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400ml (14fl oz) boiling water
125g (4½oz) butter, softened
2 onions, peeled and finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped
800ml (1 pint 9fl oz) chicken or vegetable stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
400g (14oz) risotto rice
200ml (7fl oz) white wine
500g (1lb 2oz) flat mushrooms, sliced
8 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra to serve
4 tbsp chopped marjoram or parsley
Squeeze of lemon juice
1–2 tbsp mascarpone (optional)
* Place the porcini mushrooms in a heatproof bowl, pour over the boiling water and leave for 20 minutes until soft.
* Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), Gas mark 4.
* Melt 25g (1oz) of the butter in a large casserole dish or ovenproof saucepan on a medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté for 6–8 minutes or until soft and turning golden. Meanwhile, pour the stock into a separate pan, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and leave to simmer on the hob.
* While the onions are cooking, drain the porcini mushrooms, reserving the soaking liquid. Roughly chop the mushrooms and set aside, then strain the soaking liquid (to remove any sand or grit) and add to the simmering stock. Season this liquid with salt and pepper.
* Add the chopped porcini mushrooms to the onions and cook, stirring frequently, for 1–2 minutes. Next, tip in the rice and gently stir-fry for a further 2 minutes.
* Pour in the wine, then bring to a simmer, stirring as the mixture heats up, and cook for 2–3 minutes or until the wine has evaporated. Pour in the simmering stock, stirring to combine, then bring to the boil, cover and bake in the oven for 10–12 minutes or until just al dente.
* Meanwhile, melt 25g (1oz) of the butter in a frying pan on a medium heat, add the flat mushrooms and fry, stirring occasionally, for 3–5 minutes or until softened and lightly golden. Remove from the heat and set aside.
* Remove the risotto from the oven and add the grated Parmesan cheese and remaining 75g (3oz) butter, then use a wooden spoon to vigorously beat everything together. Stir in the fried mushrooms, along with the marjoram or parsley, lemon juice and mascarpone (if using). Serve immediately with extra Parmesan on top.
Tomato and rosemary risotto with meatballs (#ulink_3b754d8e-22d5-5200-9967-5ca447793869)
You can serve the risotto on its own, although the meatballs turn a light dish into a hearty meal. The meatballs can be stored in the freezer (before cooking), but defrost them fully before frying.
Serves 4–6
PREPARATION TIME
15 minutes, plus chilling
COOKING TIME
25–30 minutes
450g (1lb) beef or pork mince
1 tsp chopped thyme
5 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
1 egg, beaten
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4–5 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
400g (14oz) risotto rice
150ml (5fl oz) white wine
2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
2 tsp caster sugar
1 litre (1¾ pints) chicken or vegetable stock
3 tsp chopped rosemary
25g (1oz) butter, diced
150g (5oz) Parmesan cheese, finely grated, plus extra to serve
* First make the meatballs. Place the mince in a bowl with the thyme, just over half the garlic and the beaten egg, season with salt and pepper and mix well together. To check the seasoning, fry 1 teaspoon of the mixture in a frying pan for 1–2 minutes or until cooked through. Taste to see whether you need to add more salt or pepper to the mixture.
* Using wet hands, form the mixture into 16–20 tiny little meatballs, each about 2cm (¾in) in diameter, then chill (for up to 24 hours) until you are ready to cook them.
* Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), Gas mark 4.
* Next, make the risotto. Pour 3 tablespoons of the olive oil into an ovenproof saucepan on a low–medium heat and, when hot, add the onion and garlic and season. Cook for 7–8 minutes or until soft and a little golden.
* Add the rice, increase the heat to medium and cook for 1–2 minutes or until it starts to crackle. Pour in the wine and allow to bubble until the liquid has evaporated. Tip in the tomatoes and sugar, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and cook for 3–4 minutes or until almost soft. Add the stock and half the rosemary, bring back to the boil, cover with a lid and bake for 10–12 minutes.
* While the risotto is cooking, fry the meatballs. Pour the remaining olive oil into a large frying pan on a medium heat and, when hot, add the meatballs and fry for 10–12 minutes, turning regularly, until evenly browned and cooked through. Remove from the heat and set aside.
