Category Archives: Dinner

Madras Salmon Burger with Devilled Mango Mayo

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This is not your typical Burger, over-loaded with sauce, pickles, cheese, etc…
This Madras Salmon Burger is a whole different story.
It is so good and healthy. I kept it simple with just a little sauce for the bun and some crispy Iceberg Slaw for crunch.
The trick to this burger is to chop it by hand, not in the food processor. I tried that once and the consistency wasn’t right, too pressed together. Chopping it by hand is easier than it sounds and done rather quickly. And so worth it because the texture is perfect, with a nice bite and a very juicy end result. The burgers will seem less firm than a regular burger but that’s ok, the corn starch act as a binding agent. They will firm up in the pan, have faith they will turn out perfectly.
We have been eating these a lot lately, like once or twice a week for the past few weeks and every time I mean to take a few pictures but I can’t resist and eat the Burger straight away in fear of letting it go to waste or maybe losing it’s slightly pink juicy middle.
But at last here is the recipe.

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Total Time 15 mins

madras salmon burger

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb./ 500 gr. Salmon fillet
• 1 tsp. Madras Curry powder
• 1 tsp. Corn Starch
• 1 tbsp. chopped cilantro
• 2 Spring Onions, chopped
• a Dash of Tabasco
• Season generously with salt
• Pepper
Devilled Mango Mayo
• 1/3 cup Mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup Yoghurt
• 1/4 cup Mango Chutney
• 1 1/2 – 2 tbsp. Sambal Oelek
• Salt and pepper to taste
Ice Berg Slaw
• 1 cup finely shredded Ice Berg Lettuce
• 1 medium grated carrot
• a handful radishes, cut into match sticks
• 2 Spring onions, chopped

Instructions:

1. For the Ice Berg Slaw, mix all the ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
For the Devilled Mango Mayo, mix all the ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
For the Madras Salmon Burger, if using fresh salmon, place in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm it up bit. Then place the salmon on a cutting board and with a very sharp large knife slice it first into slices and then into small squares.
Finally start chopping it until you have very small bits left. Keep it textured though.
Place the salmon in a bowl and add the madras curry powder, corn starch, cilantro, spring onions, salt, pepper and tabasco.
Form into 4 patties.
Heat a frying pan to which you have added a little coconut oil or light olive oil. Fry on each side for two minutes on medium high heat.
Meanwhile split open the burger buns and toast until golden.
To serve, spread sauce on the bun halves, place the salmon burger on the bottom bun and the Ice Berg Slaw on top. Cover with the other half of the bun. Serve straight away.

Enjoy!
Myra XO

quick cream of tomato soup with basil

Quick Cream of Tomato Soup with Basil

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quick cream of tomato soup with basil

What can be more comforting than a bowl of soup? If you need a quick fix, or are in a hurry to get dinner on the table, this one is for you.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tbsp. Olive oil
• 1 small onion, peeled and chopped fine
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped
• 2 medium carrots, washed and sliced
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 cans peeled plum tomatoes
• 2 tubs passata
• 2 stock cubes, beef
• 2 tot 3 whole sprigs of basil with the leafs, left whole
• 1 – 2 tsp. sugar
• 1 Cup evaporated milk
• ¼ Cup Cream Cheese
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• A handful of fresh Basil leafs, for serving
• 1 Cup grated cheddar (loosely packed) for serving
• 1 tray ready made small meatballs

quick cream of tomato soup with basil

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat the olive oil in a large pot.
Add onions, carrots and garlic and sautée until translucent. About 5 minutes on medium low heat.
Add the tomato paste and fry for 30 seconds.
Add the canned tomatoes and passata and the stock cubes (crumbled between your fingers)
Also add one can (from the tomatoes) filled with hot water.
Add the whole sprigs of basil, bring to a slow simmer and leave for 15 – 20 minutes.
Remove the basil sprigs and blend with an immersion blender.
Add the meatballs.
Add milk and cream cheese. Add the sugar one teaspoon at a time and check how you like it, adding the remaining teaspoon if necessary. I like it sweet so I added two, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
At this point check the thickness of the soup, if you want it thinner add some more milk or water and if you do, adjust seasoning again.
Sprinkle with some Basil leafs and serve piping hot and serve with some crunchy baguette.

Enjoy!

Myra XO

Five Spice Slow roasted Pork Belly

11 Replies

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I Couldn’t wait to share this with you. A great change from all things turkey.
I think Asian is pretty much the opposite of turkey and I really needed that. I love the holidays and everything about them, but it’s time for something completely different.
This five spice slow roasted pork belly is going to drive you mad with delight once you’ve tasted it.
Tender as can be with and a super crispy skin, aka crackling!
And best of all, this piece cost me around € 6, 50 is weighs around 1.3 kg. / 2.8 lbs and you could easily serve six people from this piece. Hallelujah to that.
It’s important that you dry the skin very very well, then make cuts in it with a Stanley knife but not all the way thru to the meat, just the fat.
I’ve marinated it overnight in a plastic zip lock bag, skin side facing up so that that part is not in the marinade.
Then the next day, bake in a hot oven for 20 minutes, then on slow for 2 1/2 hours. This may seem like a long time and it is, but you want to render away as much fat as possible.

