9/04/2014

Toffee & Sesame Bananas


Traditional toffee bananas are deep-fried, but this is a lighter version, served with caramel sauce

  • Cooking Time Prep 10 mins
    Cook 10 mins
  • Skill Level Easy
  • Servings Serves 8
Nutrition per serving
  • Kcalories

    312

  • Protein

    2g

  • Carbs

    37g

  • Fat

    19g

  • Saturates

    10g

  • Fibre

    1g

  • Sugar

    35g

  • Salt

    0.09g

Ingredients
  • 6 large bananas, peeled and quartered
  • 8 tbsp light muscovado sugar
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 200ml double cream
  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
  • good-quality vanilla ice cream, to serve
Directions
  1. Toss the bananas in 2 tbsp of the sugar. Heat a griddle to medium, then cook the bananas, a few pieces at a time, until sticky and showing griddle marks. Keep warm in a low oven.
  2. For the sauce, put the remaining sugar, the butter and cream into a saucepan and stir over a gentle heat until the sugar has melted. Stir in the sesame seeds. Can be made up to a day ahead. To serve, put a few pieces of banana into 8 serving dishes, spoon over some of the caramel, then top with a scoop of ice cream.

Festive Golden Five-Spice Chicken


Chinese five-spice gives this chicken a wonderfully warm, aromatic flavour that adults and children will love

  • Cooking Time Prep 15 mins
    Cook 1 hr, 10 mins
  • Skill Level Easy
  • Servings Serves 8
Nutrition per serving
  • Kcalories

    394

  • Protein

    29g

  • Carbs

    9g

  • Fat

    26g

  • Saturates

    7g

  • Fibre

    1g

  • Sugar

    7g

  • Salt

    2.22g

Ingredients
  • 8 chicken thighs and 8 drumsticks, skin on
  • 3 spring onions, shredded, to finish
  • For the marinade
  • 4 tbsp groundnut oil
  • 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • finger-length piece fresh root ginger, grated
  • 4 tbsp Shaohsing rice wine or dry sherry
  • 4 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 4 tbsp clear honey
  • 4 tsp five spice powder
Directions
  1. Whisk together the marinade ingredients, put the chicken into a dish, then pour over the marinade, mixing to coat. Cover, then chill for at least 20 mins, or up to a day if you have time.
  2. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4, and lift the chicken out of the marinade into a roasting tin. Roast for 40 mins, pour over the remaining marinade, then cook for a further 30 mins until golden and sticky. Sprinkle with the spring onion, then serve.

Special Fried Rice With Prawns & Chorizo


A fusion dish that merges Spanish paella with Asian egg fried rice - a great way to get kids to eat vegetables

  • Cooking Time Prep 10 mins
    Cook 18 mins
  • Skill Level Easy
  • Servings Easily doubled
Nutrition per serving
  • Kcalories

    404

  • Protein

    19g

  • Carbs

    45g

  • Fat

    15g

  • Saturates

    4g

  • Fibre

    4g

  • Sugar

    5g

  • Salt

    1.3g

Ingredients
  • 100g basmati rice or long-grain rice
  • 85g frozen peas
  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 50g finely diced chorizo, bacon or ham
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped
  • 3 spring onions, sliced on an angle
  • ½ red pepper, deseeded and chopped
  • good pinch five spice powder
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 100g beansprouts (optional)
  • 50g peeled prawns
Directions
  1. Boil the rice following pack instructions, adding the peas for the final min. Drain.
  2. Heat half the oil in a wok. Pour in the egg and stir-fry until scrambled. Tip onto a plate and set aside.
  3. Wipe the wok with kitchen paper, then heat the remaining oil. Toss in the meat, garlic, spring onions and pepper, and stir-fry until the pepper starts to soften. Add the five-spice, rice, peas and soy, then stir-fry for 5 mins more. Finally add the beansprouts, if using, the egg and prawns, and stir-fry to heat through.

