foil and sit a wire rack (preferably non-stick) on top. Tip the crumb mix onto a large plate, then lift the chicken breasts from the buttermilk (leaving the marinade clinging to it) and roll each one in the crumbs, coating evenly. Heat 1½ tsp of oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add 2 chicken breasts and fry for 1½ mins (without moving them), over a medium-high heat – adjusting the heat if necessary, so that they don’t burn. Turn the chicken over, add another ¾ tsp of oil to cover the base of the pan, and fry for 1 min more. Using a fish slice, transfer the chicken to the wire rack, then wipe any crumbs from the pan and repeat with the rest of the oil and chicken. Bake the chicken in the oven (on the wire rack) for 15 mins until cooked and crisp. Warm the sauce through briefly, remove the chicken from the rack and slice each one into 5 pieces. Serve with the sauce, sticky rice and mixed leaves.

Asian short ribs with herb salad

In a mini chopper, make a paste with the ginger, coriander stalks, onion and garlic, then set aside. Heat the oil in the pressure cooker pan and brown the meat well on all sides, then remove. Fry the paste for 2-3 mins with 1 tsp golden caster sugar. Return the ribs to the pan and add the soy sauce, star anise, oyster sauce and enough chicken stock to just cover the ribs. Bring to a simmer, cover and bring up to high pressure. Cook for 45 mins, then release the pressure slowly. Take off the lid, add a splash of vinegar and remove the ribs from the pan. Simmer the sauce down until reduced and intensely flavoured. While the sauce is simmering, mix the salad ingredients together. Serve each rib in a puddle of sauce, topped with a pile of salad and rice on the side.

Sesame chicken salad

Put the chicken in a pan and pour over cold water to cover. Tip the soya beans into a steamer. Bring the pan to a gentle simmer, then cook the chicken for 8 mins with the beans above. Meanwhile, mix the dressing ingredients in a large bowl. When the chicken is cooked, slice and toss in the dressing along with the beans, carrot, onions, tomatoes, coriander and basil. Mix really well, pile onto the salad leaves and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

Thai chicken salad

To make the dressing, mix together all the ingredients and stir to dissolve the sugar. In a large bowl, mix all the salad ingredients except the nuts. Toss with the dressing and season with black pepper. Scatter with the nuts to serve.

Minced chicken & prawn lettuce parcels

Soak the glass noodles in boiling water and leave for 5 mins, then drain and run under cold water. Using scissors, cut into little pieces. Heat the oil in a wok, add the garlic, chilli and lemongrass and fry until fragrant. Add the green beans and carrot, and stir-fry for 2 mins until the vegetables lose their rawness but maintain their crunch. Add the chicken mince and break into small pieces with a wooden spoon while mixing with the vegetables. Once the chicken turns opaque and starts to cook through, add the prawns. Season with oyster and fish sauce, and pepper, and cook for 1-2 mins. Add the noodles, mix well, cook for 1 min more making sure that the chicken and prawns are cooked. Add the rice wine vinegar, mix well and turn off the heat. Set aside and cool for 10 mins. Peel the leaves off the lettuce carefully. If using iceberg lettuce, use scissors and, following the curve of the leaf, cut away the green floppy edge. You will be left with a firmer section, which acts like a cup. Spoon the chicken mixture onto the lettuce and sprinkle liberally with peanuts. Squeeze a little lime juice all over before serving.

Thai turkey filo dippers

To make the filling, mix all the ingredients in a small bowl until thoroughly combined. Cut each sheet of filo pastry into 4 evenly sized rectangles. Make a pile of 12 rectangles and cover with a damp tea towel to stop them drying out. Brush 1 of the rectangles lightly with oil. With one of the shortest sides facing you, spoon 1 level tbsp of the filling across the pastry 2cm up from the bottom of the rectangle and around 1cm in from both sides. Form into a sausage shape. Fold in the bottom over the filling, then fold in the 2 long sides all the way up the rectangle. Roll up from the short side close to you, fully enclosing the filling. Place on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Repeat as above to make a further 11 filo rolls. Brush with more oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds, if using. Can be covered with cling film at this stage and kept in the fridge for up to 8 hrs before baking. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake the dippers for 10-15 mins or until the pastry is light golden brown and the filling is cooked thoroughly. Serve with Thai sweet chilli dipping sauce.

