Caramelized Onion and Cardamom Chicken with Rice

This recipe is inspired by one of favourite authors and chefs, Yotam Ottolenghi.

Serves 4

Ingredients
2 onions, thinly sliced
6 Tablespoons olive oil
8 chicken thighs, bone in and skin on
salt and pepper
10 cardamom pods
1/4 teaspoon cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
300 g basmati rice
600 ml boiling water
small bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped
small bunch dill, chopped
small bunch coriander leaves, chopped
50 g raisins
100 g Greek yoghurt seasoned with 2 Tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper, to serve

Method
Heat a (Le Creuset) casserole pan over medium heat with 2 Tablespoons olive oil and sauté the onion for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the onion has caramelised and turned a deep golden brown. Transfer the onion to a small bowl and wipe the pan clean.

Meanwhile, place the chicken thighs in a bowl with a good seasoning of salt and pepper. Add 2 Tablespoons olive oil, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. Mix everything well together. Heat the casserole pan with the remaining 2 Tablespoons olive oil and brown the chicken (with the spices) for 5 minutes on each side until a lovely golden colour. Remove the chicken from the pan, leaving the oil and the loose spices in the pan. Add the rice and toast off for 1-2 minutes. Add the caramelised onions, salt and pepper to taste and the raisins. Stir well and then add the chicken thighs, pushing them well into the rice.

Pour over the boiling water, cover the pan and cook over a very low heat for about 30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Take the pan off the heat, cover with a clean tea towel, replace the lid and allow to to steam for 10 minutes. Scatter the herbs over the disk and loosen the rice with a fork. Taste if more salt and pepper is needed. Serve with the yoghurt.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Guinea Fowl With Curried Cabbage

Guinea fowl is a more posh version of chicken. It's quick to prepare and healthy. Try this great spring recipe for a mid-week meal.

Serves 4

Ingredients
4 guinea fowl breasts
olive oil
20 g butter
salt and pepper

Curried Cabbage
2 small hispe cabbages, finely sliced
2 shallots, finely sliced
20 g butter
1 tablespoon mild curry powder
50 ml Noilly Prat
100 ml cream
salt and pepper

Method
Preheat the oven to 180 C. Heat a frying pan over medium high heat with 2 tablespoons olive oil and the butter. Season the guinea fowl breasts with salt and pepper. Fry the guinea fowl, skin side down, for 2-3 minutes until the skin is golden and crispy. Turn over and fry for a further 1-1 1/2 minutes on the flesh side. Transfer to a roasting dish, pour over all the juices from the pan and roast for about 12 minutes in the preheated oven.

In the meantime and using the same frying pan, add another 20 grams butter to the pan and ffry the shallots for 3 minutes. Add the cabbage and fry for 3 minutes. Add the curry powder and fry for 1 minute to cook the spices out.

Add the Noilly Prat and cook until almost all the liquid has evaporated. Add the cream, bring to the boil and simmer over a medium to low heat until the cream has thickened slightly. Season with salt and pepper.

Take the guinea fowl out of the oven and rest for 5 minutes.

Divide the cabbage between 4 plates. Lay a guinea fowl breast on top of each, spoon over the juices and serve.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Chicken Tikka Masala

This is one of our favourite 'Indian' dishes. It's easy to make with readily available ingredients and it's always a crowd pleaser. We say Indian in inverted commas, as it's origins are not quite known. It's thought that it originated in Glasgow in the 1970's. The story goes: "On a typical dark, wet Glasgow night a bus driver coming off shift came in to the Shish Mahal restaurant and ordered a chicken curry. He sent it back to the waiter saying it was dry. At the time the owner had an ulcer and was enjoying a plate of tomato soup. So he said to the chefs why not put some tomato soup into the curry with some spices. It was sent back to the table and the bus driver absolutely loved it. He and his friends came back again and again and since then it was put on the menu."

Serves 4

Ingredients
sunflower oil
2 large onions, peeled and sliced
1 red or green chilli
5 cm piece fresh ginger, peeled
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 teaspoons garam masala
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 small tin tomato puree
2 tins peeled tomatoes
1 kg boned and skinned chicken thighs, cut into cubes
10 curry leaves (optional)
4-6 tablespoons natural yoghurt
bunch fresh coriander, chopped
steamed rice, naan bread and poppadums, to serve

Method
Finely slice the onion. Heat 2 tablespoons sunflower oil in a pan. Add the onions and fry on a medium-low heat for a good 15-20 minutes until they become soft and caramelised. In the meantime, deseed and chop the chilli, ginger and garlic. Add to the pan with the onions and fry for a further 2 minutes.

