Friday, 22 August 2025

experiment: ratatouille & broccoli open samosa - samosa taco fusion

ratatouille in samosa shells pimped w/ some mint coriander & honey salsa!
ratatouille & broccoli open samosa
ratatouille in samosa shells pimped w/ some mint coriander & honey salsa!
IngredientsMakes: 340g (4)
76g(4)open samosa shells(recipe below)
42gyago lite(recipe below)
6gcoriander stalks
2gcoriander
60gsteamed broccoli(recipe below)
100gratatouille(recipe below)
46gmint coriander & honey salsa(recipe below)
4gmint
4gred chillies
Method
Just using up leftovers from making samosas - and special THANKS mum for the fantastic ratatouille - and pimping them w/ some salsa!
Once you've made the components it's an assembly job!
Add a tea spoon of yago to the bottom, then some broccoli, then ratatouille and top w/ salsa, mint & chillies . . . very nice!

taco shells made w/ samosa dough - serve w/ a table top of filling let people invent!
open samosa shells
taco shells made w/ samosa dough - serve w/ a table top of filling let people invent!
IngredientsMakes: 388g (20)
496gopen samosa dough(recipe below)
120gveg oil
Method
Plus oil for frying . . . 120g is the oil soaked into the taco shells
Cut the dough into 4 pieces and roll one out into a rough square.
Cut 4 circles 12cm in diameter out of the dough.
Make one a ball from the off cuts and roll it out to make one more circle.
Use a fork to prick lots of small holes into each circle.
- this stops large bubbles forming and gives evenly distributed small bubbles.
Fry the discs one at a time in veg oil on a high heat until they start to bubble turning once - take CARE turning them in the hot oil.
Using tongs remove the taco onto a tea towel covered w/ kitchen towel, wrap the taco around a wooden spoon or thin rolling pin while it is still hot.
Place to one side to cool. Repeat until all the dough is used up.
Reform the offcuts to get two more tacos.

dough for taco shells style streetfood made w/ fine atta flour - samosa dough!
open samosa dough
dough for taco shells style streetfood made w/ fine atta flour - samosa dough!
IngredientsMakes: 546g
220gatta flour
110gplain flour
3gbaking powder
3gsalt
20gveg oil
190gwater
Method
Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Then add the oil and the water . .
Pour 100g cold water into a jug, plus 200g boiling water this will give you ~65C water.
Add 140g to the dry ingredient and mix with a wooden spoon until it comes together.
Take the dough out of the bowl and kneed until smooth.
Place in a plastic bag for 30mins. Then use as needed.

lowcalorie creamy mayo yogurt dip
yago lite
lowcalorie creamy mayo yogurt dip
IngredientsMakes: 400g
300ggreek yogurt
100gmayo
1garomat
1gsalt

steamed broccoli
steamed broccoli
IngredientsMakes: 220g
220gbroccoli
Method
Wash & steam for 8-10min . .

grade A - minimal effort - ratatouille - no rats involved, no fancy pants presentation! Thanks mum!
ratatouille
grade A - minimal effort - ratatouille - no rats involved, no fancy pants presentation! Thanks mum!
IngredientsMakes: 1760g (7)
120golive oil
20ggarlic
180gyellow pepper
250gred onion
125gonion
250gaubergine
120gtomato
180gcourgette
800gtinned tomatoes
500gchicken stock(recipe below)
5gdried rosemary
10gsalt
Method
This is one f me mums recipes and I'm alway chuffed when she makes it because I add it to all sorts of things - yorkie puds filled w/ lamb & ratatouille, sushi rolls, tacos, broths.
Anyway she's always saying I pinch her recipes and never give her credit so here's a SHOUT out to me mums ratatouille!
-
Peel garlic and fry in oil 2mins.
All chunky dice:
Add peeled diced onions, diced yellow pepper and cook until the onion is soft
Add the smaller dice aubergine and cook until coloured.
Add the chopped tomato, courgette & tinned tomatoes & dried herbs & let them sizzle for 10mins.
Finally add the stock and season and reduce on a low simmer for ~30mins.

improvised mexican style salsa for tacos
mint coriander & honey salsa
improvised mexican style salsa for tacos
IngredientsMakes: 161g
6gmint
6gcoriander
50gtomato
22gred onion
30grunny honey
40glime juice
5gtabasco
2gred chillies
0.5gsalt
Method
Pretty simple really chop everything up and mix.
Serve as fresh as possible.

If you are in Hereford check out Growing Local on facebook/meta they currently have all sorts of seasonal veg available grown right here in Hereford using organic practices!
Sign up for veg box here / or for wholesale here
.

Friday, 15 August 2025

recipe: prawn caprese salad

simple caprese salad topped w/ garlic prawns
prawn caprese salad
simple caprese salad topped w/ garlic prawns
IngredientsMakes: 640g (3)
350gtomatoes
125gmozzarella
0.5gsalt
164ggarlic butter prawns(recipe below)
1gchives
0.5glemon zest
Method
At this time of year we're never shorty of ripe juicy tomatoes this is great way to use them whle they're at their best.
Use large ripe thickly sliced tomatoes for the bottom layer.
Season them before laying the sliced mozzarella on top then and season that too!
Top w/ garlic prawns & dress w/ chives & lemon zest.
Simple, fast & tasty . . . great combo!
I've left olive oil out of this recipe intentionally but it definitely doesn't hurt if you give it a drizzle!

garlic butter prawns
IngredientsMakes: 164g (1)
30gbutter
15ggarlic
150gprawns
Method
Melt the butter on a medium heat & add the sliced garlic, let it bubble away until golden then add the prawns.
Toss in the garlic and butter and cook until they'''re just cooked. Serve immediately.