Seafood paella

Peel and de-vein the prawns, reserving the heads and shells. Return the prawns to the fridge. To make the stock, heat the oil in a large pan over a medium-high heat and add the onion, tomatoes, garlic, and reserved prawn shells and heads. Cook for 3-4 mins, then pour in 2 litres of water and add the stock cube and star anise. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 mins. Leave to cool slightly, then whizz in batches in a blender or food processor. Strain through a fine sieve. Heat the oil in a large paella pan or an extra-large frying pan. Brown the monkfish for a few mins each side, then remove and set aside. Add the onion and fry for 4-5 mins until softened. Stir in the rice and cook for 30 secs to toast. Add the garlic, paprika, cayenne (if using) and saffron, cook for another 30 secs, then stir in the tomatoes and 1.5 litres of the fish stock. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer and cook, stirring, for about 10 mins (the rice should still be al dente). Return the monkfish to the pan with the prawns, mussels, peas and broad beans. Cover the pan with a large baking tray, or foil, and cook on a low heat for another 10-15 mins until the mussels are open and the prawns are cooked through. Scatter over the parsley before serving.

Braised chicory with pan-fried home salt cod

Wash and trim the fillets as necessary. Feeling the cod carefully with your fingers, locate and remove the pin bones from the centre of the fillets. Lay the fish, skin-side down, in a shallow dish. Mix the salt with the lemon zest and sprinkle evenly over the fillets. Cover the dish with cling film and chill for 30 mins. Cut the chicory in half lengthways and remove and discard the tough central core (it may be bitter). Blanch in plenty of boiling water for 2 mins, then drain well. Heat the extra virgin oil and butter in a large sauté pan and add the chicory, cut-side down. Cook for 5 mins or so until the surface of the chicory begins to brown. Turn the chicory and pour in the lemon juice and stock. Add the garlic, season and bring to a simmer, then cover the pan with a lid. Cook for 20 mins. Wash the cod fillets well under running cold water, then pat dry using kitchen paper. Brush the fish with the olive oil, then place in a heavy-based non-stick pan, skin-side down. Cook the fish on a medium-high heat for 5-7 mins or until the skin is golden brown. The fish should be nearly opaque. Turn and cook for a further 1-2 mins, then turn over once more, remove the pan from the heat and leave the fish to rest for 2 mins. Add the capers to the chicory and sprinke with the parsley. Serve with the fish and crusty bread, if you like.

Chiang Mai curried noodles (Khao soi gai)

First, make the pickled chilli & shallots: Put the chilli and shallots in a small bowl and pour the vinegar over. Add some salt and let it sit to pickle while you make the curry. In a large saucepan, heat the 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Add the curry paste and turn the heat down to medium. Cook for 5 mins, then add the curry powder and chilli flakes. Cook for 1 min more, then add the coconut milk, coconut cream, stock, fish sauce and lime juice. Bring to a simmer. Chop the chicken into pieces and add to the curry. Cook for 15 mins or until tender. Boil some water in a large saucepan for the noodles. Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a small wok – it’s ready when a small piece of bread sizzles when dropped in. Add 75g of the noodles to the wok in 4 batches until they bubble up and go crispy. Use a wire mesh ladle or slotted spoon to remove them and drain on kitchen paper. Boil the remaining noodles for 2-3 mins until al dente, then drain. Divide the noodles between 4 bowls. Pour the curry over each and top with coriander, beansprouts, some drained pickled chilli & shallots, spring onions and a drizzle of chilli oil. Top with the crisp noodles and devour while it’s hot.

