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 moreChicken Caesar salad
Love those leftovers.
This is my favourite way to use up precious leftover chicken from a Sunday roast.
Read moreMexican chicken pibil stew
I really enjoy sussing out flavours.
Picking up on ingredients in dishes when I’m out and about and figuring out what’s in them and how their tastes fit together, banking them in my head for future reference when I’m in my kitchen at home. But there are times when try as I might, I haven’t the foggiest what the flavours are that I’m tasting — like the first time I ate the Mexican pibil.
Read moreThe ultimate chicken burger
Winner winner chicken dinner.
I live in a multicultural corner of south London with jerk shops aplenty, where plantains are sold at little grocers on the high street and we have more than our fair share of chicken shops. Jamaican vibes and crispy chicken is a big thing round these parts, so I decided it was time I shared my version of crispy chicken perfection.
Read moreProper chicken stew and dumplings
Us Brits aren’t famed for our culinary treasures.
Leaf through a historical cook book and you’ll find all sorts of strange dishes (deer kidney with dates, anyone?). But there are some gems that we’ve held on to, like shepherds pie, toad in the hole, the roast dinner, and good old fashioned stew and dumplings.
Read moreLarb gai — minced chicken salad
In pursuit of perfection.
This is my favourite Thai salad. I love it more than the seared beef noodle one and more than the green papaya one, which means it is utterly delicious.
Read moreCajun turkey meatballs on rice
Adventures in meatballs continued.
I refuse to believe there’s a single soul around that dislikes meatballs. You like juicy flavoursome bite-size morsels made from all kinds of meats or even fish? Spiked with herbs and spices? Crispy fried or simmered gently in sauce? I know I do. In fact, it’s a wonder I manage to eat anything else.
Read moreMinced Chinese chicken in lettuce cups
Many moons ago I lived in a rough and ready part of town.
What it lacked in beauty it more than made up for in spirit and food, and there I got to experience flavours from far flung places like Jamaica, Kurdistan and Pakistan.
Read moreSous vide coq au vin
The daddy of old school chicken dishes.
Coq au vin is simple, homely and hearty, great for lazy rainy days and boozy Sunday afternoons with friends. And the homemade article beats the shop bought variety by a country mile, whether sous vide or conventionally cooked.
Read moreBBQ herby and fresh Greek chicken kebabs
Flavour transportation.
Last year I visited Greece for the first time, and down by Fiscardo harbour in Kefalonia, night after night I managed to scoff many delicious local ingredients. It’s there I discovered my addiction for proper homemade tzatziki, how amazingly grassy Greek extra virgin olive oil can be, and the joy that is real, locally made feta cheese. Between that, the weather and the landscape it’s a wonder I made it home.
Read moreSous vide chicken with English mustard and broad beans
Ringing the changes.
I first cooked this a few years ago after a summer visit to Cornwall to stay with our friends Amie and James. The combination of tender chicken, sweet and firm broad beans and peppery creamy mustard sauce are perfectly English and deliciously light, just the dinner ticket as our little island begins to thaw and thoughts of spring and summer start to appear.
Read moreChinese chicken wings, thighs and drumsticks
When I was little, we always had a box of Chinese chicken wings in the fridge.
Our house was full of foods from all over the world. I remember the pantry being stocked not with crisps, biscuits and treats like my friends homes were, but things like vine leaves, yellow bean paste, kimchi, black rice and smoked mussels. It didn’t make quick snacks very easy, but thanks to my dad meals were delicious, inventive and adventurous. I always felt very lucky on the food front.
Chilled somen noodle salad with ginger and miso BBQ chicken
God bless Weber. Our summer may seem short lived and sporadic but this piece of kit really makes the most of it.
We got ours on recommendation from our good friends Jon and Eva, Jon’s a BBQ aficionado and if Weber’s his choice then it’s good enough for me.
Read moreMoroccan chicken pastilla parcels with cinnamon sugar and harissa yogurt dip
Snack sized moorishness.
A little while ago I posted a recipe for a pigeon and chicken pastilla, made in the traditional way as a single large pastry creation where layers of filo or feuille de brick are interspersed with spiced meat, cinnamon sugar and almond slivers.
Read moreChicken, pecorino and sesame nuggets with Bloody Mary dip
Sexed-up chicken nuggets had been whirring around in my head for a while.
And on browsing Tastespotting I came across just the jolt of inspiration I needed, a cracking recipe and great photo from Sabrina at Inside The Bag.
Japanese buckwheat soba noodle salad with ginger miso poached chicken
I love noodles. And I need very little in the way of an excuse to whip up a dish using them.
So when the carrot of disco-by-post was dropped in front of me by Wrighty in exchange for a summery Japanese dish, I had no choice but to deliver.
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.
Italian wedding soup with mini lemon, basil and chicken meatballs
Happy new year dear blog reader… I hope your festivities were as food and drink filled (and fueled) as mine.
If like me, you’re one of the millions of people now feeling a little wobblier than usual and craving healthier nosh, you may be kicking off your new years eatings in the same way.
Read moreChinese chicken broth with five spice dumplings and rice noodles
Restorative and healthy food of the highest order.
When feeling a little run down (or in my case, like you’ve been overdoing things), chicken noodle soup really does hit the spot. But yeah, you might have guessed, in my world it’s got to be oriental.