Category Archives: Side Dishes

Grannie’s Stuffing

Chicken, Family Favourites, Pork, Side Dishes

  • 1 cup oatmeal (not porridge oats)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 4 oz sausage meat (pork)
  • 2 oz bacon, smoked streaky, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chicken stock
  • Extra bacon needed to cover when cooking if not being cooked in the bird.

Cook (fry off) sausage, onion and bacon in a skillet breaking up the sausage. When cooked, add the oatmeal and stir in the stock. That’s it.
Either put in a bird (best) or heat up in an oven-proof dish with a few strips of bacon on top. Say half an hour at medium oven.

Lentil and Avocado Salsa

Holidays, Hot & Spicy, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegetarian

  • For Two as a side dish
  • 1 cup puy lentils
  • diced cucumber
  • diced avocado
  • diced red onion
  • chopped coriander
  • chopped flat leaf parsley
  • finely diced red chilli
  • olive oil
  • juice of a lime

Cook lentils in boiling water until tender. salt after cooking and add oil to drained lentils.
Add all other ingredients. Quantities are very variable depending on amount needed.
Chill until required

Italian Meatballs

Family Favourites, Holidays, Pork, Side Dishes, Starters

  • 1 small aubergine
  • 450g/1lb minced lean pork
  • 1 level tsp fennel seeds, crushed
  • 1/4 level tsp chilli flakes, or to taste
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 4 level tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 3 tbsp red wine
  • Oregano leaves to garnish

Preparation time: 15 minutes plus cooling
Cooking time: 50 minutes

1. Pierce a whole unpeeled aubergine in several places and bake at 180C/350F/Gas 4 for 40 minutes or until it’s soft. Allow to cool. Remove the stalk, strip off the skin and chop the flesh.

2. Put the aubergine and remaining ingredients into a large bowl, season with salt and pepper and mix together, using your hands, until thoroughly combined.

3. With wet hands, roll the mixture into balls. Line a grill pan with foil, shiny side up, and oil lightly. Cook the meatballs under a preheated grill for 3-4 minutes on each side. Serve with a tomato sauce and noodles and garnished with oregano.

Serves 4

Balti Prawns

Fish, Holidays, Hot & Spicy, Side Dishes, Starters

  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 2.5cm/1in piece fresh ginger
  • Rind and juice of 2 limes
  • 15ml/1tbsp coriander seeds, crushed
  • 5ml/1tsp fenugreek seeds
  • 30ml/2tbsp vegetable oil
  • 5 large, ripe tomatoes, cut into small pieces
  • 700g/11/2lb large,cooked prawns or cubed monkfish, haddock or cod
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • Garam masala

1. In a food processor, mix together the first seven ingredients to make a thick paste. Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan and fry the spice paste for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

2. Add the tomatoes and cook for a couple of minutes until slightly softened. Add the prawns or white fish and cook gently until heated through. Season, sprinkle with garam masala and serve immediately.