Grilled chicken & noodles (Bun ga nuong)

First, make the patties. In a food processor, blend the garlic, shallots and lemongrass until fine. Pour into a bowl and add the chicken thighs, 1 tbsp of the sugar, the fish sauce and a good amount of ground black pepper. Mix together well and divide into 18 patties. Roll and flatten, then place on a large baking tray. Brush with oil. Heat the grill. In a small saucepan, melt the remaining sugar with 1 tbsp water, then remove from the heat. Grill the patties for 2 mins on one side until golden, then flip them over. Brush with the sugar-water mix and grill for 2 more mins or until golden and crisp. Remove and brush with more of the water. Meanwhile, make the dressing by combining all the ingredients with 2 tbsp hot water in a small bowl. Soak the noodles following pack instructions until al dente, about 3-5 mins, then drain. Use scissors to cut into shorter pieces, then divide between 4 bowls. Top with the chicken patties, the herbs, carrots and a sprinkling of shallots and peanuts. Serve with the lime ginger dressing to pour over.

Smoky paprika seafood rice

Heat the stock in a large saucepan. Add the saffron to infuse, if you like. Take off the heat and set aside. In a large deep-sided frying pan or paella pan, heat 1 tbsp of the oil. Smash the whole garlic clove and add to the oil. Throw in the prawns and cook for 2 mins until just turning pink but not cooked through. Push to one side of the pan and add the squid to the garlicky oil for 1 min or so, again just to colour. Remove the seafood to a plate. Add the remaining oil to the pan, and cook the onion and celery slowly for 15 mins until very soft and beginning to caramelise. Add the finely chopped garlic, the fennel seeds, tomato purée and paprika, and cook for 5 mins more. Meanwhile, bring the stock to a simmer. Add the rice to the pan with the onion mixture, give everything a good stir, then add the sherry and 1 litre of the hot stock. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for 15 mins, shaking the pan from time to time. When the rice is almost cooked but still has a little bite, dot over the prawns, squid and the mussels. Add the cooking juices and the rest of the stock. Cover and cook for 5 mins until the seafood is cooked through, the mussels have opened and the rice is just tender. (You may have to add a splash more water if the rice looks dry.) Discard any mussels that haven’t opened. Sprinkle over some chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges to squeeze over.

Vincisgrassi (Wild mushroom & prosciutto lasagne)

Pour the stock into a saucepan, bring to the boil and tip the dried mushrooms into a heatproof bowl or jug. Pour over the hot stock and leave to soak until it has been absorbed and the mushrooms have cooled. Drain the mushrooms over a bowl, pressing down on them to release all the stock. Reserve the stock, roughly chop the mushrooms and set aside.

Heat the olive oil and two-thirds of the butter in a large, shallow saucepan. Add the soaked mushrooms and bay leaf, and sizzle for a few mins. Turn up the heat, add the fresh mushrooms and garlic, and fry until soft. Season, scatter the flour over the mushrooms and cook until you have a thick, sticky paste. Pour in the mushroom stock and boil until everything is gloopy. Gradually add the hot milk, stirring between each addition, until you have a thick mushroom sauce, then simmer for 10 mins, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat, fish out the bay leaf, then stir in the cream, prosciutto and parsley, and leave to cool slightly.

If cooking straight away, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Grease a rectangular casserole dish (about 22 x 30cm) with the remaining butter and cover the bottom with a layer of lasagne sheets. Using a slotted spoon, layer about a third of the mushroom mixture and some of the sauce over the lasagne sheets, then scatter over a little grated Parmesan and drizzle with a few drops of truffle oil, if using. Repeat until you have three layers of mushrooms (save some sauce in the pan), then top with a final layer of pasta. Now spread over the remaining sauce – it should be reasonably mushroom free. Scatter over the remaining grated Parmesan and drizzle with more truffle oil, if using. Can be made a day ahead, covered and chilled.

Bake the lasagne for 20-25 mins until golden and bubbling. Turn the oven up at the end of cooking if it’s not brown enough. Remove from the oven and leave for a few mins to stand. Cut into squares, scatter over the Parmesan shavings and drizzle over some more truffle oil just before serving, if you like.

smoked haddock and wild mushroom traybake 1

Smoked haddock & wild mushroom traybake

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the potatoes in a large pan and cover with the chicken stock and 50ml water. Bring to the boil, then gently simmer for 8-10 mins until tender. Carefully remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, reserving the stock.

Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the onions for about 8 mins until golden brown. Spread them over a 26 x 5cm ovenproof dish and arrange the potatoes neatly on top. Season well and pour over the chicken stock. The stock should soak into the onions, leaving the potatoes dry.

Spoon the crème fraîche over the potatoes in an even layer. Lay the haddock on top, then scatter over the mushrooms and butter, leaving some of the potatoes and onions visible. Cover with foil and put in the oven for 8 mins.

Meanwhile, make the topping by mixing the lemon thyme, brioche breadcrumbs and Parmesan. Remove the foil from the fish and sprinkle over the crumb topping (making sure that some of the mushrooms are still visible). Return to the oven for 5 mins, then place under the grill for about 2 mins or until golden brown.

To give the dish some acidity, lay the lemon segments in a roasting tin and char with a blowtorch, or char in a griddle pan over a high heat. Arrange on top of the golden crust and serve in the middle of the table with wilted spinach, if you like.

Sri Lankan fried chicken & hoppers

To prepare the chicken, tip the coconut milk into a jug and stir in the garlic, spices and 1 tsp salt. Put the chicken in a plastic container or roasting tin and pour over the brine mix to cover. Cover with cling film and chill for 24 hrs.

For the hoppers, put the rice flour in a large bowl. In a jug, combine 125ml water with the yeast and sugar, and leave for about 8 mins until you see some foaming. Pour in the coconut milk and whisk the wet ingredients into the rice flour to make a smooth batter, slightly thinner than pancake batter. Season, cover and allow to ferment overnight in the fridge.

To make the kiri hodi, put all the ingredients (except the coconut milk, lime juice and spinach) in a heavy-based saucepan. Add 1 tbsp water and simmer over a low heat for 5 mins or until the onion softens. Pour in the coconut milk and cook for a further 1-2 mins (do not boil). Tip in the spinach, stir until wilted, then remove from the heat. Season to taste with salt and add the lime juice.

To make the sambol, use a pestle and mortar or mini processor to grind the onions with the chillies, a big pinch of salt and smoked paprika, to form a coarse paste. Season with lime juice and more salt, if needed.

To cook, remove the chicken and hoppers mix from the fridge for about 1 hr so they come to room temperature. To cook the chicken, heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer or saucepan until it reaches 180C on a cooking thermometer. To make the fried chicken coating, combine all the ingredients with 1/4 tsp salt in a bowl. Piece by piece, remove the chicken from its brine, allow the excess to drip off, then dredge it in the coating. Shake off the excess and fry in the oil for 6-8 mins until cooked through. Drain on kitchen paper, then rest in a low oven while you make the hoppers.

Make the hoppers. Whisk your hoppers base to remove any lumps. Add a splash more water to thin it if needed. Heat a non-stick frying pan, a hopper pan or small high-sided wok and brush on some rapeseed oil with kitchen paper. Add a ladle of mix to the pan and immediately swirl it around and up the edges to create a bowl-shaped pancake. Cook for 1 min, then add an egg and cover with a lid. Cook for 2-3 mins more until the egg is cooked and the edges are starting to brown. Repeat with the remaining batter and eggs. Serve the hoppers with the chicken, sambol and kiri hodi.

Spicy mince & lettuce cups

Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Fry the ginger, garlic and chillies for 1 min. Add the mince, then cook on a high heat until golden brown, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as you go. Sprinkle over the brown sugar, fish sauce, lime juice and shredded lime leaves, then cook everything down until sticky. Tip the mince into a serving bowl, then serve with a bowl of lettuce leaves for wrapping the mince in; the herbs, shallots and peanuts for scattering over; and the lime wedges for squeezing.

Thai sticky chicken & ribs

To make the marinade, put the chillies, coriander stalks, garlic, ginger, turmeric, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar and honey in a food processor. Whizz to a rough paste. Cut each chicken thigh into 2 pieces down the side of bone (so one side keeps the bone). Put all the chicken and ribs in a ceramic dish or suitable plastic container and pour over the marinade. Turn the meat over so it is coated, cover and put it in the fridge until needed (up to 24 hrs).

