Beef Wellington Recipe
Ingredients Ingredients 1kg beef fillet – ask your butcher to cut it from the middle
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Ingredients Ingredients 1kg beef fillet – ask your butcher to cut it from the middle
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.
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.
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and sit the chicken in a small roasting tin. Mix all the spices with 2 tsp salt using a pestle and mortar – try to grind the oregano finely so that it doesn’t burn. Rub the spice mix over the chicken with some oil, and cover loosely with foil. Sit the potatoes in another tin, and put them in the oven together with the chicken. After 30 mins, remove the foil. Pierce the banana once in the skin with a knife and put alongside the potatoes, and roast with the chicken for another 30 mins. Check the potatoes are soft, then remove them and the banana from the oven. Leave the chicken to cook for a final 10 mins. Split the potatoes and banana, and scrape all the flesh into a saucepan. Add 1 tsp salt, half the butter and the milk, then mash together. Season. Check the chicken is cooked by piercing the inner thigh and ensuring the juices run clear. Lift to a serving platter and rest for 10 mins. To serve, spoon the mash into a dish, topped with knobs of remaining butter, and carve the chicken at the table. Serve with Creamed corn & bacon (recipe in ‘goes well with’, right).
If you have time, soak the chicken in the buttermilk (not regular milk) overnight. To make the cornbread, heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Grease 6 holes of a muffin tin, or a special cornbread tin if you have one. Tip the dry ingredients into a bowl and separately beat the eggs with the buttermilk or yogurt. Pour over the dry ingredients and beat together to make a batter. Divide the batter between the holes and bake for 20 mins until puffed up. Remove the tin from the oven and leave to cool. Put a rack in a roasting tin in the oven. Tip the polenta, flour and spices into a food bag with a generous pinch of salt and some pepper. Dip the chicken into the buttermilk, add a few pieces to the bag and shake to coat in the flour mixture, then place on a plate. Heat a decent puddle of oil in a large frying pan or wok and fry the chicken in batches until golden and crispy. When all the chicken has been fried, place it on the rack and bake for 30 mins until completely cooked through. Serve with the cornbread and some coleslaw.
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.
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Find a large roasting tin that will hold the chicken thighs and potatoes in a single layer. Halve the chilli, scrape out and discard the seeds if you don’t like it too hot, and remove the stalk. Put in a small food processor or mini chopper with the tomato purée, olive oil and garlic. Whizz to a paste, then spread over the chicken. Add the chicken and potatoes to the tin with a good grinding of black pepper and some salt, then mix everything together well with your hands. Add the thyme and roast for 30 mins. Stir in the pancetta and roast for 15 mins more, then add the tomatoes and roast for another 15 mins until the tomatoes have softened and the chicken is cooked. Serve straight from the pan and eat with a green salad and some bread, if you like, for mopping up the juices.
Mix together the oil, herbs, spices and garlic in a large sealable bag. Put the chicken breasts in the bag and mix thoroughly to cover. Bash the chicken with a rolling pin to flatten it a little, then set aside to marinate for at least 15 mins. In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients for the bean salad. Stir well and set aside. For the guacamole, scoop the flesh from the avocado and put it in a medium bowl, chopping it roughly with the side of the spoon. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. If you prefer your guacamole to be smoother, mash the avocado well with the olive oil and lime juice until it’s at your preferred consistency before stirring in the other ingredients. Heat the grill. Line a grill pan with foil, place the chicken breasts on it and grill for 5 mins, checking occasionally. Once golden brown, turn and grill for a further 5-7 mins. Check the middle of the breasts after 5 mins and, if cooked through, remove from the heat. Set aside 2 chicken breasts and 2 tbsp guacamole for Open rye sandwich (see ‘goes well with’, right). Place 1 warm chicken breast on each plate, with some bean salad and a dollop of guacamole on the side.
Divide guacamole between rye bread, spreading it evenly. Arrange 4 slices of tomato on each sandwich, and top with a sliced Cajun grilled chicken breast (see ‘goes well with’). Finish with lime juice and some ground black pepper.
In a bowl, roughly mash the mackerel and add the yogurt, lemon juice and some black pepper. Mash again until you have a chunky pâté. Put it in a bowl, ready to serve. Arrange the other ingredients on a large serving platter, with the mackerel pâté alongside, and tuck in.
Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Mix the barbecue and chipotle sauce in a bowl. Place the pizza bases on 2 large baking trays and spread over the sauce. Scatter the mozzarella over the pizzas, then top with the sweetcorn, peppers and chicken. Bake for 20 mins, swapping the trays over halfway through cooking, until the cheese has melted and the pizza is piping hot. Scatter with the coriander and the green chillies, if you like it extra spicy.