Add the chilli powder, turmeric, garam masala and sugar to the onions and fry for 1-2 minutes. Add the the tomato puree and fry for a further 1-2 minutes. Add the tinned tomatoes and simmer for about 10 minutes. Place the sauce in a bowl or a jug and blend with a Bamix (stick blender) until smooth.

Add 1 tablespoon sunflower oil to the same pan you cooked the sauce in and fry the chicken pieces until lightly coloured, about 5 minutes. Pour in the blended sauce and curry leaves, if using, and some salt and simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes until the chicken in cooked through and tender.

Stir the yoghurt and half the coriander through the tikka masala. Garnish with the remaining coriander and serve with steamed rice, naan breads and/or poppadums.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Chicken and Aubergine Curry

Ingredients
2 onions, peeled and cut into chunks
5 cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
6 tablespoons sunflower oil
500 g boned and skinned chicken thighs, cut into 4 cm cubes
salt and pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons garam masala
1 tin chopped tomatoes
200 ml coconut milk
2 aubergines, cut into cubes
small bunch fresh coriander

Method
Place the onions, ginger and garlic in a Magimix (food processor) and blend until finely chopped.

Heat a heavy based casserole over medium heat with 3 tablespoons sunflower oil and sweat the onion mixture for about 10 minutes until it turns a light golden colour.

Add the chicken and fry for a few more minutes until lightly coloured. Add salt, to taste, the ground cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper and garam masala. Fry for 1-2 minutes to cook the spices out.

Add the tinned tomatoes and coconut milk and simmer gently for about 20 minutes until the chicken has cooked through.

Heat a frying pan over high heat with the remaining 3 tablespoons sunflower oil and fry the aubergines until golden brown and tender. Season with salt and pepper. Add half the aubergine to the curry about 10 minutes into the cooking time.

To serve, scatter the remaining aubergine and coriander over the chicken curry. Serve with steamed basmati rice, cucumber and mint raita, papadums or naan bread.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Club Sandwich - Amsterdam Flavours Style

All too often, we are served sandwiches consisting of limp bread and flavourless, uninspiring fillings. So, we've taken it upon ourselves to change all that and show you with just a little care and attention, that a sandwich and be exciting and leave you wanting more.

Serves 3

Ingredients
9 slices white spelt bread
2 free range or organic chicken breasts
100 g smokey bacon rashers
2 avocados
1 small red onion
50 g rocket
mayonnaise, for spreading
salt and pepper
olive oil

Method
Heat a grill pan over high heat and grill the bread on both sides. Halve the avocados, remove the stone and scoop out the flesh into a bowl. Mash roughly using a fork and season with a squeeze of lemon juice, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Finely slice the onion and halve the chicken breasts horizontally, seasoning with salt and pepper.

Heat a frying pan over medium heat with a drizzle of olive oil and fry the bacon until crispy. Remove on to a plate. Fry the chicken in the same pan with the bacon fat for about 3 minutes on each side.

Lay out the slices of grilled bread. Spread the mashed avocado on the first layer and top with the crispy bacon. On the second slice of bread, spread generously with mayonnaise. Top with a handful of rocket leaves and some red onion. Slice the chicken breasts and lay them on top.

Place the chicken layer on top of the avocado layer, topping the sandwich off with the remaining grilled bread and securing it with a skewer.

Serve on wooden board or plates and dig in!

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Gravy

This is a recipe we've adapted from Jamie Oliver for making your gravy ahead of time. It's really brilliant!

Makes 1 litre

Ingredients
2 celery sticks, trimmed and roughly chopped
2 carrots, roughly sliced
2 onions, peeled and quartered
5 fresh bay leaves
5 fresh sage leaves
4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
2 star anise
2 rashers of smoked streaky bacon
8 chicken wings
olive oil
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons plain flour
60 ml port
2 heaped dessert spoons cranberry sauce, for finishing

Method
Preheat the oven to 200º C. Put the vegetables, herbs and star anise into a roasting tray. Scatter the bacon on top. Cut the chicken wings in half to help release more of their flavour. Put them in the pan, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle over a few pinches of salt and pepper then toss everything together and put the tray in the oven to cook for 1 hour, or until the meat is tender and falling off the bone.