Make the sauce. Put the sugar in a pan with 250ml water, bring to the boil, simmer for a few mins to make a sugar syrup, then stir in garlic, vinegar, lime juice, fish sauce and chilli. Cool, then stir in coriander. Will keep for 24 hrs in the fridge.

Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Lift the ribs into a baking dish, cover with foil and put in the oven for 1 hr. Add the chicken pieces around the ribs, turn up the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and cook, uncovered, for 20 mins or so until the chicken is cooked through. By now the surface of the ribs and chicken should be quite brown and the marinade slightly sticky; if it isn’t, put the lot under the grill – but keep an eye on it.

Cut the ribs into sections and pile onto a platter with the chicken, drizzle over some sauce and serve the rest alongside with the salad and some steamed rice.

Ultimate toad in the hole

Preheat the oven to fan 200C/conventional 220C/ gas 7. Sift the flour and a make a well in the centre and crack in the egg. Beat lightly,then gradually pour in half the milk and water, beating all the time to form a smooth,thick batter. Continue for 2 minutes,then stir in the remaining liquid. (The batter can be made several hours ahead of time, although contrary to popular opinion it is not improved by standing.)

Wrap a bacon rasher around each sausage then put them, spaced apart, in a large roasting tin (preferably metal). Scatter over the onion and drizzle with oil. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the bacon and sausages are starting to colour and the onion is tinged brown at the edges.

Remove from the oven and quickly pour the batter over the sausages. Return to the oven for a further 35-40 minutes until the batter is crisp and well risen.

Meanwhile,make the gravy. Heat the vegetable oil in a small pan, add the onion and fry gently for 5 minutes until softened and lightly coloured. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the mustard, Worcestershire or soy sauce and stock and bring to the boil, stirring. Simmer for 15 minutes, then taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Serve the toad with cabbage or broccoli and lashings of gravy.

Easiest ever paella

Heat the oil in a deep frying pan, then soften the leek for 5 mins without browning. Add the chorizo and fry until it releases its oils. Stir in the turmeric and rice until coated by the oils, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 mins, stirring occasionally. Tip in the peas and cook for 5 mins, then stir in the seafood to heat through for a final 1-2 mins cooking or until rice is cooked. Check for seasoning and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Asian caramel chicken wings

Put the sugar in a medium sauté pan with enough water to make it go sludgy. Place on a low heat and bring to the boil, then cook until you have a dark amber caramel (see tip, below).

At arms length, add the other ingredients, except for the chicken and garnish, and bring to a simmer – take care as it will spit. Once it has calmed down a little and you have a thick sauce, stir in the wings until well coated. Pour over 100ml water and simmer on a medium heat for about 30 mins, stirring every now and then until the sauce is a thicker consistency – add a splash more water if needed.

Turn down the heat and continue to cook, covered, for a further 15 mins, stirring occasionally, until the wings are lacquered and tender and the sauce is very thick. Turn off the heat and quickly stir through half the spring onion, ginger and chilli. Tip the wings and sauce onto a platter. Scatter with the remaining garnish and coriander, and serve with extra lime and rice.

Chilli-lime chicken salad

Whisk together the lime zest and juice, fish sauce, sugar and chillies until the sugar dissolves. Pour 1/3 of this mix into a bowl, add the oil and set aside (this will be the dressing). Put the remainder into a large food bag with 1 tsp salt, the garlic, turmeric and coriander stems. Slash each piece of chicken down to the bone a few times, then add to the marinade and squish it around well in the bag. Chill for at least 2 hrs, or ideally up to 24 hrs.

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 (if barbecuing, get the coals ready). Lift the chicken from the marinade and into a roasting tin. Roast for 30 mins until cooked through but not yet completely tender.

If you’re barbecuing, transfer the chicken from its tin to a hot barbecue for 10 mins more, turning once crisp (otherwise continue roasting in the oven). Spread the spring onions, cucumber and tomatoes over a platter, add the chicken, then finish with the herbs, avocados, nuts and dressing.