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Ingredients;
1 pork belly, without bone  about 1.3 kg / 2.8 lbs.
1″grated fresh ginger, (don’t bother peeling it first)
1 garlic clove, peeled and grated
1 tsp. Chinese Five Spice
1 tbsp. Pure Sesame Oil
2 tbsp. Hoisin Sauce
1 tbsp. Honey
1 1/2 tbsp. Soy Sauce or tamari  (gluten free)
1 tbsp. Conimex Ketjap Manis

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Method;

Mix the marinade in a bowl.

Place the pork in a zip lock bag, skin side down , pour and rub all the marinade over the meat, close the bag and carefully turn the skin side up.
Place the bag on a plate and leave to marinade for at least 8 hours or preferably overnight.

The next day,  Pre heat the oven to 220°C / 430°F

Remove the pork from the fridge an hour before cooking.

Remove the meat from marinade and discard the bag and juices.
Dry thoroughly with kitchen paper.

Take a sharp Stanley knife and make cuts all over the skin side of the belly diagonally, a third of an inch apart if you can.  All the way thru the fat but not yet touching the meat. This is important!

Rub with some salt and place in a roasting tin that has been lined with a double layer of foil.
Place in the hot oven and cook for about 20 minutes.
Lower the heat to 160°C / 320°F and cook for an other 2 1/2 hours. Cover loosely with some foil if the skin gets to dark, the foil does have to be tented to keep the crispyness.

Remove from oven. Let rest for 10 minutes. Slice and serve with rice noodles, Bok Choy and some hoisin sauce. Or any other vegetable of choice. Leftovers are heavenly and it also freezes well, but you do have to remove the skin because this can get a little chewy after freezing.

If you try this recipe let me know! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it #thecookingspoonblog  on instagram! You’ll make my day.

Not quite what you’re looking for? How about Sticky Shrimp & Pineapple with Jasmin Rice.

Browned Sage Butter and Turkey Pasta with wild Mushrooms and Prosciutto.

20 Replies

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I can’t believe it’s already boxing day, and the count down to New Years has begun. I truly hope everyone had a great Christmas. Now we can sort of relax for a week or so, take a breath, relax, cook some simple meals and get ready for the end of the year.

This easy pasta dish is perfect for the “in between” days, make it with left over turkey, or use fresh turkey or chicken. And by all means throw in any left overs, like a little gravy, some vegetables or whatever you like.

This easy recipe is done in under half an hour.

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Serves 4

Ingredients;

  • 2  to 3 medium chicken breasts, or 2 cups cooked leftover turkey, torn to pieces.
  • salt + pepper, to taste
  • 4 tbsp. olive oil
  • 4 tbsp. butter, divided
  • 4 slices prosciutto
  • 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped fine
  • 1 garlic clove peeled and grated
  • 2 tbsp. flour
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 1 cup stock
  • 1/4 cup fresh sage
  • pinch of fresh nutmeg
  • 1 lb. Pasta, cooked
  • 1  cup mixed wild mushrooms
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced or grated
  • freshly grated parmesan cheese to serve
  • 1/4 cup mascarpone or heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

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Method;

Season chicken with salt and pepper.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 4 tablespoons of butter with 2 tablespoons olive oil. When the butter and oil start to sizzle, add  chicken and sage leafs and cook for 15 minutes on medium low, turning occasionally. Place the sage leafs on top of the chicken.  I like to use a cast iron pan for this because it gives the chicken a perfect crust.  Remove and transfer to plate.

Add the prosciutto to the pan and brown on both sides, for about two minutes, remove and transfer to plate.

Add the onion to the pan and cook gently for 4 minutes, add the garlic. Stir around and add the flour, cook for one minute and add the wine and stock, stirring to create a smooth sauce.

Add the mascarpone or cream, mix thru. Add the shredded chicken and two slices of torn up prosciutto.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and boil the pasta until al dente.

Heat another large skillet over high heat, add the remaining olive oil. Once hot, toss in the mushrooms in a single layer. Without stirring cook them until golden brown, flip them over.Transfer half the mushroom to a plate.

When the pasta is done cooking, drain but DO NOT RINSE! add it to the pan with the mushrooms and toss well. Add the cream sauce with chicken heat thru. Scatter over the remaining wild mushrooms, some parsley and serve straight away. Top with some of the crispy prosciutto. And serve with Parmesan.

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If you try this recipe let me know! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it #thecookingspoonblog on instagram! You’ll make my day.

Not quite what you were looking for? How about Garlic Herb Shrimp with Bacon over Angel Hair Pasta