Steamed Pork & Prawn Wontons


Low fat but so impressive - you can find the wrappers in freezer cabinets of Asian food stores or speciality food halls

  • Cooking Time Ready in 45 mins
  • Skill Level Moderately easy
  • Servings Makes 35-40
Nutrition per serving
  • Kcalories

    36

  • Protein

    2g

  • Carbs

    5g

  • Fat

    1g

  • Saturates

    1g

  • Fibre

    1g

  • Sugar

    1g

  • Salt

    0.46g

Ingredients
  • 175g minced pork
  • 85g peeled prawns, thawed if frozen and finely chopped
  • 2 spring onions, chopped small
  • 2 fat garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tsp grated root ginger or purée
  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 5 water chestnuts (from a can), drained and finely chopped
  • about 36 wonton wrappers, 9cm square, thawed if frozen
  • large lettuce leaves, or baking parchment, for steaming
  • For the dipping sauce
  • 2 tbp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp dry sherry
  • 2 tsp grated fresh root ginger, or purée
  • shreds of spring onion or sesame seeds, to garnish
Directions
  1. Mix together the pork, prawns, spring onions, garlic, ginger, oyster sauce, oil and water chestnuts.
  2. Peel off a wonton wrapper and, with a pastry brush, lightly brush round the outside with cold water. Place 1 tsp of mixture in the centre and scrunch up into a pouch, squeezing to seal. Do not overfill. Repeat until you have around 35-40. (These can be chilled for up to 1 hr on a tray lined with baking parchment.)
  3. For the sauce, mix together the soy sauce, sherry and ginger in a small bowl. To steam, bring a large pan of water to the boil. Line a bamboo or metal steaming basket with lettuce leaves to fit.
  4. Arrange half the pouches in the basket (without them touching), cover and steam for 5 mins. Remove with tongs to a platter and steam the rest-check the water level. Serve, sprinkled with spring onion or sesame seeds, with the bowl of sauce.

Stir-Fried Greens With Oyster Sauce


A great side dish for a DIY Chinese take-away, or an filling quick meal.

  • Cooking Time Ready in around 10 minutes
  • Skill Level Easy
  • Servings Serves 3
Nutrition per serving
  • Kcalories

    -

  • Protein

    -

  • Carbs

    -

  • Fat

    -

  • Saturates

    -

  • Fibre

    -

  • Sugar

    -

  • Salt

    -

Ingredients
  • 100g vermicelli rice noodles
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp fish sauce
  • 3 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 2 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 4 chopped spring onions
  • 3 chopped garlic cloves
  • 1 deseeded and chopped red chilli
  • 100g thinly sliced shiitake or chestnut mushrooms
  • 200g broccoli florets
  • 2 roughly chopped heads of pak choi
Directions
  1. Soak the rice vermicelli in boiling water for 4 minutes. Drain, refresh under cold water, drain again and set aside.
  2. Mix soy, fish sauce and oyster sauce in a bowl. Heat the sunflower oil in a large wok, add spring onions, chopped garlic cloves and the deseeded and chopped chilli.
  3. Stir fry for 20 seconds before adding the thinly sliced shiitake or chestnut mushrooms and broccoli florets. Stir fry for 1 minute, then add the pak choi and the sauce mixture. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes over a high heat, adding a splash of water if the sauce becomes too thick.
  4. Tip in the noodles, remove from the heat and toss to mix well. Serve in warmed bowls and tuck in with your chopsticks.

Chinese Noodles With Tofu & Hazelnuts


Exciting flavours permeate this easy veggie recipe

  • Cooking Time Ready in around 25 mins
  • Skill Level Easy
  • Servings Serves 4
Nutrition per serving
  • Kcalories