* Remove the risotto from the oven and beat in the butter and most of the Parmesan cheese with a wooden spoon. Taste for seasoning, then divide between bowls, top with the meatballs and sprinkle over the remaining Parmesan.
Spiced lamb pittas (#ulink_d3c2c406-42af-51c1-bd8d-f0e476738c6f)
This deliciously spicy mince mixture tastes wonderful served with lightly toasted pitta breads and a few spoonfuls of Greek yoghurt. Use beef mince instead of lamb if that’s what you have to hand, it's still delicious.
Serves 4–6
PREPARATION TIME
10 minutes
COOKING TIME
20–25 minutes
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 large clove of garlic, peeled and crushed or finely grated
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
450g (1lb) lamb mince
225g (8oz) potatoes, peeled and cut into 5mm (¼in) dice
75g (3oz) frozen peas
To serve
4–6 pitta breads
About 150ml (5fl oz) natural Greek yoghurt
* Pour the olive oil into a large frying pan on a high heat and, when hot, add the onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Fry, stirring frequently, for 6–8 minutes or until the onion is cooked and golden at the edges.
* Add the spices and mince and cook for 4–5 minutes or until the mince loses its raw colour. Tip in the potatoes and 50ml (2fl oz) water, then cover with a lid, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 8–10 minutes or until the potatoes are just tender, then add the peas and cook, uncovered, for a further 2 minutes.
* Shortly before the spiced mince is ready, toast the pitta breads and pour the Greek yoghurt into a small serving bowl. Season the cooked lamb to taste and serve with the toasted pittas and yoghurt.
Lamb meatballs (#ulink_e6cdb9a1-8f7e-5dc4-b4d1-e211b2911768)
These delicately aromatic meatballs are very happy resting on a bed of couscous – a seriously useful store cupboard ingredient that is ready to serve after only a few minutes soaking in stock or hot water. The meatballs can be stored in the freezer before cooking (defrost them well before use).
Serves 4–6
PREPARATION TIME
10 minutes, plus chilling
COOKING TIME
10–15 minutes
6 green cardamom pods
500g (1lb 2oz) lamb mince
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1 onion, peeled and grated
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed or finely grated
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
For the sauce:
200ml (7fl oz) natural Greek yoghurt
1 tsp turmeric
Juice of 1 lemon
1 cucumber, cut into 2cm (¾in) chunks (optional)
* Place the cardamom pods on a chopping board, lay the flat side of a large knife over the top and press down to lightly crush. Remove the seeds (discarding the pods) and crush to a powder with a pestle and mortar or place in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to crush them.
* Place the crushed seeds in a bowl with the lamb mince, lemon zest, onion and garlic, then season with salt and pepper and mix together. To check the seasoning, fry 1 teaspoon of the mixture in a frying pan for 1–2 minutes or until cooked through, then taste to see whether you need to add more salt or pepper to the mixture.
* Using wet hands, form the mixture into 20–24 meatballs, each about 3–4cm (1¼–1½in) in diameter, then leave to chill in the fridge (for up to 24 hours) until you are ready to cook them.
* Pour the olive oil into a frying pan on a medium heat and, when hot, add the meatballs and fry them for 8–12 minutes, tossing occasionally, until well browned and cooked through.
* To make the sauce, simply mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve drizzled over the meatballs on a bed of couscous.
Chocolate, toffee and peanut squares (#ulink_ca2aba75-4660-5c6e-a363-cba935903d13)
One of my guilty pleasures is a tin of boiled condensed milk. The sugars in the milk caramelise to make a thick toffee-like sauce. It’s perfect for cooking or eating straight from the tin (with or without a spoon!). It’s also possible to buy ready-boiled condensed milk, which is sold in jars as dulce de leche. If you want to make your own, boil unopened tins of condensed milk for 2 hours – I like to prepare a few tins at a time and then keep them in the cupboard where they’ll store for months.
Makes about 24 squares (v)
