lunch ideas – Page 4 – My Whisk and I

Red Sorghum Salad

February 1, 2024January 31, 2024by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

250ml uncooked sorghum
250ml black olives, pips taken out and quartered
250ml cubed feta cheese
500ml cubed tomato
a bunch of basil, shredded
125ml mayonnaise
30ml chilli oil (or regular olive oil)
15ml lemon juice

Cook the sorghum according to the packet instructions and allow to cool completely.
Add the sorghum, olives, feta, tomato and basil to a bowl and mix together.
Add the mayonnaise, chilli oil and lemon juice to a small bowl and whisk together until amalgamated.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad and mix to serve.

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Curried Eggs

January 30, 2024January 30, 2024by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

8 eggs
60ml vegetable oil
10ml mustard seeds
7 cardamom pods, cracked
5ml fennel seeds
4 cloves of garlic, minced
10ml minced ginger
1 red chilli, finely sliced
2 red onions, chopped
12 curry leaves
30ml ground coriander
10ml chilli powder
5ml turmeric
30ml sugar
15ml salt
1 x 400g tin of chopped tomato
300ml coconut milk
chilli oil, to garnish
coriander leaves

Fill a saucepan with water and place it over high heat. Add the eggs once the water boils and cook for 6 minutes. Plunge the eggs into cold water. Peel and keep on the side.
Pour the vegetable oil into a pan set over medium-high heat and add the mustard seeds. Wait for the seeds to start spluttering.
Add the cardamom, fennel seeds, garlic, ginger, chilli, onions and curry leaves.
Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Now add the coriander, chilli powder, turmeric, sugar and salt and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the tomato and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring every now and then.
Pour in the coconut milk and taste the sauce – adjust the seasoning to your taste.
Place the eggs in the sauce and heat through.
Serve the eggs on rice with lashings of sauce, a drizzle of chilli oil and fresh coriander leaves.

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Crispy Potato Cakes with Smoked Chicken and Grapes

January 21, 2024January 20, 2024by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

500g potatoes, peeled, cooked and mashed
60g butter, melted
1 egg yolk

Topping:
15ml horseradish
60ml mayonnaise
60ml sour cream
5ml finely grated lemon rind
300g smoked chicken, sliced
1 small bunch of chives, chopped
red grapes, halved
cucumber strips

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and line a baking sheet with aluminium foil. Spray the foil with cooking spray and set aside.
Add the mashed potato, butter and egg yolk to a mixing bowl and stir together.
Season with salt and pepper and mix again.
Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions.
Roll each portion into a ball and flatten it to a 7cm diameter disc.
Place the potato cakes on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake in the oven for 17 minutes, very gently flip them over and bake for another 17 minutes until golden.
Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

Topping:
Add the horseradish, mayo, sour cream, lemon rind, chopped chives and a pinch of salt to a bowl and mix together.

Place the potato cakes on a serving platter.
Scoop some of the topping on the cakes and add some of the sliced chicken.
Add some more of the horseradish mixture and top with grapes and cucumber strips.

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Chicken Croutons

January 20, 2024by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

6 slices of regular sandwich bread
60ml vegetable oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
100g grated parmesan cheese
45ml mayonnaise
salad leaves
350g crumbed chicken strips, cooked

Preheat your oven to 180℃ .
Slice each slice of bread into two triangles and roll each triangle flat with a rolling pin.
Pour the vegetable oil into a small bowl and add the garlic to it.
Brush one side of the bread triangle with the garlic oil.
Bring the two widest corners of the bread triangle together, overlap them slightly and secure with a wooden toothpick.
Place the shaped bread on a baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes or until slightly golden but not hard.
Remove from the oven and set aside.
Add the parmesan cheese and mayonnaise to the leftover garlic oil and mix together.
Now scoop some of this mixture onto a salad leave (be generous!) and place a chicken strip on top.
Fold the salad leave so that it fits into the shaped bread slices and serve with drinks.

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Potato Omelette

January 18, 2024by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

45ml olive oil
200g ham, cubed
200g potato, cooked and cubed
50g mushrooms
15ml thyme leaves
5 eggs
100ml milk
1,2ml salt
2 handfuls of croutons
250ml grated cheddar cheese

Preheat your oven to 200℃.
Add the oil to an oven friendly frying pan set over medium-high heat.
Add the cubed ham, potato, mushrooms and thyme and stir-fry until the ingredients become golden on the edges.
Add the eggs, milk, salt and a few grindings of black pepper to a bowl and whisk together.
Turn the heat down to medium and pour the egg mixture into the pan.
Cook the omelette until it sets.
Sprinkle the croutons and cheese over and bake in the oven until cooked.
Serve with a fresh salad on sliced tomato.