Take the pan out of the oven, and put it on a hob over a low heat and use a potato masher break everything up. Keep mashing, moving and scraping all the goodness from the bottom of the pan as you go. Gradually mix in the flour to thicken the mixture. The longer you let everything fry, the darker your gravy will be. When the flour is combined add the port and cook until it has almost all but disappeared. Pour in 2 litres of hot water, turn the heat up and bring to the boil for 10 minutes, till thickened, then turn down the heat and simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

When it's reached the consistency you're looking for, check the seasoning then push it through a sieve into a large bowl. Really push and mash everything through so you get as much flavour as possible. Discard anything left behind. Once it has cooled down to room temperature put it into containers or freezer bags and pop it in your freezer. You'll finish it off on Christmas Day.

Finishing the gravy
To finish the gravy, take your it out of the freezer when you're ready to cook your turkey. That way, it will defrost as your turkey cooks. When the turkey is perfectly cooked, put a carving fork inside the cavity and use that to pick the bird up and tilt it over the pan so all of the juices inside run out.

Spoon away as much of the fat as possible, then pour your pre-made gravy into the pan with the rest of the turkey juices. Bring it to the boil over the hob and scrape all those flavourful bits and pieces from the bottom of the pan. Have a taste then add the cranberry sauce. It won't taste sweet but it will add a wicked background flavour.

Once your gravy is piping hot, strain it through a sieve and into a pan. Leave that on the lowest heat to keep warm until you're ready to serve. Skim away any fat that rises to the top and add any extra resting juices from the turkey before serving.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Duck Salad with Preserved Lemon Aioli

Serves 4

Ingredients
4 duck breasts
salt and pepper
2 oranges, peeled and segmented
small bunch of radishes, finely sliced
75 g lamb's lettuce
1 container pea shoots
1 container beetroot cress

Preserved Lemon Aioli
75-100 g preserved lemon (or to taste)
1 large clove garlic
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon lemon juice
salt
250 ml sunflower oil

Dressing
2 tablespoons orange juice
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2-4 teaspoons honey (or to taste)

Method
Preheat the oven to 180 C. Begin with the aioli. Finely chop the preserved lemon and garlic. Place in a magimix (food processor) with the egg yolks, lemon juice and salt, to taste. Blend until the mixture is smooth. With the motor running, slowly pour the sunflower oil in until the ingredients have emulsified and formed a mayonnaise. Check the seasoning and set aside.

Place all the dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine.

Score the fat of the duck diagonally with a small sharp knife, making sure you don't cut into the meat. Season with salt and pepper. Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium-low heat and fry the duck, fat side down in a dry pan to render as much of the fat of as you can.

As the fat accumulates, carefully pour it off into a bowl. After about 5 minutes when the fat has cooked away and has turned golden brown, increase the heat of the pan to high, flip the duck over and fry on the meat side for 1 minute. Transfer to a roasting dish. Place in the oven for about 8 minutes. You want the duck to still be pink. Remove from the oven and rest for about 5 minutes.

Place a spoonful of the aioli on the base of each plate, spreading it out a little. Arrange the orange segments, radishes and lamb's lettuce on top. Slice the duck breasts and arrange them on top. Drizzle with the orange dressing, top with the pea shoots and beetroot cress and serve.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Guinea Fowl with Pumpkin Sauce and Roast Beetroot

Serves 4

Ingredients
4 guinea fowl breasts
olive oil,
salt and pepper
mixed cress to garnish

Beetroot
2kg mixed beetroot, washed
olive oil
garlic cloves, skin on
beriyani spices
coarse sea salt and black pepper

Pumpkin Sauce
3 tablespoons olive oil
500g guinea fowl trimmings or carcasses
1 shallot, finely chopped
300 g pumpkin or butternut squash, cut into cubes
50 ml Cabernet Sauvignon vinegar
200 ml sweet white wine
1 bouquet garni (parsley, thyme, bay leaf, celery)
1 vanilla pod, split lengthways
3 star anise
500 ml chicken or vegetable stock
40 g butter
salt and pepper

Method
Peel the beetroot and lay in a roasting tray. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with the beriyani spices and drizzle with the olive oil. Scatter over the garlic cloves.

