Haloumi, Courgette and Mint Salad

A light, yet sustaining salad full of zingy flavours.

English

Serves 2

Ingredients
2 courgettes
1 small bunch mint
100g spinach
300g halloumi
sprinkle of chilli flakes
1 lemon
2 tablespoons balsamic syrup
6 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper

Method
Coarsely grate the courgette. Pick the mint leaves off the stalks and cut into thin strips.

Mix the grated courgette, mint, spinach, salt and pepper carefully in a bowl. Slice the halloumi.

Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Brush the halloumi with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with the chilli flakes. Place the halloumi and half a lemon (cut side down) in the pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil and fry the halloumi for 1 -2 minutes on each side and until the lemon flesh has caramelized.

Check the seasoning of the courgette salad and stir in 4 tablespoons olive oil. Transfer to a serving plate and top with the halloumi. Drizzle with 2 tablespoon olive oil, the balsamic syrup and a squeeze of caramelized lemon juice.

Nederlands

voor 2 personen

Ingrediënten
2 courgette
1 klein bosje munt
100g spinazieblaadjes
300g haloumi
mespuntje chilivlokken
1 citroen
2 eetlepels bakje balsamico stroop
6 eetlepels olijfolie
zout en peper

Bereiding
Rasp de courgette grof. Pluk de muntblaadjes en snijd ze in dunne reepjes.

Meng de geraspte courgette, munt, spinazie, zout, peper voorzichtig om in een kom. Snijd de haloumi in plakjes.

Verwarm een anti-aanbakpan op matig hoog vuur. Bestrijk de haloumi met 1 eetlepel olijfolie en bestrooi met chilivlokken. Leg de haloumi en halve citroen (op de snijkant) in de pan met 1 eetlepel olijfolie en bak de haloumi 1 tot 2 minuten aan elke kant, of tot het goudbruin is en het vruchtvlees van de citroen is gekarameliseerd.

Meng de courgettesalade met zout en peper, 4 eetlepels olijfolie en plaats de courgettesalade op het bord en leg de haloumi erop. Besprenkel met 1 eetlepel olijfolie, de balsamicostroop en knijp een paar citroendruppels er overheen.

 


Fish in Parmesan Crust with Courgette and Spinach Salad

A really light and satisfying dinner using only just a few basic ingredients.

Serves 2

English

Ingredients
60g finely grated Parmesan
2 plaice fillets of 150g each (or other white fish)
1 egg
1 red chilli
1 lemon
2 courgettes
75g baby spinach
3 tablespoons sunflower oil
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons flour salt and pepper

Method

Finely chop the red chilli. Using a vegetable peeler, pull thin ribbons from the courgette, making sure to stop once you reach the seeds. Place the courgette ribbons in a bowl.

Place 4 tablespoons flour on to a plate and mix salt and pepper through. Crack an egg on another plate and beat to loosen. Plaice the grated Parmesan on a third plate.

Heat a frying pan over medium heat with 3 tablespoons sunflower oil. Dust the fish through the flour, then dip in the egg and finally in the Parmesan. Fry the fish on both sides until golden.

Dress the courgette with 2 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice and chilli to taste, salt and pepper. Mix through the spinach. Divide the salad between 2 plates, lay the fish on the side and serve.

Nederlands

voor 2 personen

Ingrediënten
60g fijn geraspte Parmezaan
2 scholfilets a 150g per stuk (of een andere witvis)
1 ei
1 rode chilipeper
1 citroen
2 courgettes
75g jonge spinazie
3 eetlepels zonnebloemolie
2 eetlepels olijfolie
4 eetlepels bloem
zout en peper

Bereiding

Snijd de rode chilipeper fijn. Trek met een dunschiller lange slierten van de courgettes totdat je bij de zaadjes komt en doe ze in een kom.

Doe 4 eetlepels bloem op een bord en meng er wat zout en peper doorheen. Breek het ei in een ander bord en klop het los. Doe de geraspte Parmezaan op een derde bord.

Verwarm een koekenpan op medium vuur met 3 eetlepels zonnebloemolie. Haal de vis door de bloem, vervolgens door het ei en daarna door de Parmezaan. Bak de vis, aan elke kant goudbruin.

Maak de courgette aan met 2 eetlepels olijfolie, citroensap en chilipeper naar smaak, zout en peper. Meng de spinazie erdoorheen. Verdeel over 2 borden, leg de vis er naast en serveer.


Cauliflower and Fennel Salad with Preserved Lemon Dressing

This is a fantastic spring salad which is filling enough to be a complete meal. It's also completely vegan.