Sticky pork & pineapple hotpot

Heat the oil in a large, flameproof casserole dish. Season the pork, and brown it in 2 or 3 batches until golden, about 5 mins per batch. Set aside in a bowl. Stir the onions into the remaining fat, cover and soften for 5 mins – they will take on the browned colour of the meat. Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3.

Add the garlic, coriander stalks, chillies and anise to the dish, sizzle for 1 min, stirring often, then mix in the sugar and tomato purée. When these have melted and it looks a bit like barbecue sauce, return the pork and its resting juices to the dish, along with the fish sauce and stock. Tuck in the pineapple chunks here and there.

Once simmering, cover the hotpot, leaving a small gap for steam to escape, and transfer to the oven for 2 hrs. With 30 mins to go, skim some of the fat from the top (this tends to seal the liquid in, making it more difficult for the sauce to reduce), then return to the oven. The pork will be meltingly soft when ready. If the sauce is thin, lift the pork into a warmed serving dish, put the casserole dish on the hob and simmer until the sauce has slightly thickened. Leave to cool for 5 mins, taste for seasoning, pour over the pork and sprinkle over the coriander leaves.

Leftover roast chicken pad Thai

Soak the noodles in cold water for about 30 mins or until al dente, then drain.

Meanwhile, make the sauce. In a small, non-stick pan, mix the fish sauce, tamarind, palm sugar and sriracha, and heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Taste it and, if you like more heat, add the chilli powder. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Heat a wok (or a wide, high-sided frying pan) over a high heat and add half the oil. Add the garlic, coriander stalks, shrimp paste, radishes and spring onions, and stir-fry for 10 secs, then add the noodles and 50ml water. Keep stir-frying the noodles until they’re starting to dry, then add the sauce and cook the noodles until almost tender but still with some bite – about 8-10 mins. If the sauce begins to dry out, add a splash more water.

Push the noodles to the side of the wok and add the rest of the oil. Add the prawns and chicken, and stir-fry for about 2 mins until the prawns change colour. Push all the ingredients in the wok to one side and crack in the eggs, breaking the yolks. When they start to set on the bottom, scramble and mix through the noodles.

Add the beansprouts, peanuts and coriander leaves. Serve with the lime wedges and a sprinkle of chilli flakes, if you like.

Sticky pistachio chicken with jewelled bulgur salad

Heat oven to 200C/ 180C fan/gas 6. Put the chicken thighs in a roasting tin, skin-side up, season and cook for 40 mins. Meanwhile, pour the bulghar wheat into a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer following pack instructions.

Combine the honey, olive oil and fish sauce in a small bowl. Remove the chicken from the oven, brush with the honey mixture, then sprinkle with the pistachios. Cook in the oven for 10 mins more.

Drain the bulghar wheat and tip into a bowl with the apricots. Allow to cool slightly before adding the pomegranate seeds. When the chicken is cooked through, add the juices to the bulghar wheat. Stir the parsley and chives into the salad and check the seasoning before serving with the chicken thighs.

Poached halibut with heritage tomatoes

Make the tomato broth the day before. Put the tomatoes and 1/ 2 tbsp flaky salt in a food processor and blitz to a pulp. Pour into a colander lined with a muslin cloth set over a bowl to catch the juices. Fold the cloth over the pulp and put a weight on top to help squeeze out the juices. Put in the fridge overnight to strain. Take the broth out of the fridge 1 hr before serving to bring to room temperature.

The next day, toss the mixed tomatoes in a roasting tin with 1/ 2 tbsp flaky salt, the oil and garlic, then spread them out and leave for 1 hr.

Next, put the wine, rosemary, shallot, stock and a good pinch of salt in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, drop in the fish and reduce the heat so the liquid is just bubbling. Gently poach for 8-10 mins, then remove. Freeze the poaching liquor and use as a stock at a later date.

Spoon the mixed tomatoes with their oil and garlic, the spring onions and broad beans into two serving bowls. Top with the cooked fish, then pour over the tomato broth.

Japanese okonomiyaki

Combine the flour, baking powder, egg and stock. Mix until smooth, whisking out any lumps without overmixing. Add the potato, season with a little salt and white pepper, cover and rest for at least 2 hrs.

