BOSH!. Henry Firth
tsp rice wine vinegar.
Put all the ingredients for your sauce into a jug and mix together with a fork.
Mushroom & Guinness Pie.
Oh my goodness, this take on a pub classic is so so good. It’s a hug in a dish! The mushroom is rich and meaty and the Guinness adds a dark umami flavour. It’s one for those winter nights after a long day in the cold (or at work!). Serve with Minted Mushy Peas.
SERVES 4–6.
700g chestnut mushrooms.
3 tbsp olive oil.
4 onions.
6 garlic cloves.
3 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus extra to decorate.
3 sprigs fresh thyme.
1 tbsp light brown sugar.
300ml Guinness or other stout or brown ale.
2½ tbsp plain flour, plus extra for dusting.
1–2 tbsp Dijon mustard.
25ml dark soy sauce.
1 x 500g block ready-made dairy-free puff pastry.
2 tbsp dairy-free margarine.
salt and black pepper.
Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray. Large frying pan on a medium heat. 20–22cm deep pie dish. Rolling pin (or use a clean, dry wine bottle). Pastry brush.
Quarter the mushrooms and spread them over the lined baking tray. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the oil, season lightly and roast in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. When they’re ready, remove and set aside, reserving any juices.
Meanwhile, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the frying pan. Peel and slice the onions. Peel and finely chop the garlic. Add to the pan and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Reduce the temperature to medium-low.
Remove the leaves from the rosemary and thyme by running your thumb and forefinger from the top to the base of the stems (the leaves should easily come away) and finely chop, discarding the stalks. Add to the pan along with the sugar and cook for 10 more minutes, until the onions are golden.
Pour the ale into the pan, bring to a simmer and cook for 10 more minutes so the liquid reduces. Reduce the heat to low and add the mushrooms and any juices in the tray. Add the flour, mustard and soy sauce and simmer gently for 15–20 minutes, stirring regularly. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, mustard or soy sauce if you like. Leave to cool slightly then spoon the mushroom mixture into the pie dish.
Lightly dust a work surface with flour and roll out the pastry until it is large enough to cover the top of the pie dish. Brush the rim of the dish with water and lay the pastry over the top. Cut off the excess pastry and crimp the edges of the pastry either by pinching it between your finger and thumb all the way round, or by pressing it against the dish with the back of a fork.
Melt the dairy-free margarine in the microwave and brush it all over the pastry. Use a small sharp knife to cut a little cross in the centre of the pastry so that steam can escape. Top with a few rosemary sprigs to make it look fancy. Bake in the preheated oven for 30–35 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown, remove and serve hot.
Sweet & Sour Crispy Tofu.
Sweet and sour needs no introduction! This dish is an indulgent worldwide classic made with smooth, soft tofu. It’s made even more delicious by the addition of pineapple, and the way the crispy fried tofu contrasts with the sweet syrupy sauce. Mix this with any other Asian dish and boiled rice and you have a winner on your hands.
SERVES 2–4.
1 x 280g block of firm tofu.
6cm piece fresh ginger.
1 red onion.
1 garlic clove.
1 green pepper.
200ml pineapple juice.
60ml rice vinegar.
60ml tomato ketchup.
70g light brown sugar.
1 tsp garlic powder.
1 tsp onion powder, optional.
4 tbsp cornflour.
2 tbsp vegetable oil.
2 tbsp sesame oil.
½ tsp chilli flakes.
½ tsp salt.
100g tinned pineapple chunks.
Small saucepan on a low-medium heat. Tofu press or 2 clean tea towels and a weight such as a heavy book. 2 x large frying pans on a medium-high heat. Fine grater.
Press the tofu using a tofu press, or place it between two clean tea towels, lay it on a plate and put a weight on top. Leave for at least half an hour to drain any liquid and firm up before you start cooking.
Peel the ginger by scraping off the skin with a spoon and then grate it. Peel and finely slice the red onion and the garlic. Cut the pepper in half and cut out the stem and seeds. Chop the pepper into 2cm chunks.
Put the pineapple juice, rice vinegar, ketchup and sugar in the small saucepan and stir to dissolve the sugar. Increase the heat to medium-high and let it bubble away for about 7 minutes until you have a syrupy sauce. Take the saucepan off the heat and set aside.
Put the garlic powder and the onion powder, if using, into a large bowl with the cornflour and mix together. Carefully cut the drained tofu into 1cm chunks and add them to the bowl. Toss them gently in the cornflour mix until they’re well covered.
Heat the vegetable oil in one of the large frying pans. Add the tofu chunks and fry until they have started to brown and formed a crispy coating, about 7–10 minutes (be delicate as you stir the cubes, you want to keep them intact). Take the pan off the heat and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat the sesame oil in the second frying pan. Add the onion slices and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the green pepper, chilli flakes, salt, garlic and ginger and continue to cook for another 3–5 minutes, stirring all the time. Drain the pineapple and add to the pan, continuing to stir until the pineapple is warm. Tip the tofu into the pan and heat. Pour over the sweet and sour sauce and fold it around the vegetables so that everything is well covered and warmed through, another 1–2 minutes.
Irresistible Risotto.
This risotto is bursting with colour, flavour and healthy goodness. We’re big fans of getting as much green into our bodies as possible to give us the vital nutrients we need. This dish is testament to that, but it’s also delicious. Cook slowly, add the stock bit by bit and you’ll have a dish guaranteed to please!.
SERVES 4.
60g