butternut ravioli

Filled with a sweet and savoury butternut filling, this pasta is enhanced with crisp sage, golden hazelnuts and butter. Cut the butternut pumpkin into large wedges and place in a baking dish with 1 finely diced red onion. Season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, a grating of fresh nutmeg and some dried chilli flakes to taste.…… Continue reading butternut ravioli

mushroom barley casserole + baked peppers with walnut and feta

Here’s a hearty vegetarian meal to satisfy eaters of all persuasions. Finely dice 2 onions and fry them over low heat in some olive oil until wilted. Add 450g (1 lb) of chopped fresh mushrooms and 7g (¼ oz) of finely chopped dried porcini mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms have wilted then add 1 cup…… Continue reading mushroom barley casserole + baked peppers with walnut and feta

buffalo cauliflower and butternut

Vegetarian and spicy, this dish uses the fabulous flavours normally reserved for chicken wings. Preheat your oven to 230ºC (450ºF). Cut half a cauliflower into florets and some butternut pumpkin (squash) into chunks. Melt some ghee (clarified butter) and toss the vegetables in the ghee, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Roast in the oven until…… Continue reading buffalo cauliflower and butternut

leek, brussel sprout and stilton tart + roasted beets and carrots

A lovely combination of flavours improved by being encased in Maggie Beer’s sour cream pastry. Make the pastry according to the recipe (it works very well with light sour cream too). Roll the pastry out and cut a circle for the bottom of a springform cake tin and some strips for the sides and line the tin making sure there…… Continue reading leek, brussel sprout and stilton tart + roasted beets and carrots

roasted beetroot and chèvre stack with walnut crumb + roasted leek

Fresh chèvre and beetroot are a great match. Paired with the walnut crumb and roasted leeks this dish has a wonderful combination of flavours and textures. Preheat your oven to 180ºC (350ºF). Peel and slice 2 large beetroots and lay them onto baking sheets. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and roast until soft. Wash…… Continue reading roasted beetroot and chèvre stack with walnut crumb + roasted leek

sour chick pea curry + vegetable korma

Indian vegetarian food is so complex and satisfying. This unusual sour chick pea curry is from a recipe by Madhur Jaffrey. Soak and cook 1½ cups of chick peas (garbanzo beans) in the usual manner or use 3 drained cans of chick peas. Finely chop 3 onions and remove 2 tablespoons of the onion into a…… Continue reading sour chick pea curry + vegetable korma

spicy tofu with oyster mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms have great texture and robust flavour making this a very satisfying vegetarian meal. Heat oil in a large flat frypan or wok until smoking hot then add 2 brown shallots, 2-3 cloves of garlic and 2-4 red chillies, all finely diced. Next add large squares of tofu (classic Chinese style) and allow them to fry on…… Continue reading spicy tofu with oyster mushrooms

butternut and basil lasagna

The arrival of autumn here and the garden still bursting with basil made this the perfect combination. Cut butternut pumpkin (squash) into pieces and toss them in a bowl with some olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Fry over low heat until they have some colour and are just soft then set them aside. In the same…… Continue reading butternut and basil lasagna

cauliflower ricotta frittata

Here’s a different version of cauliflower and cheese. Heat your oven to 180ºC (350ºF). Divide a small cauliflower into florets and slice 1 onion. In an ovenproof dish, toss them in some olive oil and season with salt, freshly ground black pepper and some grated fresh nutmeg. Add a bay leaf and roast in the oven until brown…… Continue reading cauliflower ricotta frittata

polenta with mushrooms and sage

Mushrooms at their best with sage and cheesy polenta. For this dish you will need at least 450g (1lb) of mushrooms (I used Swiss brown) and a few dried porcini mushrooms. Soak the porcini mushrooms in a little boiling water until soft. Meanwhile fry 20-30 fresh sage leaves in olive oil until crisp and set…… Continue reading polenta with mushrooms and sage