While the mix is resting, combine the ingredients for the sauce, stirring until it’s smooth. Set aside.

Remove the batter from the fridge and add the cabbage, spring onion, ginger, soy, mirin and chosen seafood. Stir to thoroughly coat the mix in the batter.

Heat a thin layer of oil in a frying pan on a medium heat. Pour the mixture into the pan, keeping it as circular as possible. Fry for 3-5 mins. Use a palette knife to help you flip it over and cook for a further 3-5 mins, using a lid at intervals to trap the heat so it cooks through. Test to see if it’s ready by sticking a chopstick into the middle. If it comes out dry, it’s ready.

Flip onto a board and serve with the sauce and garnishes to taste. Eat straight away.

Thai red curry

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and fry the ginger and garlic paste for 2 mins. Add the curry paste, sizzle for a few secs, then pour in the coconut milk. Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer, stir a little and wait for the oil to rise to the surface. Add the chicken and lime leaves, and simmer for 12 mins or until the chicken is cooked through.

Add 1 tbsp of the fish sauce and a pinch of the sugar, then taste – if you like it a little saltier, add more fish sauce; if you like it sweeter, add a little more sugar. Bring to the boil, take off the heat and add the basil.

Spoon the curry into four bowls and top with the chilli, ginger and a few extra basil leaves. Serve with rice.

Barbecued Thai chicken

Crush the peppercorns using a pestle and mortar, then add the garlic and crush again. Add the coriander stalks and chopped lemongrass, and bash to a rough paste. Stir in the lime juice, fish sauce and sugar and mix until the sugar dissolves. Poke a metal skewer through the leg and breast on either side of the chicken (see our video on how to spatchcock a chicken), then replace with a lemongrass stalk. Sit the chicken in a dish and pour over the marinade – squelch it around so the bird is completely coated, then cover and chill in the fridge for as long as possible or overnight.

Remove the chicken from the fridge an hour before cooking. Set a lidded barbecue up for indirect cooking with a foil drip tray on the coal-free side. When the coals are very hot, lay the chicken, bone-side down, over the coal-free side, with the legs closest to the coals.

Cover with the lid and arrange the vents for maximum air circulation. Cook the chicken for 50 mins-1 hr until a thermometer reads 70C (or a little higher) when stuck into the thickest part of the thigh or the juices run clear. Poke the coals about so they flare up again, then, using a pair of tongs, carefully flip the chicken, so it’s skin-side down over the coals. Cook until the skin has browned and the thermometer reads 75C. Lift onto a board, leave to rest for 10 mins, then remove the lemongrass and carve.

Next level chilli con carne

Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Over a high heat, toast the whole chillies on all sides until you can smell them cooking, then remove and set aside. Keep the pan on the heat and toast the peppercorns, cumin seeds and coriander seeds until they just start to change colour, then grind to a powder using a pestle and mortar or spice grinder. Mix with the smoked paprika and oregano (this is a standard tex-mex seasoning), then set aside.

Return the casserole to the heat, add half the oil and heat until shimmering. Fry the beef in batches, adding more oil if you need to, until it’s browned on all sides, then set aside. Fry the onions in the pan over a low heat for about 8 mins until soft and golden, then add the garlic and cook for 1 min more. Working fast, add the meat and juices, the spice mix, tomato purée, peanut butter and coffee to the pan and cook for 2-3 mins, stirring to coat the meat until everything is thick and gloopy, then pour in the vinegar and stock.

Add the toasted chillies back into the casserole, along with the bay leaves, cinnamon and some salt. Bring to a simmer and stir well, then cover with the lid and cook in the oven for 3hrs, stirring occasionally, until the meat is very tender but not falling apart. Take the casserole out of the oven, put back on the stove and remove the lid. Simmer the sauce for 5 mins, then stir in the semolina flour and simmer for 2-3 mins more. Finely grate over the chocolate, stir through with the beans and simmer for a minute more to heat through. Fish out the chillies, then leave everything to rest for at least 15 mins.

Bring the pan to the table. Serve with bowls of accompaniments and the chilli paste (see tip below) to add heat.