In a bowl, roughly mash the feta and olives with the yogurt, lemon juice and some black pepper to form a thick paste. Stir in 1 tbsp finely chopped mint. Arrange the other ingredients on a large serving platter, with the feta mix along side, and tuck in.
Put the leeks, potato and stock in a pan and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 8 mins. Tip in the peas, cover and cook for 5 mins more. Take off the heat and blitz with a hand blender (or in a food processor) until smooth, then stir in the yogurt and mint. Meanwhile, lay the slices of prosciutto in a large non-stick frying pan in a single layer and heat until crisp. Allow to cool a little, then tear into strips, ready to sprinkle over the soup with some ground black pepper. Will keep in the fridge for 2 days.
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.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the red pepper and sweet potato, and cook for 5-10 mins until they start to soften. Add the garlic and cook for 1 min more. Add the red wine vinegar, sizzle for a moment, then add the chopped tomatoes and season. Cover and simmer for 30 mins until the sweet potato is really soft, adding a splash of water if it starts to look dry. Tip the sauce into a blender (or use a hand blender) and whizz until smooth. Can be prepared up to 2 days ahead or frozen for up to 3 months. Cook the pasta following pack instructions and reheat the sauce gently in a saucepan. Once the pasta is cooked, drain well and toss with the sauce and a sprinkling of Parmesan. Serve the pasta in a big bowl for everyone to help themselves, with extra toppings to choose from to keep fussy eaters happy.
Heat the oil in a paella pan or large frying pan, add the onions and garlic, and fry for 5 mins. Push the onions over to one side, add the chicken and cook for 10 mins, turning occasionally, until the chicken is nicely coloured. Stir in the rice and paprika, then pour in the wine. Let it sizzle a bit, then stir in the saffron stock. Add the beans and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 mins until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the stock. If it starts to look dry, add a splash more stock. Add the prawns for the final few mins, if using, until they turn from grey to pink. Season generously and allow to stand for 1-2 mins before serving.
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.
Put the sliced ginger, the garlic, peppercorns and half the soy in a large pan with the chicken legs. Add enough water to cover, and season with a little salt. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a low simmer, put on the lid and poach for 30 mins. Meanwhile, heat a pan and add the sesame oil and spring onions. Soften for 1 min, then remove from the heat and stir in the grated ginger and remaining soy sauce to make a relish. When the chicken is ready, remove from the pan, set aside 4 of the legs and chill for tomorrow. Add the pak choi to the poaching liquid and cook for 3-4 mins. Strain the poaching liquid to remove the ginger, garlic and peppercorns, reserving the liquid. Pull the skin from the remaining 4 chicken legs and discard. Tear the meat into thick pieces. Serve in bowls with rice, the pak choi, a ladle of the hot chicken broth, the spring onion relish and extra soy sauce, if you like.
Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of cling film or baking parchment. Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to bash each piece of chicken – flatten out to an even layer about 0.5cm thick. Transfer to a dish. To make the marinade, crush the garlic with a good pinch of salt using a pestle and mortar. Add the rosemary and sage, and give everything a good pounding. Stir through the lemon zest and juice, olive oil and some ground black pepper. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring that it’s well coated. Cover and chill for at least 2 hrs. Heat the barbecue. Once the flames have died down, spread the coals out to an even layer. Cook the chicken for 1-2 mins each side. Transfer to a board and leave to rest for a few mins. Meanwhile, pour the oil and balsamic vinegar into a large bowl. Add the rocket and some seasoning. Toss together, then shave over the Parmesan. Serve the salad with the chicken, with lemon wedges to squeeze over.
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients for the marinade, along with a good few pinches of salt and some pepper. Add the chicken thighs and mix everything together. Cover and chill overnight. Light a lidded barbecue, then let the flames die down. Once the coals have turned ashen, mound them up on one side. Thread the chicken thighs onto 2 metal skewers – so that both skewers go through each piece of meat – packing the thighs down so that they are really compact. Place the chicken kebab on the side without any coals underneath. Pop the lid down and cook for 45-55 mins, turning regularly, or until cooked through – prise the chicken pieces apart in the centre to check this. Cover the chicken with foil and leave to rest for 20 mins before slicing. (If cooking in the oven, heat to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Rest a wire rack over a roasting tin and place the chicken on top. Cook for 45-55 mins or until cooked through.) Slice strips of chicken from the kebab and stuff into pittas, warmed on the barbecue. Serve with Dill yogurt sauce, tomato, red onion & cucumber salad, and crunchy lettuce.
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.
