Glutton without prejudice.
Minced beef crispy pancakes, remember them? Yeah me too. They were one of my pikey penchants during my teenage years, glutton without prejudice that I was.
Read moreHarissa chicken meatballs
Ibizan delights.
I’ve been in a bit of a recipe rut of late, but our recent family holiday to the beautiful white island has proven a new source of food inspiration. Ibizan food it seems is having a moment in the sun, scuse the pun.
Read moreSpanish omelette
The Spanish omelette or tortilla is a classic on tapas and pintxos menus, but as well as being delicious for lunch and dinner I think it makes a great breakfast or brunch.
Read moreMini tortillas
Picnic perfection.
Picnics are a great playground for the cooks imagination. As we swap our sofas and dining tables for the great outdoors, it’s chance to not just take indoor food outside, but to get inventive with ingredients as we have a bit more fun in the sun.
Read moreSpanish cod one pot
A dish that needs little introduction.
Cod simmered in chorizo and saffron spiked broth with chick peas, lemon and parsley. Just typing it makes my mouth water.
Read moreBasque lamb stew
Seasons eatings.
One of the best things about winter is the chance to chow down on melt-in-the-mouth meats cooked long and slow. I am of course talking about the stew.
Read moreSous vide chorizo stuffed chicken suprême with jewelled black beans
Poor chicken licken.
Labelled the choice of the unadventurous restaurant diner it can often be overlooked as a ‘serious’ meat, but this familiar and safe protein can be made exciting.
Read moreCarne cocida — shredded Basque beef cheek
Favourite places, new discoveries.
Earlier this year Team Food assembled in the beautiful Basque capital of San Sebastián. Those of you that read regularly will know this is one of my favourite cities, and I love nothing more than a long weekend away sampling its delights (see picture reels below as evidence).
Read morePortabella mushrooms with romesco sauce, fresh pesto and goat’s cheese
Too much of a good thing.
It can be all too easy to get stuck in a dinnertime rut. The same old favourite dishes cropping up time and again – if you’re not careful you can love them to the point of extinction. No popular meal should have to suffer this fate.
Read moreFabada, a Spanish one pot dish of chorizo, morcilla and butter beans
It was an offer I couldn’t refuse – create a cucina povera dish in exchange for disco-by-post.
Wrighty (food lover and member of the disco spinning Soul Buggin’ collective along with Beane Noodler, aka Kebab Knight of the Realm) said this creation didn’t need to be Italian of origin, just something rooted in history as a tasty and economical dish.
Serrano ham, gorgonzola and fig tart
A tasty little tart that’s as impressive as it is simple.
I’ve served this as a starter when friends are over for dinner, had it as a weekend lunch with a chilled glass of the pink stuff, and rustled it up after work for a mid week supper.
Chorizo stuffed leg of venison with tomato, lemon and white bean stew
Right place, right time.
On Saturday following an excellent lunch at the Mark Addy, a riverside pub in Manchester that really is gastro, my friend Jon introduced me to the exec head chef Rob Brown. A lovely man who looks like he’d be entirely at home in a medieval banquet.
Poulet Basque
I’m lucky to have spent a fair amount of time in San Sebastián, the fabulous Basque capital, but that’s not where I discovered this classic dish.
It was actually introduced to me by my dad, who is without doubt the reason I am as adoring of food and cooking as I am.
Roasted pepper, tomato and red lentil soup with crisp chorizo and black garlic
It’s no secret I’ve been ill this week. I’ve tried to keep a lid on my moaning but let’s be honest, when you’re feeling rotten that can be a difficult task.
However, today I woke up feeling much better than I have been doing, and to celebrate this and my sore throat leaving me I decided to take a walk.