    431

  • Protein

    18g

  • Carbs

    50g

  • Fat

    19g

  • Saturates

    2g

  • Fibre

    2g

  • Sugar

    1g

  • Salt

    1.02g

Ingredients
  • 250g packet medium egg noodle
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • handful coriander, roughly chopped
  • 300g mangetout
  • 1 red chilli, seeded and finely chopped
  • handful toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped
  • 349g pack silken tofu, cut into cubes
  • 3 tbsp Chinese yellow beans sauce
Directions
  1. Drop the noodles into a pan of boiling water, cook for 4 mins, then drain. Drizzle over a little oil and mix in half the coriander.
  2. Heat a wok over a medium heat. Pour in the remaining oil, then throw in the mangetout and stir-fry for 2 mins. Add the chilli and cook for 2 mins more until the beans are just tender.
  3. Tip the hazelnuts, tofu and yellow bean sauce into the wok and stir to warm through. Finally, stir in the remaining coriander, season if you want to, and serve with the noodles.

8/14/2014

Oriental Egg Fried Rice


Sara Buenfeld's fast and easy fried rice makes for a delicious Chinese supper

  • Cooking Time Prep 20 mins - 30 mins
  • Skill Level Easy
  • Servings Serves 4
Nutrition per serving
  • Kcalories

    -

  • Protein

    -

  • Carbs

    -

  • Fat

    -

  • Saturates

    -

  • Fibre

    -

  • Sugar

    -

  • Salt

    -

Ingredients
  • a mugful of American long grain rice
  • a cupful of frozen peas
  • 2 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 2 back bacon rashers, roughly chopped
  • 1 small red pepper, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 heaped tsp Chinese five-spice powder
Directions
  1. Fill a roomy saucepan with water, bring to the boil and tip in a heaped teaspoon of salt-the water will bubble furiously. Pour in the rice, stir once and return to the boil, then turn the heat down a little so that the water is boiling steadily, but not vigorously.
  2. Boil uncovered, without stirring (this makes for sticky rice) for 10 minutes. After 8 minutes, throw in the frozen peas, boil for 2 minutes and drain (don't rinse).
  3. Heat the sunflower oil in a wok and stir fry the bacon for 3-4 minutes until crisp. Tip in the red pepper and the garlic cloves and stir fry for 2 minutes.
  4. Beat the eggs, pour into the pan and stir fry until the egg just sets. Toss in the Chinese 5-spice

Sweet & Sour Chicken


This homemade sweet and sour sauce is so much better than a takeaway. Great with rice or noodles

  • Cooking Time Prep 15 mins - 20 mins
    Cook 20 mins
  • Skill Level Easy
  • Servings Serves 4
Nutrition per serving
  • Kcalories

    522

  • Protein

    27g

  • Carbs

    31g

  • Fat

    33g

  • Saturates

    6g

  • Fibre

    2g

  • Sugar

    4g

  • Salt

    2.9g

Ingredients
  • 2-3 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts, (about 400g/14oz total weight)
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • groundnut or sunflower oil, for deep frying, plus extra for stir-frying
  • tempura batter (see below)
  • 1 small red pepper, cored, deseeded and roughly chopped
  • 1 medium carrot, sliced thinly on the diagonal
  • 2 fat garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 tsp finely chopped fresh root ginger
  • For the sauce
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 3 tbsp sherry
  • 1 tbsp light soft brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cornflour
Directions
  1. Cut the chicken into small chunks and mix with the soy sauce and sesame oil. In a jug or bowl, mix together the sauce ingredients with 100ml cold water. Line a large plate with kitchen paper.
  2. Heat the groundnut oil in a deep-fat fryer to about 180C. Then dip a few chunks of chicken at a time into the batter, then place in the hot oil using tongs or a slotted spoon, but don't crowd the pan. Fry until crisp and golden-about 2 mins. You may need to do this in batches, so reheat the oil each time. As the chunks cook, lift out with tongs/spoon to the paper-lined plate to drain.
  3. Heat a wok to hot, add about 3 tbsp oil and stir-fry the vegetables with the garlic and ginger for about 3 mins. Give the sauce a quick final stir and pour into the wok, mixing as it cooks to a light glossy sauce. Bubble for 1 min, then spoon over the chicken and serve.

