Easy Roast Chicken

This recipe taught by my friends Gloria and Adam, this roasted chicken recipe is a testament to simplicity and flavour. With minimal ingredients and fuss, it’s perfect for a quick and delicious meal. The preparation is straightforward: generously season the chicken with salt and rosemary, then place it on a bed of baking salt. This technique ensures that the chicken cooks evenly, with the salt absorbing any excess moisture, resulting in crispy skin and succulent meat. After roasting for 50 minutes, you’ll have a beautifully golden, aromatic chicken that’s both impressive and effortless. Perfect for weeknight dinners or when you want to impress guests without spending hours in the kitchen.

Tips for Changing the Recipe by Instinct

This recipe is wonderfully adaptable, allowing you to tweak it based on your preferences and what you have on hand. Here are some ideas to inspire your creativity:

  1. Herb Variations:
    • Thyme: Substitute or add to the rosemary for an earthy, subtle flavour.
    • Oregano: Adds a Mediterranean touch to the chicken.
    • Sage: Pairs beautifully with chicken, giving it a slightly peppery, savoury taste.
  2. Citrus Zest: Grate some lemon or orange zest over the chicken before roasting to add a bright, fresh flavour.
  3. Garlic: Add crushed garlic cloves under the skin or around the chicken for a deeper, richer flavour.
  4. Spices: Sprinkle a bit of paprika, black pepper, or even a touch of cumin for a hint of warmth and complexity.
  5. Marinade: Marinate the chicken in a mix of olive oil, lemon juice, and your favourite herbs and spices for a few hours before roasting to infuse it with even more flavour.
  6. Vegetables: Place vegetables like carrots, potatoes, or onions around the chicken on the baking salt. They will roast beautifully and soak up the chicken’s juices.

Feel free to mix and match these suggestions to suit your taste. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and versatility, making it a perfect canvas for your culinary instincts.

FOOD PAIRING: NORI SEAWEED

References: ºThe Art and Science of Foodpairing: 10,000 Flavour Matches That Will Transform the Way You Eat – Peter Coucquyt, Bernard Lahousse, Johan Langenbick
ºThe Flavour Thesaurus – Niki Segnit

Simple supper ideas for peas

Peas should be the star ingredient. Sweet and mellow jewels.

 

Peas are spring’s favourite bouncy balls. There are many dishes to create during the season using peas as the star ingredient.

Here are a few ideas:

  • Shrimp, radishes and peas in a parsley-infused olive oil
  • Simple peas with shallots, olive oil  and mint
  • Pea soup with crispy bacon on top – Blend together Chicken stock, peas, onions and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Pasta with peas and parmesan
  • Pasta with peas and a coriander spinach sauce made with lemon juice, cashews, garlic powder and salt.
  • Crab or white fish cakes with peas and tomatoes.
  • Peas with jamón serrano and thinly sliced onions

How are you cooking your peas?

Many ways to radishes

Pretty raw red radishes are crunchy and hot but cooked or pickled become very versatile.

Radishes are in season! Spring has sprung and radishes are here to give our dishes crunch and freshness.

They can be used in many different ways:

  • Lentil, avocado, radish, and watermelon salad? Add some red onion and some feta cheese and drizzle a Dijon mustard, honey, and lemon juice dressing.
  • Avocado toast with sliced radishes, raw spinach and freshly cracked pepper.
  • Roasted potatoes and radishes with lamb chops. Add some pepper and rosemary
  • Pico de Gallo with Radishes. Chop tomato, onion, and fresh coriander. Slice very thinly the radishes and mix all together with lime juice and salt.
  • Add radishes to your stock – chicken. beef or veggie stock.
  • White bean,  radish and pesto salad. Add a lemony dressing on top.

 

Broccoli Soup

You will use all the broccoli including the stems. Zero food waste!

 

Cut all the broccoli, including the stems. Add the to a pot and fill with water. Add onions, garlic and fresh coriander. Add salt and pepper.

Bring to a simmer, until the broccoli is cooked.

Blend the soup and add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and some toasted sunflower seeds.

Flat bread Pizza with potatoes, cashew sauce, garlic and rosemary

An easy, comforting, heart-warming pizza, with amazing ingredients that will make you feel fantastic.

