Tag-Archive for » Mains «

21
Dec
Apple & Prune Stuffed Pork Roast
Brigita

Photo copyright © Michael Jensen, From Like Grandma Used to Make

Photo copyright © Michael Jensen

Ingredients:

(Makes 8 servings)

1 pork loin center rib roast (2 kg), backbone loosened

1⁄8 teaspoon each salt and black pepper

For the stuffing:

1 cup pitted prunes

2⁄3 cup water

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 small yellow onion, chopped

2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1⁄4 teaspoon ground cardamom

6 cups dried bread cubes

1 large tart apple, chopped

1⁄2 cup apple juice

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place the roast rib side down. Cut pockets in the roast, cutting from the meaty side (tip, opposite). Sprinkle the roast with the salt and pepper.

2. To prepare the stuffing, in a small saucepan, combine the prunes and the water. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes or until prunes are tender. Drain. Coarsely chop prunes; set aside.

3. In the same saucepan, melt the butter over moderate heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat. Stir in the brown sugar, lemon rind, cinnamon, and cardamom.

4. Place the bread cubes in a large bowl. Stir in the onion mixture, prunes, and apple. Drizzle with the apple juice, tossing lightly until moistened. Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the stuffing into each pocket of roast (tip, below). Spoon the remaining stuffing into a 11⁄2-quart casserole; cover and refrigerate.

* Stuffing a Roast:

I. Using a sharp knife, cut deep slits between the rib bones of the roast. Cut through the thickest portion of the meat about halfway to the backbone and within 1⁄2 inch of the edges to make each pocket.

II. Holding a pocket open with one hand, use a small spoon to place stuffing in the slit. Lightly pack the stuffing down and keep adding stuffing until you’ve used about 3 tablespoons.

5. Place the roast, rib side down, in a roasting pan. Roast for 13⁄4 to 21⁄4 hours or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of roast (not stuffing) registers 70°c. (Cover the roast loosely with foil after 1 hour so the stuffing doesn’t overbrown.) Bake the covered casserole of stuffing alongside the roast during the last 30 to 40 minutes of roasting.

6. Let the roast stand for 15 minutes before carving. Serve the stuffing in the casserole with the roast.

Note: This apple-and-prune-stuffed roast is traditionally served at Christmas in Danish-American families. However, it makes a wonderful company dish any time of year.

Category: Mains  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment
20
Dec
Grilled Pork Loin Chops with Balsamic Thyme Cherries
Brigita

Ingredients:

(serves 4)

4 large center loin pork chops

1 clove minced garlic

Salt and pepper to season

2 cups fresh pitted cherries, quartered

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper to season

1 clove minced garlic

1 tsp chopped fresh thyme

Method:

Season the chops with crushed garlic, salt and pepper. Grill the chops until fully cooked then top with the balsamic cherries.

Simmer the balsamic vinegar over medium heat until it is reduced to a syrupy consistency. Set aside to cool or immerse bottom of the pan in cold water to cool down the reduction. Toss in the other ingredients and allow to stand for about an hour or more before serving.

Note: With the summer grilling season in full swing and southern hemisphere summery Xmas, this is simple, but elegant recipe for a sweet and savoury addition to grilled pork loin chops, especially since fresh cherries are now in season.

This dish is very nice served with a peppery red wine.

Category: Mains  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment
20
Dec
Chorizo and Sage Stuffed Roast Partridge
Brigita

Ingredients:

(Serves 6, Takes 30 minutes to make and 30 minutes in the oven)

* 6 partridges, livers reserved for the stuffing if you like

* 12 thick-cut unsmoked streaky bacon rashers

* Fresh sage leaves, to garnish

* 2 tbsp olive oil

For the stuffing-

* 50g butter

* 2 large shallots, finely chopped

* 150g piece chorizo, finely chopped

* Partridge livers, chopped (optional)

* 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

* 200g fresh breadcrumbs

* 12 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped

* Zest and juice of 1 lemon

* Small bunch of fresh flatleaf parsley, leaves picked and chopped

For the gravy-

* 2 tbsp plain flour

* 300ml red wine

* 600ml fresh chicken stock, hot

* 1 heaped tbsp redcurrant jelly

Method:

1. First, make the stuffing. Heat the butter in a large frying pan and cook the shallots for 2-3 minutes, until they begin to soften. Stir in the chorizo and cook slowly until the oils and juices are released. Add the chopped partridge livers, if using, then stir in the garlic and cook for a further minute. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly.

2. Add the breadcrumbs, chopped sage, lemon zest and juice, and season with a little salt and plenty of ground black pepper. Stir in the chopped parsley.

3. Preheat the oven to 200°C/ fan180°C/gas 6. Spoon the stuffing mixture into the body cavities of the partridges, season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then cover with bacon and dot with sage leaves. Arrange in a shallow roasting tin and drizzle with the olive oil. Roast for about 20 minutes. Remove the bacon from the birds, leaving the rashers in the tin, and cook the partridges for a further 10 minutes, until golden.