Mix together the shredded chicken, soured cream, yogurt or mayonnaise with the pesto. Season. Lay a slice of cheese on each wrap, then divide the chicken mixture between them. Sprinkle with red pepper or sweetcorn, then top with the lettuce leaves. Be careful not to overfill or it will be tricky to contain all the filling. Wrap and roll each one, then pack in a lunchbox or tightly wrap in foil.
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.
Melt the butter in a wide frying pan and add the shallots, herbs and some seasoning. Cook gently for 10 mins until very soft. Spoon the shallots into a food processor and discard the herbs; pour the butter into a jug, leaving 1 tbsp in the pan. Turn up the heat in the pan and add the livers. Season and fry for 30 secs on each side or until just browned all over. They will still be very raw inside. Take out of the pan and put in the processor. Splash the Sauternes into the hot pan and reduce by half, scraping up any tasty bits as it bubbles. Tip onto the liver and shallots. Process the livers until totally smooth. With the motor running, slowly pour in the cream and add the eggs, one by one, then the warm butter. Season with 2 tsp sea salt and some pepper, but don’t taste the mixture as it’s still raw. Pass through a sieve, using a spatula to help. Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and boil a full kettle. Put 6 heatproof glass tumblers, small Kilner jars or large ramekins into a roasting tin. Pour the parfait into each one. Pour hot water around the parfaits, letting it come as far up the sides as is safe for you to carry. Bake for 45 mins until the parfaits have set without a wobble and risen a little in the middle. Cool at room temperature (I make this more speedy by filling the pan with cold water and letting the whole thing stand on a wire rack), then chill. To make the jelly, soak the gelatine in cold water until it is totally floppy. Heat the wine and sugar until it dissolves, then remove from the heat. Squeeze out as much water from the gelatine as possible, then stir into the wine until totally dissolved. Set aside. When cooled but still liquid, pour this over the top of the parfaits, adding a few thyme leaves here and there. Leave to set in the fridge for at least 30 mins. Can be made up to 2 days ahead. Serve with toast and cornichons.
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.
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.
Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Cut the lamb into chunky 5-6cm pieces. Tip the flour onto a large plate, season with pepper and a little salt, and toss the lamb in the flour to coat evenly and completely. Set aside. Heat 2 tsp of the oil in a large, deep frying or sauté pan. Put the onions, carrots, swede, thyme sprigs and bay leaves in the pan and season with pepper. Cook on a medium-high heat for 6-8 mins, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t stick, until the vegetables start to go brown around the edges – the bottom of the pan should be slightly brown and caramelised too. Pour in the stock; it should sizzle then bubble in the pan. Immediately remove the pan from the heat so the stock does not reduce in volume. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce. Overlap a single layer of the potato slices in the bottom of a 2-litre casserole dish (about 20cm diameter x 10cm deep). Lay half the lamb over the potatoes, then spoon half the vegetable mix over the meat. Season with pepper. Sit the rest of the lamb on top, then tip the rest of the vegetables, herbs and all the liquid over the lamb. Press down with the back of a spoon, if necessary, to make room for the remaining potatoes. Start to layer up the potato slices in 3 tightly overlapping layers, seasoning each layer with pepper and brushing with oil as you go – save a bit of oil for the top layer. Cover the dish with a tight-fitting lid and bake for 10 mins. Reduce the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Cook for a further 2 hrs until the lamb is really tender and the potatoes are cooked. Take the lid off and pop under the grill for 8-10 mins until the potatoes are golden and crisp around the edges. Remove and let the hotpot settle for 5-10 mins, then serve scattered with thyme leaves.
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.
Put the chicken breasts in a medium saucepan with the onion, bay leaves and wine. Pour over just enough water to cover, around 200ml. Put a lid on top and bring to a gentle simmer. Poach gently for 15 mins or until the chicken is just cooked. Transfer the chicken to a board and strain the liquid into a jug. Melt the butter in a large non-stick saucepan over a medium heat. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon and cook for about a minute. Gradually add the milk, a little at a time, stirring well between each addition to ensure the sauce stays smooth. Once all the milk has been added, stir in the reserved cooking liquid and continue cooking for a further 2-3 mins. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the chicken into small chunks and stir into the saucepan. Add the ham and spinach and cook until the spinach has wilted. Spoon a third of the chicken mixture into the base of a 3-litre lasagne dish (about 26 x 18cm). Top with a third of the lasagne sheets. Repeat the layers twice more, ending with lasagne. Scatter the mozzarella and Parmesan on top and season with black pepper. Can be frozen at this stage (see below). Bake for about 25 mins or until the lasagne is tender, the topping is well browned and the filling hot.
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