Braised squid with fennel & tomatoes

Heat the olive oil in a flameproof casserole dish over a medium-high heat. Cook the fennel seeds, onion, fennel, chilli and preserved lemon with a pinch of salt for 5 mins until softened and fragrant, then add the garlic and cook for 1 min more.

Add the chopped tomatoes and cook down for a few mins, then turn down the heat and add the squid. Cook gently for 3 mins, then add the wine and reduce by half. Add the stock and herbs, bring to a simmer, cover loosely with baking parchment and cook for 1½ hrs, until the squid is tender and meaty.

To make the mayo, whisk the yolks, garlic, lemon juice and a pinch of salt until combined, then add the squid ink and whisk again. Slowly whisk in the oil until you have a thick, silky mayo. Serve the squid with rice and a spoon of mayo, with fronds of dill scattered over. Keep leftover mayo in the fridge (to use within one day).

Slow cooker Thai chicken curry

Gently fry the Thai green curry paste in a dry non-stick frying pan until fragrant, then pour in the coconut milk. Mix well until smooth then take off the heat.

Put the chicken thighs into a slow cooker along with the aubergine, lemongrass stalks, sliced ginger, lime leaves, brown sugar and fish sauce.

Pour over the curried coconut milk, give everything a good stir with a wooden spoon then cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Serve with rice and Thai basil scattered over.

Roast spatchcock chicken with lemongrass, honey & fish sauce

To spatchcock the chicken, put the bird on the worktop, breast-side down, with the legs pointing towards you. Using good kitchen scissors, cut through the flesh and bone along both sides of the backbone (and either side of the parson’s nose). Remove the backbone and keep it for stock (freeze until you’ve gathered a few). Turn over the chicken, then flatten it by pressing hard on the breastbone with the heel of your hand – you’ll feel it breaking and flattening under your hand. Remove any big globules of fat and neaten any ragged bits of skin.

To make the marinade, remove and discard the coarse outer layer of leaves and the green tips from the lemongrass. Chop the pale inner core finely, then pound using a pestle and mortar with the garlic, ginger and chillis. Transfer to a bowl, then add the rest of the ingredients. Put the chicken in a dish that will fit in your fridge. Gently loosen the skin on the breast, then work your fingers in between the skin and the flesh, including the legs. Spoon some of the marinade under the skin, then spread more marinade all over the chicken (use no more than half the marinade in total at this point). Cover the bird with cling film and chill in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight.

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the chicken, breast-side up, in a roasting-tin in which it fits snugly (if there’s too much room around the bird, the marinade will burn). Scrape all the marinade from the dish over the bird. Season all over, then roast for 1 hr 10 mins. Baste after 15 mins with all the juices from the tin. Baste again after 30 mins, then cover with foil (if the chicken isn’t very brown, don’t cover with foil yet – keep checking until it is brown, then cover). After 50 mins, spoon over the remaining marinade, cover with foil again and cook for the final 20 mins.

To check that the chicken is cooked through, pierce the bird between the leg and the rest of the body – the juices should be clear. Cut into portions, then serve with rice and stir-fried green veg.

Prawn, pumpkin & coconut stew

Halve the onion, then cut each half into crescent moon-shaped wedges about 2cm thick at the thickest part. Heat the oil in a casserole dish. Cook the onion until soft and pale gold, then add the garlic, chillis and ginger, and cook for 2 mins more. Stir in the coconut cream, stock and some seasoning. Heat carefully, but don’t let it boil.

Add the pumpkin and potato, season again, then add the coriander stalks. Simmer until the pumpkin and potatoes are tender. Use a wooden spoon to squash some of the pumpkin if you want to to thicken the stew a little, but don’t break it down too much (you don’t want a purée).

Add the prawns and spinach. Cook gently until the prawns are opaque, about 3 mins. Stir in the lime juice, sugar and fish sauce. Taste the stew, then adjust the flavour with more lime or fish sauce as needed. Roughly chop the coriander leaves, then stir them through. Top each portion of the stew with some sliced red chilli, and serve with lime wedges on the side.