4. Remove the partridges from the tin, placing the bacon rashers back on top of the birds. Transfer them to a serving dish and cover with foil to keep hot.

5. Make the gravy. Place the roasting tin on the hob over a gentle heat. Add the flour to the pan, mixing it with the cooking juices and oils and any stuffing mixture that has fallen out of the partridges. Pour in the red wine and bubble for a few minutes, then add the stock and redcurrant jelly and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce has thickened slightly. Season to taste and strain into a serving jug.

6. Serve the partridges with the gravy, parsnip crisps and buttered garlic cabbage.

Note: This rich Spanish dish of chorizo-and-sage-stuffed roast partridge is really satisfying and will have them clamouring for more at any dinner party.

© delicious. magazine

Category: Mains  Tags: , , , ,  One Comment
20
Dec
Partridge Basted with Chocolate
Brigita

Ingredients:

(Serves 8 )

* 8 oven-ready partridges

* 75g goose fat or butter

* 4 tbsp cacao (100%), finely grated (or good cacao powder)

* 4 shallots, peeled and sliced

* Olive oil

* 24 slices pancetta

* Thyme sprigs

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200ºC.

2. Place the goose fat and cacao in a small pan and heat until the goose fat has melted, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from the heat and leave to cool.

3. Heat a little olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the shallots and fry until soft.

4. Season the partridges then add them to the pan, along with the shallots. Fry the birds until golden brown then remove from the pan. Leave to cool slightly, reserving the shallots and cooking juices for gravy.

5. Use a pastry brush to paint the birds with the chocolate goose fat. Wrap 3 slices of pancetta around each partridge, sprinkle over the thyme and roast for 25-30 minutes. Leave the birds to rest before serving with gravy and roast vegetables.

Note: Chocolate and partridge may sound like an odd couple, but they’re a match made in heaven. Fairly simple but ideal recipe for impressing guests during festive season.

(recipe by Willie Harcourt-Cooze)

Category: Mains  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment
19
Dec
Duck Breasts with Apricot Chutney
Brigita

Ingredients:

(serves 12)

* 1-1/2 cups orange juice

* 2/3 cup sugar

* 200g dried apricots, chopped

* 1/2 cup dried cherries

* 1/2 cup golden raisins

* 2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot

* 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander

* 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

* 1/4 teaspoon salt

* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

* 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

* 2 teaspoons lemon juice

* DUCK:

* 12 duck breasts with skin

* 1-1/2 teaspoons salt

* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

* 2 tablespoons  olive oil

* ORANGE SAUCE:

* 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic

* 1/2 cup marsala wine

* 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch

* 1/2 cup orange juice

* 1/3 cup chicken broth

* 2 tablespoons grated orange peel

* 3 tablespoons cold butter

* 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil

Method:

* For chutney, in a saucepan, combine orange juice and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat for 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Add the apricots, cherries, raisins, ginger, coriander, cumin, salt, pepper and cloves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook for 10 minutes or until apricots are tender. Transfer to a bowl; stir in lemon juice. Let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours.

* Season both sides of duck with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, saute duck, skin side down, in oil until skin is browned; turn and cook for 1 minute. Set aside 1 tablespoon drippings.

* Place duck on a greased rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium, a meat thermometer should read 165°; well-done 180°).

* For orange sauce, saute garlic in reserved drippings for 1 minute. Add wine; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until reduced by half. In a bowl, combine the cornstarch, orange juice, broth and orange peel until blended. Stir into wine mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add butter and basil; whisk until smooth. Remove skin from duck if desired before slicing. Serve with orange sauce and chutney.

Note: It can be served as an entree, or as part of a buffet or as main with roasted seasonal vegetables.

Category: Appetisers, Mains  Tags: , , , , , ,  One Comment
01
Dec
Farmhouse Baked Beans
Brigita

Ingredients:

- 500 g white or brown beans soaked overnight

- 300-500 g smoked dry pork meat (neck, ribs, hogs or similar, with some fat on it)

- 1 slice smoked bacon

- 2 smaller or 1 big onion chopped

- 2 cloves of garlic roughly chopped

- 1 bay leave

- 1 tsp dry oregano

- 1 tsp dry basil

- 1tsp dry thyme

- 1 carrot sliced

- ½ celery stalk sliced

- 1 small parsnip root sliced

- 1-2 tbs finely chopped Italian parsley

- salt

- 5 black peppercorns

- olive oil

- 1 tbs flour

- 1tsp ground paprika

Method:

* Put soaked beans into cold water, bring it to the boil, cook shortly and then discard water and rinse the beans.

* Put beans into fesh water and add onion, garlic, smoked meat, carrots, celery, parsnip, bay leaves, herbs and peppercorns.

* Bring it to the boil, add salt, parsley and some olive oil.

* Cook until beans are completely cooked, but still firm (aprox. 1-11/2 h).

