Classic Basil Pesto

Classic Basil Pesto

125ml pine kernels
500ml basil leaves
125ml grated parmesan cheese
3 cloves of garlic, minced
150ml olive oil plus extra
15ml lemon juice
2,5ml salt

Toast the pine kernels in a dry pan.
Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blitz until you have a rough paste.
Spoon the pesto into a glass container and pour some olive oil on top.
Keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Spicy Fried Rice

Spicy Fried Rice

15g butter
15ml olive oil
1 large/2 medium onions, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 carrots, finely diced
50g curry paste (I used Rogan Josh paste – use a milder paste if you are not a fan of heat!!)
30ml tomato paste
500ml cooked rice
45ml soy sauce

Place a large pan over medium-high heat and add the butter and oil.
Add the onion and fry until soft and translucent.
Add the garlic and stir-fry for one minute.
Now add the carrots and fry for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the curry and tomato paste and stir to mix through.
Add the cooked rice and stir until the rice is evenly coated.
Pour in the soy sauce and cook for 2 minutes, until the soy has been absorbed.
Serve warm.

Falafel

Falafel

1 x 400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 onion, finely chopped
a big handful of parsley, chopped
a big handful of coriander leaves, chopped
5ml ground coriander
5ml ground cumin
2,5ml salt
45ml flour
vegetable oil for frying

Add all of the ingredients, except the vegetable oil, to a mixing bowl and blitz together with a stick blender.
Lift the blender often and stir the mixture around – you want everything mixed together but not too fine.
Wet your hands and scoop up 15ml of the mixture. Roll into a ball and place on a tray.
Keep going until you have rolled all of the mixture into balls.
Pour enough oil to come 7cm up the side of a saucepan and allow to heat up.
Fry a few of the falafel balls at a time until beautifully golden and crisp on the outside.
Serve with a dipping sauce as a starter or fill a pita bread with falafel, salad and tzatziki sauce.

How to make Gremolata

How to make Gremolata

62ml pine nuts (or sunflower seeds)
a large bunch of parsley
2 cloves garlic, peeled
the zest of 1 lemon
a pinch of salt
the juice of 1 lemon
45ml olive oil

Place a large frying pan on medium heat and add the pine nuts. Shake the pan over the heat (or stir the seeds around with a spoon) until it starts to toast and change colour.
Remove the seeds from the pan immediately and set aside to cool.
Place the garlic, parsley and half the pine nuts on a chopping board and chop together until very fine.
Add the lemon zest and a pinch of salt and chop again.
Scrape the chopped ingredients into a small bowl and add the rest of the pine nuts to it.
Now add the lemon juice and olive oil and stir together to blend.
Serve the gremolata with rich dishes like oxtail, stew or simply add a bit of zingy crunch to any of your favourite foods.