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Prawn Paella

January 14, 2024January 14, 2024by Karen Claassen3 Comments

1 onion, chopped
100g chorizo sausage, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 sweet pepper, sliced
300g long grain rice
10ml smoked paprika
1,2litre chicken stock
a pinch of saffron
450g uncooked prawns
100g frozen peas
2 lemons

Place a heavy-base saucepan on medium-high heat and add some oil to it.
Add the onion and chorizo and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
Add the garlic and sweet pepper and cook for another 2 minutes.
Now add the rice, sprinkle over the paprika and stir to cover.
Add a pinch of saffron to the chicken stock and pour the stock into the saucepan.
Add the prawns, stir through and place a lid on. Cook for about 15 minutes or until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is just tender.
Add the peas and cook for another 6-7 minutes without covering.
Season the paella with salt and lemon juice, taste and adjust the seasoning.
Serve the paella with fresh lemon slices.

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Creamy Parmesan Chicken

January 9, 2024January 8, 2024by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

80ml flour
8 chicken breasts, skin and bone removed
vegetable oil
62ml butter
25ml flour
125ml white wine
62ml milk
62ml chicken stock
125ml finely grated parmesan cheese
30ml chopped parsley

Place the chicken on a work surface and dust both sides with the flour and some salt.
Place a saucepan over medium-high heat, add some vegetable oil and brown the breasts to golden brown. Work in batches and keep the browned breasts on the side.
Add the butter and wait for it to melt.
Sprinkle the flour over the butter and stir while cooking for 2-3 minutes.
Add the white wine, milk and chicken stock and stir the mixture until smooth and thickened.
Place the chicken breasts in the sauce, cover with a lid and reduce the heat to a low simmer.
Cook for 20 minutes, turning once or twice.
Remove the lid and sprinkle the parmesan over.
Stir the sauce for another 4 minutes before taking it from the heat.
Sprinkle over the parsley and serve.

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Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce

January 4, 2024by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

1 head of cauliflower
80g butter, melted
5ml salt

Cheese Sauce:
15ml butter
15ml flour
190ml milk
125ml grated cheddar cheese

Preheat your oven to 180℃.
Remove the leaves and cut down the stem of the cauliflower so that it sits without rolling around.
Place the trimmed head on a roasting tray and brush a third of the melted butter onto the bottom section, allowing the butter to run through.
Turn the head upright and brush it all over with the rest of the butter.
Sprinkle with the salt and a few grindings of black pepper.
Now cover the roasting tray with aluminium foil and roast in the oven for 30 minutes.
Remove the foil and brown the cauliflower – about 15 minutes.

For the cheese sauce:
Add the butter to a small saucepan set over medium-high heat and allow it to melt.
Sprinkle over the flour and a pinch of salt and stir to make a paste.
Cook the butter and flour for 2 minutes while stirring, until it reaches a golden colour.
Add the milk and whisk until blended and the sauce has thickened.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the cheese.
Stir until melted.
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning to your taste.
Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower to serve.

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Salmon Rillettes

December 10, 2023July 27, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

1 onion, chopped
250ml dry white wine
750ml water
5ml whole black peppercorns
1 bay leaf
1 lemon, zested and juiced
250g fresh salmon, skin removed
125g smoked salmon, chopped
30ml + 30ml butter, cubed and at room temperature
30ml sour cream
45ml dill/parsley, chopped
15ml capers, finely chopped
15ml olive oil

Add half of the chopped onion, all of the white wine, water and peppercorns to a saucepan.
Add the bay leaf and lemon juice and bring the mixture to the boil.
Add the fresh salmon to the liquid, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove the salmon from the liquid and allow it to cool. You may discard the poaching liquid.
Gently flake the salmon with your fingers and add it to a bowl. Set aside to cool completely.
Add 30ml of the butter to a pan set over medium heat.
Add the remaining onion and cook until soft.
Now add the lemon zest, smoked salmon, sour cream, dill, capers, olive oil, the remaining 30ml butter and the cooked onion to the flaked salmon.
Stir the mixture together to combine evenly but be careful not to mush the salmon.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Take the salmon from the fridge and allow 30 minutes for it to come back to room temperature.
Serve on crostini or crackers.

The salmon can be kept in the refrigerator for three days. Spoon it into a glass jar, melt about 50g of butter and pour over before sealing with the lid.

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Pork Fillet (Tenderloin) in Honey

December 5, 2023December 3, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

5ml salt
10ml smoked paprika
a few grindings of black pepper
2 pork fillets/tenderloin
30ml butter
15ml vegetable oil
4 cloves of garlic, minced
45ml apple cider vinegar
25ml soy sauce
125ml honey

Preheat your oven to 180℃.
Add the salt, paprika and black pepper to a small bowl and mix together.
Lay the fillets on a board and sprinkle the mix over, rubbing all over.
Add the butter and vegetable oil to a heavy, oven-proof pan, place over high heat and wait for it to heat up.
Add the fillets and sear until golden.
Turn off the heat, add the garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute.
Add the vinegar, soy and honey to the pan and stir to mix.
Turn the fillets over and place the pan in the oven. Bake for 18 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and transfer the fillets to a plate. Cover tightly with aluminium foil and set aside.
Place the pan back on a medium-heat and simmer the sauce for 3 minutes or so, until syrupy.
Turn off the heat and place the fillets in the sauce, turning to cover the meat completely.
Slice the pork and serve with mashed potato and extra sauce.