Make cashew sauce by blending the soaked cashews, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and salt. Add a drizzle of water if needed. You are looking for a crepe-style liquid.

Grab a flatbread or tortilla and spread the cashew sauce. Add the thinly sliced potatoes and top with some rosemary and freshly cracked pepper.

Put it preheated oven at 200ºC and bake for 20 minutes.

Add fresh rosemary on top and enjoy!

Raw Orange Rosemary Tarts

This smooth, creamy orange mousse is the perfect indulgent but healthy treat.

 

Scoop the coconut fat from a 400ml tin of full-fat coconut milk (you may need to refrigerate this the night before). Place it in a bowl. You can reserve the coconut water for a different recipe.

Infuse the rosemary in the orange juice. Place in a saucepan and heat very slowly for 5 minutes. Take the rosemary out.

Add the orange juice in the bowl with the coconut cream. Add the maple syrup and whisk,

Divide into 4 glasses and leave to set in the fridge for a few hours. You can eat them straight away but they won’t be as mousse-like.

I like to top it with some orange slices and blackberries. They will keep in the fridge for a couple of days, covered.

To make the crust, combine the ground flaxseeds, applesauce, coconut sugar, and coconut oil in a bowl. Whisk until uniform.

In another bowl, whisk together the oat flour, brown rice flour, and tapioca flour. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until you get a uniform soft dough. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 180C.

Roll the dough out between two sheets of parchment paper, then transfer to a 9-inch springform tart pan or mini tart pan. Using your hands, press the dough evenly into the bottom and sides of the dish. You can use a glass to flatten the bottom. Prick the dough a few times with a fork to prevent it from rising in the oven.

Bake for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool completely in the baking dish.

Mashed Potato Waffles (Winter Recipe)

With just two ingredients, this recipe is as simple as it gets but the result is delicious.

Place the potatoes in a steamer and steam for 15-20 minutes, until tender when pierced with a fork. Remove and cool completely.

Add the potatoes to a mixing bowl and mash with a potato masher until lump-free.

Heat a non-stick waffle machine to high heat. Add the mashed potato until the base of the waffle machine is evenly covered, then close the device and cook until the waffle is crispy about 10-15 minutes. Repeat with the rest of the mixture.

Serve waffles with maple syrup. Alternatively, you can use the waffles like bread to make sandwiches.

Chai Porridge with Blood Orange and Pistachios (Winter Recipe)

A Bowl of Luscious and Luxurious Porridge, that will make any cold winter morning so much better.

 

This recipe is super easy.

Make the porridge, adding the spices. You can also use a Chai Tea Bag and infuse it in the saucepan while the oats cook.

Once made, transfer to a bowl, add the yoghurt, maple syrup and stir well. Top with Blood Orange slices and chopped pistachios.

NOTES:

You can also use grapefruit, oranges or tangerines

 

 

 

Cacao Zucchini Pancakes (Winter Recipe)

I love pancakes and their little freckled surfaces give me joy.

In a blender add all the ingredients.

Heat a pan and remember that the first pancake seasons the pan, leaving a light film of fat on which those that follow will slide. Eat it while you make the rest of the batch.

NOTES:

  1. If you want to go the extra mile. Grate the zucchini and with a towel squeeze out all the water.
  2. The amount of liquid depends on how thick the batter comes out. Keep on adding until you reach the desired consistency.

 

 

Tahini Date Chocolate Smoothie (Winter)

Indulge yourself by starting the day with a luxurious breakfast.

In your blender add all of the ingredients. Add the liquid of choice to, at least, cover the ingredients. Add more if you want it thinner or if you would like to eat it as a smoothie bowl leave it as is.

 

Enjoy!

Clams in green sauce

An absolutely fabulous seafood dish that comes together in minutes.

Start by poaching the chopped onion and garlic, once sweat, add the tbsp of flour and let it cook.

Add the glass of white wine and let the alcohol evaporate.

Add the cup of water or fish broth. If using water, add salt.

Once the liquid simmers for a few minutes, add it to a blender with the fresh parsley.

Put the sauce back in the pan and add the raw, closed clams in. Cover them with a lid and let them open.

Enjoy with more chopped fresh parsley