Place in a 180°C oven for at least and hour, depending on the size of the beetroot, until tender. Keep warm.

Peel the beetroot and lay in a roasting tray. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with the beriyani spices and drizzle with the olive oil. Scatter over the garlic cloves.

Place in a 180°C oven for at least and hour, depending on the size of the beetroot, until tender. Keep warm.

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and add the guineafowl trimmings or carcasses and brown over a medium-high heat. Pour out any excess fat. Add the shallot and pumpkin and sweat over low heat for about 5 minutes.  Add the vinegar and reduce by about half. Add the sweet white wine and reduce until only one-third of the liquid remains. Add the bouquet garni, vanilla pod, star anise and stock. Simmer over low heat for about 45 minutes. Work through a sieve into a clean plan, pushing the  soft pumpkin through. Whisk the butter in over a low heat and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Season the guinea fowl with salt and pepper. Heat a frying pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil and fry the guinea fowl breasts, skin-side down, until golden brown. Turn over on to the meat side and fry for a further 1 minute. Transfer to an oven tray.

Place the guinea fowl in the oven for 10-12 minutes until just cooked. Remove from the oven and allow t rest, loosely covered with aluminium foil for 5 minutes.

Slice the guinea fowl breasts. Place a pool of sauce on each plate. Lay the sliced guineafowl on top and the beetroot to the side. Garnish with a few mixed cress.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken

Serves 2

Ingredients
Salad
2 chicken breasts
1 ciabatta roll
3 baby gem lettuces
1 tin anchovies, use as many as you like in the salad
50-75 g Parmesan, grated
olive oil

Dressing
150 ml sunflower oil
25 ml olive oil
10 ml fresh lemon juice
2 ml salt
5 ml sugar
few drops tobasco sauce
25-50 ml red wine or rice vinegar
2 ml Dijon mustard
1-2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 egg yolks
salt freshly ground black pepper

Method
Begin with the dressing. Put all ingredients, except oils in a blender and mix. Slowly add the oils until emulsified. If too thick, thin with a little water.

Preheat the oven to 180° C. Cut the ciabatta into 3 cm cubes and place in a roasting tray. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with a little sea salt. Mix the ingredients together and bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and crunchy.

Slice the chicken breasts lengthways in half. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Slice off the bottom end of the baby gem and discard. Separate the leaves, rinse them gently under cold running water and dry off in a clean tea towel or in a salad spinner.

Place a grill pan over a high heat. Grill the chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes on each side until they are golden and cooked through.

Using a large bowl, mix together the salad leaves, dressing, anchovies, croutons and ¾ of the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper.

Divide the salad between 2 plates. Lay 2 chicken breast halves on each salad and finish by scattering with the remaining Parmesan.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours


Duck Confit

Ingredients
4 duck legs
100 g coarse sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 head garlic, separated into cloves
8 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves, crumbled
700g duck or goose fat

Method
Rub the duck legs with the coarse sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, one crushed garlic clove, four sprigs of thyme and the bay leaves. Pack tightly into a ceramic dish, skin side down, then drizzle over the brandy, cover the dish with cling film and leave to marinate in the fridge for 24 hours.

Preheat the oven to 150C. Scrape the marinade off the duck pieces.

Heat the duck or goose fat in a heavy ovenproof casserole dish, then add the duck, the remaining garlic cloves and the remaining thyme. Make sure that the duck is completely submerged in the melted fat.
Transfer the dish to the oven and bake for 3½-4 hours, or until the meat is very tender when pierced with a skewer and the fat in the skin is completely rendered.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool uncovered. Strain half of the fat and bring to the boil in another pan, then pour into a clean ceramic dish large enough to hold the duck without it touching the sides. Leave to set in the fridge.
Once the duck is cool, place into the prepared ceramic dish and strain over the remainder of the melted fat and place into the fridge for 1-2 hours to set. (This can be stored in the fridge for up to one month.)
To serve, preheat the oven to 200C. Scrape off the fat from the duck legs, then place into a roasting tray. Roast in the oven for 40 minutes, or until the skin is crisp and golden-brown. Serve immediately.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours