Makes
INGREDIENTS
225g/8oz/2 cups medium oatmeal, plus extra for sprinkling
75g/3oz/3/4 cup plain flour
1.5ml/1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
5ml/1 tsp salt
25g/1oz/2 tbsp lard
25g/1oz/2 tbsp butter
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Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/ Gas 7. Place the oatmeal, flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt in a large bowl. Melt the two fats together in a small saucepan over a low heat.
Add the [...]
Serves 4-6
INGREDIENTS
15ml/1 tbsp olive oil
350g/12oz red onions, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
275g/10oz cooked beetroot, cut into sticks
1.2 litres/2 pints/5 cups vegetable stock or water
50g/2oz cooked soup pasta
30ml/2 tbsp raspberry vinegar
salt and ground black pepper
low-fat yogurt or fromage blanc, to garnish
snipped chives, to garnish
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Heat the olive oil in a flame-. proof casserole and add the onions and [...]
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
1.2 litres/2 pints/5 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1 garlic clove, lightly crushed
2.5cm/1 in piece fresh root ginger, peeled
and cut into fine matchsticks 30ml/2 tbsp soy sauce 15ml/l tbsp cider vinegar 75g/3oz fresh shiitake or button
mushrooms, stalks removed and
thinly sliced
2 large spring onions, thinly sliced on the diagonal
40g/1/1/20Z vermicelli or other fine noodles 175g/6oz Chinese [...]
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
115g/4oz small pasta shapes
30ml/2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 small bunch spring onions, chopped
350g/12oz/3 cups frozen peas
1.2 litres/2 pints/5 cups chicken stock
225g/8oz raw unsmoked ham or gammon
60ml/4 tbsp double cream
salt and ground black pepper
warm crusty bread, to serve
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Cook the small pasta shapes in plenty of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions. Drain through a [...]
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
225g/8oz white fish fillet such as lemon sole or plaice
1 tsp egg white
2 tsp cornflour (cornstarch) paste
700ml/1/1/4 pints/3 cups Basic Stock
1 tbsp light soy sauce
about 50g/2oz fresh coriander leaves, chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
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Cut the fish into large slices each about the size of a matchbox. Mix with the egg white and [...]
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
225-285g/8-10oz minced (ground) pork
4-6 water chestnuts, finely chopped
2 spring onions (scallions), finely chopped
1/2 tsp finely-chopped fresh ginger
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
3-4 green (bell) peppers, cored and seeded
1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch) vegetable oil, for deep-frying
Sauce
2 tsp light soy sauce
1 tsp light brown sugar
1-2 fresh hot chillies, finely [...]
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
450g/1 lb broccoli
3-4 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp light brown sugar
2-3 tbsp Basic Stock or water
2 tbsp oyster sauce (or soy sauce if you prefer)
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Cut the broccoli heads into florets; remove the rough skin from the stalks, and diagonally slice the florets into diamond-shaped chunks.
Heat the oil in a preheated wok and add [...]
Makes 400ml
INGREDIENTS
2 fresh coconuts
1.1 litres/2 pints/5 cups water, off the boil
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Hold the coconut over a bowl to collect he liquid. With the back of a large knife or cleaver, crack open the coconut by striking it cleanly.
Scrape out the white meat with a citrus zester or a rounded butter curler. Place the coconut meat [...]
Makes 2 Decorative Garnishes
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cucumber
1 large carrot
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To make the cucumber garnish, cut the cucumber into a 7.5cm/3in strip, 2cm/ %in wide. Make 5 even cuts along the strip, 12mm/1/2in in from one end. Curl the second and fourth strips towards the base to form an open loop. The same cucumber strip can be spread [...]
The severe heat of red and green chillies is contained in the seeds. Unless you like fiercely hot food, the seeds should be discarded before using. It is most practical to wash the seeds away under cold running water.
A useful chilli flavouring can be made by storing chillies in a jar of oil. Allow the [...]