Chinese-Style Wintery Rolls


With a little effort, and help from Gordon Ramsay, you can prepare really a special start to your dinner party

  • Cooking Time Prep 45 mins
    Cook 15 mins
  • Skill Level For the keen cook
  • Servings Serves 6
Nutrition per serving
  • Kcalories

    369

  • Protein

    7g

  • Carbs

    27g

  • Fat

    27g

  • Saturates

    5g

  • Fibre

    5g

  • Sugar

    7g

  • Salt

    1.76g

Ingredients
  • 1 medium carrot, trimmed
  • 1 medium leek, trimmed, outer leaves removed
  • ½ celeriac or small kohlrabi, peeled
  • 2 sticks celery, trimmed
  • 1 small red onion
  • ½ each red and yellow pepper, cored, deseeded
  • 1 large fresh red chilli, deseeded
  • 2 cm knob fresh root ginger
  • 2 fat garlic cloves
  • 25g bunch coriander, leaves picked
  • 25g bunch flatleaf parsley, leaves picked
  • 2-3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1-2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 100g mung beansprouts or mixed bean sprouts
  • 1 tbsp sesame seed, lightly toasted
  • 6 large spring roll wrappers (about 25cm square)
  • 1 egg white, lightly beaten
  • groundnut or vegetable oil, for deep frying
  • For the dipping sauce
  • draining juices from vegetables (see step 3)
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
Directions
  1. Make the filling. Slice the carrot into long, thin lengths. Then cut into long, thin 'julienne' sticks. Cut the leek into three, halve, then cut into sticks. Slice the celeriac and celery, then cut into julienne sticks as before.
  2. Halve the onion lengthways, then slice thinly. Slice the peppers into sticks. Cut the chilli into thin shreds. Cut the ginger into small julienne sticks and chop the garlic. Mix everything together in a bowl with half the picked herb leaves.
  3. Heat olive oil in a wok until very hot and add half the veg. Toss for 30 secs to wilt, then remove from the heat, season and toss in soy and sesame oil. Drain in a colander set over a bowl. Repeat with remaining veg. Mix in bean sprouts, sesame seeds, remaining herbs and extra soy, if liked.
  4. When the filling has cooled, peel off a spring roll wrapper-it will feel slightly sticky. Cover the remainder with a tea towel. Lay the wrapper on a board and brush the edges with egg white. Spoon a sixth of the vegetables in a line on the top third of the wrapper.
  5. Fold over the top of the wrapper and press well down all round. Fold in the sides, then roll up firmly, pressing the end in well. The roll should be about 18cm long. Repeat process with the remaining filling and wrappers. The rolls can be chilled at this point for up to 3 hrs, uncovered, in the fridge, until ready to cook. (You should only cook the rolls just before you're ready to serve, so that they remain crisp.)
  6. Heat a deep fat fryer or large pan a third full of oil to 180C (or until a cube of bread crisps and turns brown). Deep-fry two rolls at a time for 5 mins until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towel. Mix ingredients for the sauce and pour into 1 larger or six very small bowls. Trim the ends off the rolls, then cut in half diagonally. Serve on one large or six small plates with sauce. Garnish with herb leaves or salad.

Chinese-Style Kale


Give a good ol' British fave an Asian edge with a few simple shakes of the right sauces

  • Cooking Time Prep 5 mins
    Cook 10 mins
  • Skill Level Easy
  • Servings Serves 2 - 3
Nutrition per serving
  • Kcalories

    95

  • Protein

    4g

  • Carbs

    4g

  • Fat

    7g

  • Saturates

    1g

  • Fibre

    3g

  • Sugar

    3g

  • Salt

    2.26g

Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 large garlic clove, sliced
  • 200g bag kale
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
Directions
  1. Heat the oil in a large wok or frying pan, then tip in the garlic and cook for a few secs. Throw in the kale and toss around the pan to coat in the garlicky oil.
  2. Pour over 100ml boiling water and cook for 7 mins more until the kale has wilted and is cooked through.
  3. Stir in the soy and oyster sauces and heat through to serve.