When it’s cold, dark and rainy outside all you want to do is reach for the comfort food. If the thought of pasta yet again bores you, why not try something new to warm you head to toe this Winter? Not only will these recipes fill the kitchen with yummy smells and make you the envy of your housemates (or landlord as I found out!) but they also double up as great dinner party staples.
Red Pepper and Sweet Potato Soup
To serve 2 people, you will need:
Half a red pepper
1 medium sized sweet potato
One clove of garlic
Glug of olive oil
Half a red onion
Half a tsp of Paprika
Half a tsp of Cumin
Around 300ml vegetable stock
Half a can of chopped tomatoes
Dollop of Crème Fraiche
Salt and Pepper to season
A blender or hand blender
1) Peel and cube the sweet potato
2) Dice the red pepper
3) Dice the red onion half
4) Boil the kettle and add one vegetable stock cube to 300ml of boiling water
5) Heat the oil gently in a large saucepan. Add the diced onion and pressed garlic to the oil and fry on a gentle heat for 2 minutes.
6) Add the Paprika and Cumin to the pan, and leave to infuse with the onion and garlic mix on a low heat for about 4 minutes – make sure the temperature is low otherwise the spices will burn and become bitter.
7) Add the cubed pepper and sweet potato to the pan and coat with the spice/onion and garlic mix. Fry lightly for around 6 minutes, until the potato is slightly soft around the edges
8) Add the stock and chopped tomatoes to the pan, increase the heat, and simmer for around 10 minutes. Season to taste.
9) Pour the mixture into a sturdy blender, and whizz until smooth.
10) Add the crème fraiche at this point to create a creamy flavour.
11) Serve!
The soup will keep for about a week in the fridge. Aside from the preparation, this dish takes no time at all and is a tasty alternative to boring old Heinz tomoato.
Goat’s Cheese, Caramelised Onion and Rocket Tartlet with Home-made Wedges
This tartlet will serve 2-3 people. To make more wedges, increase the guest:potato ratio!
Tartlet:
A 20×30 cm rectangle of ready made puff pastry
A handful of rocket
Soft goat’s cheese
Shop bought Caramelised Onions (If you’re keen, Caramelised onions are very easy to make from scratch – try this recipe http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/641952)
1 small Egg
1) Cut out the rectangle from the puff pastry
2) Place the ingredients in the middle of the rectangle, leaving a 2cm gap to the edge
3) Lightly score the vacant edges of the pastry
4) Brush the edges with the whisked egg
5) Put in the oven for 20 minutes at 180 degrees
Wedges:
To make wedges for 2 people you will need:
2 medium sized potatos
Some shop bought garlic and herb mix (alternatively, use a clove of garlic and a few sprigs of rosemary)
Glug of olive oil
1) Peel the potatoes and cut into wedge shapes – do this by first halving the potato then quartering, then cutting into wedges
2) Drizzle a little olive oil over the wedges – not too much or they will become soggy – just enough to coat
3) Either sprinkle over the garlic and herb mix or place your crushed garlic and rosemary sprigs on top of the potatoes
4) Place in the oven at 200 degrees for 30 minutes.
5) After this time, take them out, give them a shake to make sure each wedge is coated in oil, then put back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes until the wedges are crispy and golden
Enjoy and don’t forget the Mulled Wine! HCXO
Photo Credits: Author’s own, forum.wexphotographic.com