* Fry in the pan flour on the oil to become golden, add ground paprika, then some water from the beans and stir into smooth cream, then add to the beans. Cook for additional few minutes until sauce thickens. Check for salt and season to taste if needed.

Category: Mains  Tags: , ,  Leave a Comment
01
Dec
Oven Baked Beans
Brigita

(Traditional Macedonian: Gravche na Tavche)


Ingredients:

(serves 4)

800 g cooked white butter beans (from can)

oil

1 medium onion chopped

2-3 garlic cloves chopped

1tbs sweet ground paprika

1tbs parsley chopped

1tbs flour

salt and pepper to taste

1tsp dry thyme

1tsp dry basil

4 precooked hambugers or choritzo sausages

4 deseeded halves large red capsicums

Method:

Heat the oil in the pan, add onion and fry until transparent, then add galic, ground paprika and flour. Fry for 1 mins, then mix in beans from can (water included), thyme, basil and parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add some water if needed, but it should be of a very thick creamy consistency.

Pour the beans into gratine dish (clay or ceramic preffered), spread on top meat patties or sausages and top with capsicum halves.

Bake it in the oven on 200°C for 40 min or until the brown crust is formed on the top and patties with capsicums are nicely chargrilled. Water will evaporate and beans will have very thick concictensy.

Serve with some fresh green salad and spring onions.

Note: this is Macedonian traditional dish, not very complicated, but extremely tasty.

Category: Mains  Tags: ,  Leave a Comment
18
Nov
Chicken Paprikash
Brigita

Ingredients:

1 kg chicken (the whole cut in pieces or only legs and wings pieces)

1 rash of bacon

¼ cup oil

2  big onions chopped

3 big carrots thinly sliced

2 red capsicums chopped

2 yellow capsicums chopped

4 cloves of garlic chopped

1 fresh tomato chopped

2 tbs tomato paste

2 tbs sweet ground paprika

Bunch of parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

½ l water or chicken stock

Method:

On a grill or in a pan fry bacon rash and chicken pieces until golden. Put aside.

In the cooking pot on heated oil stew onion, garlic, capsicums and carrots until soft.

Add meat, ground paprika, fresh tomato and fry for another couple of minutes.

Add tomato paste, salt, pepper and chopped parsley, mix well then add water or chicken stock that meat is well covered.

Bring to the boil and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes or until sauce thickens and meat is completely soft (easily detached from the bones).

Serve with some hearty bread, pasta, cooked polenta or mashed potatoes.

Note: Potatoes, mushrooms or some other seasonal vegetables can be added as well. By adding white vine into cooking stock or sour cream at the end the taste can be richer, but the sweetness of original recipe will be diminished.

Category: Mains  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
05
Nov
Cevapcici
Brigita

Ingredients:

* 250 g ground beef

* 250 g ground pork

* 250 g ground lamb

* 1 clove garlic, finely chopped

* 1/2 cup finely chopped onions

* 1 teaspoon salt

* Finely chopped onions, for garnish

Method:

1. Mix together beef, pork, lamb, garlic,  chopped onions and salt until thoroughly combined.

2. Roll meat mixture into a long, 7-8 cm cylinders. Place on plastic wrap-lined plate, cover with more plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour to firm.  Note: Sausages can be frozen at this point. When ready to use, thaw or cook from the frozen state.

3. Broil “cevapcici” on a charcoal grill or a preheated oven broiler rack coated with cooking spray 4 minutes per side or until no longer pink in the middle. Or they can be pan fried in a large skillet coated with cooking spray over high heat for a total of about 8 minutes, turning frequently to brown all sides.

4. Serve in warmed or grilled Greek-style pita bread on a bed of chopped onions. Add on a side a dollop of sour cream, ajvar, sliced fresh peppers or tomatoes.

Category: Appetisers, Mains, Middle Eastern  Tags: , ,  Leave a Comment
04
Nov
Greek Lamb Kebabs
Brigita

Ingredients:

1 kg lamb (Shoulder, roast, shank, etc.), cubed

Lamb Marinade:

1/4 cup of fresh rosemary, minced

1 clove garlic, minced fine

1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard

1 Tbsp red wine vinegar

3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

salt & fresh cracked pepper to taste

1 Tbsp fresh thyme, minced

1 tbsp fresh oregano, minced

Note: If you have to use dry herbs, crush them into a powder in a mortar and pestle and use less. How much less? That depends on the freshness of your dried herbs.

Method:

1. Combine all, except lamb, in a small bowl. Stir to combine.

2. In a plastic bag or any deep sided dish, add lamb and pour marinade over. Marinate for at least 2hours, preferably more (like 4).

3. When finished marinating, skewer meat cubes onto metal or wooden skewers. If using wood, make sure to soak for at least 20 minutes in warm water prior to cooking, to avoid charring.

4. Heat BBQ to medium high and grill for a few minutes on each side. Lamb should be served medium rare, so don’t cook it longer than 10 minutes. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Category: Appetisers, Mains, Middle Eastern  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment