Sweet-and-Sour Beef Stir-Fry

Sweet-and-Sour Beef Stir-Fry

1kg beef strips
3 leeks, sliced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
3 red sweet peppers, sliced into strips
83ml sugar
83ml apple cider vinegar
45ml pineapple juice, reserved from the tin of pineapple pieces
45ml tomato sauce/ketchup
15ml Worcestershire sauce
15ml soy sauce
20ml cornstarch
125ml water
1 x 400g tin of pineapple pieces
a handful of sliced spring onions
a handful of black sesame seeds

Place a saucepan onto medium-high heat and brown the beef strips in batches. Set aside.
Add a splash of vegetable oil to the saucepan and add the leeks and garlic. Stir-fry until the leeks are soft.
Add the red peppers and cook for another 3 minutes.
Mix together the sugar, vinegar, pineapple juice, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, soy, cornstarch and water and give it a good whisk.
Add the sauce to the sauce pan and allow to come to a simmer.
Now add the beef strips and pineapple pieces and cook for about 15 minutes while stirring every now and then.
Sprinkle the spring onion and sesame seeds over and serve on rice.

Orzotto Alla Norma

Orzotto Alla Norma

This is my take on this classic Italian dish….!

2 aubergine
olive oil
250g cherry tomatoes
1 red onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 x 400g tins of chopped tomato
15ml thyme, chopped
300g orzo pasta
100g parmesan cheese, grated
1 burrata cheese or a few small mozzarella balls

Preheat your oven to 200℃ and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
Slice the aubergine into discs about 5mm thick, spread them out on the prepared baking sheet and drizzle with a generous amount of olive oil.
Scatter the cherry tomatoes over the aubergine slices and bake in the oven for about 25 minutes.
Place a saucepan on medium-high heat and add some olive oil.
Fry the onion and garlic until soft.
Add the chopped tomato and thyme and season with salt and pepper.
Simmer the sauce for 15 minutes while stirring occasionally.
Cook the orzo according to packet instructions.
Drain and add it to the tomato sauce.
Add the grated parmesan and stir through.
Spoon the orzo into a serving dish and top with the aubergine, roasted tomato and burrata.