English

Serves 2

Ingredients
2 fennel bulbs
1 small cauliflower
60g smoked almonds
1/4 preserved lemon
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons agave syrup of coconut sugar
1 container mustard cress
1 bunch watercress
5 tablespoons olive oil
salt and epper

Method
Preheat an oven to 220°C. Cut the cauliflower into large florets and the fennel, lengthways into 6 wedges. Finely slice the garlic.

Place the cut vegetables on a roasting tray and drizzle over 3 tablespoons olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and place in the oven for 20-25 minutes (keep an eye on the vegetables that they don’t get too dark).

Remove the flesh from the preserved lemon and finely chop the skin. Place the garlic, agave or coconut sugar and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a container. Add a splash of water and blend to a dressing with a stick blender.

Coarsely chop the almonds and remove the tough stalks from the watercress.

Remove the vegetables from the oven and gently transfer to a serving platter. Scatter the watercress over the vegetables and spoon over the dressing. Snip the mustard cress and sprinkle over the warm salad together with the smoked almonds.

Nederlands

2 personen

Ingrediënten
2 venkel
1 klein bloemkooltje
60g gerookte amandelen
1/4 stuk ingemaakte citroen
2 teentjes knoflook
2 theelepels agave of kokossuiker
1 bakje tuinkers
1 bos waterkers
5 eetlepels olijfolie
zout en peper

Bereiding
Warm de oven voor op 220 C. Snijd de bloemkool in grove stukken en de venkel over de lengte in 6 parten. Snijd knoflookteentjes in plakjes.

Leg de gesneden groenten op een ovenplaat en sprenkel er 3 eetlepels olijfolie overheen. Bestrooi met zout en peper. Zet plaat in de oven voor 20-25 minuten (houd goed in de gaten of het niet te donker wordt).

Verwijder het vruchtvlees van de ingemaakte citroen en snijd ¼ van de citroen fijn. Doe de knoflook, citroen, agave of kokossuiker, 2 eetlepels olijfolie in een bakje. Verdun met wat water en maak er een dressing van met een staafmixer of in de blender.

Hak de amandelen grof. Haal de steeltjes van de waterkers.

Haal de groenten uit de oven en schep ze voorzichtig op een schaal. Verdeel wat waterkers over de groenten en lepel de dressing er overheen. Knip de tuinkers los en strooi deze samen met de amandelen over de warme salade en serveer.


Caribbean Cooking Workshop

Bring some tropical sunshine into your home with these Caribbean recipes from one of our popular cooking workshops.

Exotic Avocado Salad

Ingredients
2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
1 ripe papaya
1 ripe avocado
2 bunches trimmed and washed watercress
half small pack fresh mint
juice of half lime
1 tbsp olive oil

Method
Dry-fry the pumpkin seeds in a frying pan for a few minutes, tossing and turning them until they look toasted. Tip them out of the pan and let them go cold. Peel the papayas, halve them lengthways and scoop out the seeds. Cut the flesh into long, thin slices. Halve the avocados and remove the stones, then peel off the skin and slice the flesh lengthways into thin slices.

Put the papayas, avocados, pumpkin seeds and watercress into a large bowl. Chop about 1 tablespoon of the mint leaves and set aside. Pick the remaining leaves from the stalks and tear them into the bowl.

Mix the lime juice and olive oil with the rest of the chopped mint to make a dressing, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Pour over the salad and gently mix all the ingredients together with your hands.

Taste and add more salt and pepper if you think it needs it, then transfer to a serving platter.

 

Jerk Chicken with Rice and Peas

Ingredients
12 chicken thighs, bone in
1 lime, halved
hot sauce, to serve (optional)

For the jerk marinade
1 big bunch spring onions, roughly chopped
thumb-sized piece ginger, roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves
½ a small onion
3 scotch bonnet chillies, deseeded if you want less heat (be careful!! Start with 1)
½ tsp dried thyme, or 1 Tbsp thyme leaves
juice of 1 lime
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp ground allspice

For the rice & peas
200g basmati rice
400g can coconut milk
1 bunch spring onions, sliced
2 large thyme sprigs
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp ground allspice
2 x 410g cans kidney beans, drained

Method
To make the jerk marinade, combine 1 big bunch roughly chopped spring onions, a roughly chopped thumb-sized piece ginger, 3 garlic cloves, ½ small onion, 3 scotch bonnet chillies, deseeded if you like, ½ tsp dried thyme or 1 tbsp thyme leaves, juice of 1 lime, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, 3 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp ground allspice in a food processor along with 1 tsp salt, and blend to a purée.

If you’re having trouble getting it to blend, just keep turning off the blender, stirring the mixture, and trying again. Eventually it will start to blend up – don’t be tempted to add water, as you want a thick paste. Taste the jerk mixture for seasoning – it should taste pretty salty, but not unpleasantly, puckering salty. You can now throw in more chillies if it’s not spicy enough for you. If it tastes too salty and sour, try adding in a bit more brown sugar until the mixture tastes well balanced.

Make a few slashes in 12 chicken thighs and pour the marinade over the meat, rubbing it into all the crevices. Cover and leave to marinate overnight in the fridge. If you want to barbecue your chicken, get the coals burning 1 hr or so before you’re ready to cook. Authentic jerked meats are not exactly grilled as we think of grilling, but sort of smoke-grilled. To get a more authentic jerk experience, add some wood chips to your barbecue, and cook your chicken over slow, indirect heat for 30 mins.

To cook in the oven, heat to 180C. Put the chicken pieces in a roasting tin with 1 halved lime and cook for 45 mins until tender and cooked through.

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the rice & peas. Rinse 200g basmati rice in plenty of cold water, then tip it into a large saucepan. Add 400g can coconut milk, 1 bunch sliced spring onions, 2 large thyme sprigs, 2 finely chopped garlic cloves and 1 tsp ground allspice.

Season with salt, add 300ml cold water and set over a high heat. Once the rice begins to boil, turn it down to a medium heat, cover and cook for 10 mins. Add two 410g cans drained kidney beans to the rice, then cover with a lid. Leave off the heat for 5 mins until all the liquid is absorbed. Squeeze the roasted lime over the chicken and serve with the rice & peas, and some hot sauce if you like it really spicy.

 

Spicy Prawn Skewers

Ingredients
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 red chilli, finely chopped
½ small bunch parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp sweet smoked paprika
½ tsp hot smoked paprika
4 tbsp olive oil
400g raw king prawns, in their shells if you like, or keep the tails on
1 jar Peppadew hot sweet piquanté peppers, drained
lemon wedges, to serve

Method
Whisk the garlic, chilli, parsley, both types of paprika and olive oil together. Stir through the prawns and season well. Cover, put in the fridge and leave to marinate for at least 30 mins before threading on to skewers, interspersing them with a few of the peppers, so that each skewer has about 4-5 prawns.

Heat a grill pan over high heat and grill the skewers for 3-4 mins until pink and opaque. Serve immediately with a squeeze of lemon and plenty of saffron aïoli.

 


Beetroot and Buratta Salad

Serves 2

Ingredients
5 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon Sherry or red wine vinegar
500g pack cooked organic beetroot
1 small baguette
1 ball burrata
1 teaspoon cumin seed
1 small bunch dill
1 stalk rosemary
1 small bunch chervil
125g bull’s blood leaves

Method
Preheat an oven to 180°C. Cut each beetroot into 6 wedges and place in a roasting dish with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper. Place in the oven for 15 minutes.

Break the small baguette into crumbs and finely chop the rosemary. Add both ingredients to a bowl with 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and 1 tablespoon sherry or red wine vinegar.

Heat a frying pan over medium heat with 2 tablespoons olive oil and fry the breadcrumbs until golden brown. Place in a bowl and set aside.

Fry ¾ of the bull’s blood in 1 tablespoon olive oil for 10 seconds, season with salt and pepper. Pick the chervil leaves and finely chop the dill. Mix the beetroot together with the herbs and season with salt and pepper.

Divide the bulls blood between 2 plates and spoon the beetroot on top. Tear the burrata between the 2 plates, laying it on top and finish with the uncooked bulls blood leaves.


Sophie Eats

Sophie Eats is a new deli that has opened up in Amsterdam's Rivierenbuurt.

Sophie trained at Leith's in London and started catering from a shared kitchen in the city. She has quickly built up an name and good reputation for food that not only tastes good but looks beautiful too.

She recently realised her dream of opening her own deli where she serves her delicious cakes, salads and great coffee, alongside the fact that she now has her own kitchen from which to do all her catering.

Visit her beautiful deli. It's friendly, warm and inviting, just like Sophie is in person.

 

 


Panzanella

As we near the end of summer, tomatoes are at their ripest and best. Keep cool yet satisfied on a warm day with this delicious and flavourful salad Italian bread salad.

Serves 2

Ingredients
1 tin tomatoes
2 red peppers
700 g mixed coloured tomatoes
2 ciabatta rolls or 1 ciabatta bread
1 bunch basil
1 ball buffalo mozzarella
4 tablespoons olive oil (4 tablespoons)
red wine- or Sherry vinegar (to taste)
salt
pepper

Method
1
Preheat the oven to 220 °C. Place the peppers in a roasting tray and roast until black. Alternatively, blacken over an open flame on a gas stove. Transfer to a bowl and cover with cling film. Allow to stand for a few minutes.
2
Lower the oven temperature to 180 °C. Cut the ciabatta into rough cubes. Place them in a roasting tray and bake in the oven until they have dried out and are crunchy. Set aside to cool.
3
Place the tinned tomatoes in a bowl and blend until smooth using a stick blender. Season with salt, pepper, red wine- or sherry vinegar and the olive oil. This dressing should be slightly too sour.
4
Peel the peppers; discard the seeds and slice into strips. The juices that have been released from the peppers can be added to the dressing. Slice the tomatoes into wedges.
5
Pick the basil leaves from the stalks. Tear the mozzarella into pieces. Mix the ciabatta cubes, tomatoes, peppers and basil in a bowl with the dressing. Season with salt and pepper.
6
Divide the salad between two plates and top with the torn mozzarella.


Tequila Chicken

Bring the sun home with this exciting and easy way with chicken. An ideal dinner idea for during the week.

Serves 2

Ingredients
4 bone-in chicken thighs
2 limes
1 green chilli pepper
2 cloves garlic
1 small bunch coriander
2 ruby grapefruit
1 small bunch mint
1 bunch watercress
1 bunch French radishes
75 ml Tequila
2 tablespoons olive oil (2 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon whole grain mustard (1 teaspoon)
salt
pepper

Method
1
Preheat an oven to 220°C. Rinse the limes. Finely chop the chilli, garlic and coriander. Grate the zest from the limes.
2
Place the chicken thighs in a bowl with the lime zest, garlic, coriander and chilli. Squeeze the juice of 1 lime over the chicken and add the tequila, salt and pepper. Mix all the ingredients well together.
3
Place the chicken thighs in a roasting dish and roast in the oven for 30-35 minutes.
4
Peel the grapefruit and thinly slice. Pick the mint leaves, cut the stalks off the watercress and remove the leaves from the radishes. Wash the radishes and cut lengthways in quarters. Add them to the watercress along with the mint leaves and grapefruit slices.
5
Mix 2 tablespoons olive oil with 1 teaspoon grain mustard and the juice from the remaining lime; mix through the salad. Divide between 2 plates, lay the chicken on top and serve.


Lentil Salad with Avocado and Goats Cheese

A delicious salad which combines both the end of winter and beginning of spring.

Serves 2

Ingredients
200g puy lentils
1 shallot
2 cloves garlic
1 bunch carrots
2 sticks celery
1,5 teaspoons caraway seeds
3 sprigs thyme
2 avocado's
1oo g soft goats cheese
75 g purslane
7 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine- or sherry vinegar
Salt and pepper

Method
1
Preheat an oven to 230° C. Finely chop 1 carrot, the shallot, garlic cloves and celery sticks. Peel the remaining carrots and cut lengthways in half. Place on a roasting tray with 3 tablespoons olive oil, salt, pepper and the caraway seeds and roast for 15 minutes.
2
Heat a pan over medium heat with 2 tablespoons olive oil and sweat the shallot, carrot and celery for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and fry for a further 1 minute. Add the thyme and lentils and enough water until the lentils are covered. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for about 15 minutes until the lentils are al dente.
3
Drain off any excess liquid and return the lentils to the pan. Season with 2 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons red wine – or sherry vinegar, salt and pepper. Set aside to cool off slightly.
4
Peel the avocado's and slice thinly. Crumble the goat’s cheese and remove any hard stalks from the purslane.
5
Mix the purslane through the lentils and spoon on to a plate. Place the sliced avocado on the side and top with the roasted carrots. Sprinkle over the crumbled goats cheese and serve.


Coconut Lime Chicken with Rice

An easy and healthy dish which is light and full of zingy flavours. A satisfying weekday recipe.

Serves 2

Ingredients
150g  jasmine rice
400 g chicken thighs, boned
2 baby gem lettuce
1 small tin coconut milk
2 limes
15 g mint
1 red chilli pepper
olive oil (3 tablespoons)
salt
pepper
fish sauce

Method
1
Preheat the oven to 200° C. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil. Add the rice and cook for 10 minutes. Drain the rice off through a sieve; add a small amount of water to the pan. Set the sieve over the pan, cover with a lid and allow the rice to steam over a low heat.
2
Finely chop the red chilli. Place the chicken in a bowl, drizzle over 2 tablespoons olive oil, season with salt and pepper, squeeze over the juice from the lime and add half he chopped chilli. Heat a grill pan over high heat and grill the chicken thighs on both sides. Place the chicken in a roasting dish and roast in the oven for 20 minutes.
3
Finely chop the mint. In a bowl, mix together 120 ml coconut milk, the juice of half the second lime, fish sauce to taste, the chopped mint and remaining chopped chilli. Click the leaves off the baby gem lettuce.
4
Lay the baby gem leaves in a serving bowl. Spoon the rice on top. Slice the chicken diagonally into pieces and place on top of the rice. Spoon over the coconut dressing and serve.