If you are in Hereford check out Growing Local on facebook/meta they currently have all sorts of seasonal veg available grown right here in Hereford using organic practices!
Sign up for veg box here / or for wholesale here
.

Friday, 8 August 2025

recipe: lovage stock cubes

preserving lovage from the garden for long term storage by making it into a stock cube
lovage stock cubes
preserving lovage from the garden for long term storage by making it into a stock cube
IngredientsMakes: 680g (68)
320gbutter
2gfennel seeds
2gcumin seeds
5gblack pepper
3gturmeric
3gsmoked paprika
4gdried rosemary
4gdried thyme
240gsalt
110glovage
150gcornflour
Method
Mill the herbs & spices to a powder.
Cut the butter into chunks.
Put 30g of the butter in a sauce pan on a medium heat, once it's melted and starts to sizzle add the milled herbs & spices.
After a couple of minutes there should be a lovely aroma rising from the pan.
Add the rest of the butter and the salt, once it has melted add the chopped lovage.
Keep the heat on medium so as not to burn the lovage, let it bubble away allow the water to evaporate from the butter & the lovage.
If you put a thermometer in it will sit around the 100C / 212F mark until all the water has evaporated.
Once its stops bubbling around 108C / 226F remove it from the heat.
Blitz it w/ a stick blender, then add the cornflour and whiz until smooth, 10-20 seconds is fine.
Pour into a lined baking tray 6.5 x 10.5 inch / 17cm x 27cm. Pour until it's as deep as a stock cube is thick!
Put a cling film cover over the top and leave to set at room temp.
Turn it out and cut into stock cube size pieces.
Wrap it in brown baking paper, and place in a ziplock bag, store in a low drawer or the fridge.
They'll last as long as any other stock cube!
Store it in an airtight container: To minimize exposure to oxygen.
Store it in a cool, dark place: To minimize exposure to heat and light.
Keep it refrigerated: For very long-term storage.

If you are in Hereford check out Growing Local on facebook/meta they currently have all sorts in stock grown right here in Hereford using organic practices!
Sign up for veg box here.

Thursday, 7 August 2025

visual recipe: lovage stock cubes

collect spices

grind in mortar & pestle

flavour butter

remove excess water

separate the leaves

keep the good

chuck the bad

remove more excess water

go from 98C

to 108C

add the salt

add the cornflour

stick blend

line tray w/ baking sheet

pour in cover w/ cling film and set

turn out

cut into lovage stock cubes

ready to pack

long term pack

airtight box to dip into while cooking!

Will add any recipes they're used in as I post them! . . .    : )

 

Friday, 1 August 2025

recipe: rhubarb & avocado salad w raspberry & verbena dressing

rhubarb & avocado salad w/ raspberry & lemon verbena dressing
rhubarb & avocado salad w raspberry & verbena dressing
rhubarb & avocado salad w/ raspberry & lemon verbena dressing
IngredientsMakes: 246g (2)
60graspberry & lemon verbena dressing(recipe below)
60glettuce
55gsous vide rhubarb grenadine(recipe below)
40gripe avocado
10glemon juice
15gdouble buttered mgt(recipe below)
6gtoasted pine nuts(recipe below)
Method
Raspberry, lemon verbena & rhubarb grenadine pair very nicely!
Complement them w/ textures & flavour from smooth avocado & buttery crunchy croutons & pine nuts it's lovely!
Using up some left over rhubarb grenadine from another recipe rhubarb grenadine cheesecake.
This turned out to be a keeper! : )
Make the dressing, then toast the pine nuts.
Toast a slice of multigrain bread and butter it on both sides to make croutons - one of my favourite hacks.
Cut a quarter of an avocado into slices, and squeeze w/ lemon juice to stop it oxidising.
Slice the ruhbarb thinly and assemble the salad.
Toss in the dressing and serve.

raspberries blended w/ lemon verbena & lemon vinaigrette
raspberry & lemon verbena dressing
raspberries blended w/ lemon verbena & lemon vinaigrette
IngredientsMakes: 104g
20gwhite wine vinegar
20gsugar
20glemon juice
20g(5)raspberries
2glemon verbena
2gsalt
20golive oil
Method
First raspberries of the season - first ever that I've grown myself!
Simple method, just put everything in a beaker and blend w/ a stick blender.

buttery multigrain croutons for salads
double buttered multigrain toast
buttery multigrain croutons for salads
IngredientsMakes: 60g (1)
50gmultigrain bread
20gbutter
Method
This is a really fast way of making lovely crunchy buttery croutons w/ a seeded texture.
Toast a slice of multigrain bread & butter it on both sides.
Once the butter has melted cut it into croutons for soups & salads.

If you are in Hereford check out Growing Local on facebook/meta they currently have all sorts of seasonal veg available grown right here in Hereford using organic practices!
Sign up for veg box here / or for wholesale here
.

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More Techniques, Basics and Corker Recipes

More Techniques, Basics and Corker Recipes
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