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Fish Italian Main course Pasta

Pasta with tuna, peas and parsley

This is a really simple recipe and very healthy. Boil the pasta, we use De Cecco pasta shells but any good quality pasta will do. Meanwhile add the garlic to a frying pan with olive oil. Fry gently until softened and then add the tuna, capers and tomato. Mix well and gently warm through, when […]

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Italian Main course Pasta

Pasta with roasted squash and creamy mushrooms

Heat the oven to 200C. Put the squash in a small roasting tray and add about 2 tbsp of the olive oil, salt and pepper and the thyme or sage. Mix well with your hands and roast for 20-25 minutes until soft and slightly charred around the edges. Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in […]

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Italian Main course Pasta Vegetarian

Pasta al cartoccio

Cut 2 pieces of parchment paper, each about 30 x 20cm. Heat the oil in a pan over a medium heat, toss in the garlic and saute for 2 mins. Fish out the garlic, then tip in the tomatoes and chilli and season. Simmer for 20 mins, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180C. […]

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Italian Main course Pasta Vegetarian

Pasta with chickpeas

This is a cross between a hearty soup and a main meal.  Put the finely chopped onion, celery and garlic into a saucepan with a little olive oil and the rosemary (if using) and cook as gently as possible, with the lid on, for about 15-20 mins, until the veg is soft, but not browned. […]

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Fish Italian Main course Pasta

Linguine with tuna and tomatoes

Cook the linguine in a large pan of boiling salted water until al dente.  In a large frying pan gently fry the garlic and chilli in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil for a few minutes. Add the tuna, capers and tomatoes and mix through. Cook for a few more minutes on quite a high […]

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Italian Main course Pasta Ravioli fillings Starters Vegetarian

Butternut squash ravioli with sage butter

Place the squash in a roasting tray, skin side down. Drizzle over the olive oil and sprinkle on the fennel, chilli, oregano, salt and pepper. Rub this mixture into the squash. Roast in a hot oven (abot 200C) for 20-30 minutes or until the squash is cooked (see Cook’s tip). Once cooked, scrape the flesh […]

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Italian Main course Pasta Vegetarian

Cacio e pepe (spaghetti with cheese and pepper)

Cook the spaghetti in plenty salted water until al dente. Once it is cooked, drain it leaving behind a little of the cooking water. Return to the pan and add the cheese, pepper and salt to taste. Toss well to mix then moisten with olive oil if you like. Serve straight away with a glass […]

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Italian Main course Pasta

Pasta with broad beans in bacon and rosemary sauce

Boil the stock with the rosemary until reduced by half. Then whisk in the crème fraiche and boil again for 3 mins. Strain the sauce then return to the pan. Cook pasta until al dente. If using fresh beans, pod them and boil for 2 mins in salted water until tender. Drain. There’s no need […]

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Italian Main course Pasta Vegetarian

Pasta pantesca

Put the tomatoes under a hot grill until they become soft but not brown.  Skin them if desired then set aside. Blanch the almonds in boiling water for 2 mins, peel off skins and chop coarsely.  Chop the grilled tomatoes and put in a bowl with garlic, chilli, almonds, parsley, salt and olive oil.  Mix […]

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Asian recipes Chicken Starters

Tangy Thai chicken

Mix everything together (except the oil and soy) in a bowl. Cover and chill for half an hour in the fridge. To cook, heat a wok or large frying pan until almost smoking. Add the oil and then the chicken mixture. Stir fry on a high heat for about 5 minutes or until the chicken […]

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Italian Main course Pasta Vegetarian

Butter and cheese spaghetti

Cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente.  Grate the cheeses while the pasta is boiling. Drain the pasta, reserve 4 tbsp of the cooking water. Put the reserved water and the butter back into the hot pan and simmer gently over a low heat. Stir until the butter melts. Remove from the […]

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Chicken Italian Main course Pasta Starters

Tortellini in Brodo

Make pasta: Sift flour and salt into food processor, slowly pour in the egg and yolks , followed by the olive oil. As soon as the mixture comes together into a dough, switch off the machine. Put the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 10-15 mins, until smooth. Wrap in cling […]

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Asian recipes Chicken Starters

Thai chicken patties

Cut the chicken into chunks and pulse in food processor to break down.  Finely chop the chilli, lemongrass, ginger and garlic. Add to the chicken along with the fish sauce, lime zest and coriander and pulse again. Season if required. Once happy with mixture, shape into small patties. This is easier if you wet your […]

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Fish Italian Main course Pasta

Linguine with crab and chilli

Cook pasta in plenty salted water until al dente.  Meanwhile gently fry the chilli and garlic in the olive oil for a few minutes. Turn up the heat and add the wine. Allow to bubble and reduce by half. Add the crab meat and season. Reduce the heat and allow to warm through before checking […]

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Asian recipes Chicken Curries Main course

Sri Lankan chicken curry with coconut milk

First make the spice blend. Lightly roast the spices in a dry pan being careful not to brown or burn. Add to a spice blender or pestle and mortar and grind to a fine powder. Chop the onions and add to a medium pan with a little oil and fry gently for about ten minutes. […]