Category: Recipe

  • RECIPE | Dark Chocolate Sorbet

    This is ridiculously easy to prepare, make, and eat. Surprisingly creamy and smooth considering there is no milk or cream element to this, hence why it’s a sorbet.

    I made a batch of Homemade Honeycomb and smashed some pieces over the top for decoration along with some pomegranate jewels

    DARK CHOCOLATE – You wouldn’t want to eat it in one sitting obviously but just to show you, based on 70-85% cocoa; 100g dark chocolate contains the following percentages of your recommended daily intake; 67% iron, 58% magnesium, 89% copper (great for immune system), 98% manganese, along with potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and selenium.

    Ingredients.

    200g caster sugar

    80g cocoa (I used Bournville)

    175g dark chocolate (blitzed or bashed into small pieces)

    1 tsp vanilla extract

    530ml water

    Method.

    1. Mix the sugar, cocoa and just 375ml of the water in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Stirring frequently while you continue to boil it for a minute.
    2. Take off the heat and stir in the blitzed chocolate and vanilla and remaining 180ml of water.
    3. At this point you could now either use an electric whisk or pour into a blender to smooth the mixture for 30 seconds.
    4. Pour into a container and chill thoroughly.
    5. Once chilled, follow your ice cream machine’s manufacturer instructions to making the sorbet. I used a Magimix Le Glacier which churned the sorbet for 30 minutes.
  • RECIPE | Vegetarian Polski Pate

    Makes 6-8 slices

    Vegetarian / Starter

    Traditionally, the courgette is the vegetable of choice used to make this pate / vegetable loaf in Poland. I like having a wedge of this cold with something pickled alongside it, like little cornichons.

    COURGETTES – A helpful source of vitamin C. The dietary fibre in courgettes can also help lower our cholesterol levels. The same fibre matched with the courgette’s water content will also make you feel full. The fibres and anti-oxidants help destroy carcinogens and their toxins from settling in the colon. Courgette’s are also great for our skin; hydration, anti-ageing, collagen formation, and puffy eyes.

    MUSHROOMS – Mushrooms contain high levels of vitamin D, which is a vitamin a lot of us are deficient in without even realising. Polysaccharides and beta glucans within mushrooms are beneficial to the immune system function.

    Ingredients.

    400g courgette, grated

    200g baby mushrooms, finely chopped

    250g breadcrumbs (I used a gluten free bread and blitzed)

    200g grated mature cheddar

    1 onion, finely chopped

    3 eggs, divided into yolks & whites

    2 fat cloves garlic

    15g fresh parsley

    1 tsp dried marjoram

    Method.

    Preheat your oven to 180c / 160c (fan) / Gas Mark 4

     

    1. In a large saucepan cook your mushrooms in a tiny glug of oil until they have browned, and set aside.
    2. In a large mixing bowl combine; courgette, cheese, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, fresh parsley, marjoram, 3 egg yolks, cooked mushrooms and a good serving of freshly cracked black pepper. Mix with a wooden spoon thoroughly.
    3. With the 3 egg whites, begin to beat and continue until stiff.
    4. Incorporate the egg whites gradually, delicately into the courgette mix.
    5. Line a greased loaf tin with baking paper.
    6. Transfer the courgette mix carefully by the spoonful into the prepared loaf tin, smoothing over the top of the mix once completely transferred.
    7. Bake in the oven for 1 hour 20 minutes.
    8. Remove and set aside to cool. Use the baking paper edges to carefully lift the loaf out of its tin. I love this from the fridge kinda cold!

     

     

  • RECIPE | Lemon And Garlic Roasted Halloumi

    Serves 2 | Prep 5 mins | Cook 30 mins

    The flavours of this summon fond memories of visiting family in Cyprus when I was younger. The marriage of flavours is perfection. Sweet, salty, lemony, garlicky, and herby. For my palette it ticks every box for a simple starter. This could easily become a main by having quinoa or couscous along side it. As a starter, just a plain green salad with cucumber slices, and spring onion goes perfectly. You could even add some pistachios to the salad for extra texture.

    HALLOUMI- A reduced fat or lighter halloumi will provide you with more protein within the cheese. Around 30g of the cheese provides you with 20% of your recommended intake of calcium. Usually made from goat’s or sheep’s milk, all milk contains tryptophans. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that cannot be manufactured within our body. Tryptophan is what we are able to produce serotonin out of, which encourages positive mood and better sleep.

    Ingredients.

    2 tsp herbes de Provence

    2 tbsp olive oil

    1 block light Halloumi, Sliced into 4

    1 tbsp honey

    1 garlic clove, finely chopped

    1 lemon

    Method.

    Preheat your oven to 200c / 180c (fan) / Gas Mark 6

     

    1. Use a quarter of the lemon to slice into 4 rounds that will sit on top of the halloumi pieces.
    2. Squeeze the remainder of the lemon into a bowl and mix with the garlic, honey, olive oil and herbs.
    3. Sit the halloumi pieces in the bowl and toss gently in the marinade.
    4. Place the halloumi pieces in a baking dish, top with a lemon round each and drizzle over any marinade from the bowl.
    5. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes and turn each halloumi piece over.
    6. Roast for a further 10-15 minutes until the edges of the cheese start to turn golden.
    7. Remove from the oven and using a spatula to remove the halloumi, flip over onto plates so they are served lemon side up.
  • RECIPE | Baked Sweet Potato Burgers

    Makes 4 burgers |  Prep 10 mins  Cook 1 hour

    Smoky sweet potato burgers that are packed with antioxidant power. It may seem like a while to cook, but these delicate patties will pay you back in health benefits, as opposed to a normal beef burger. I make a simple garlic mayo for these using 1 garlic clove finely chopped, 3 tbsp light mayo and a handful of chopped parsley. These are also beautiful with my Fennel & Red Cabbage Slaw.

    You could follow the recipe up to step 5 and then keep the patties in the fridge to be cooked the next day.

    SWEET POTATO – One medium (200g) of sweet potato will provide the following DRI; 213% vitamin A, 52% vitamin C, 49% manganese (bone production & skin integrity), 35% copper (immune system), 35% B5 (good for acne / oily skin), 33% B6 (the “good mood” vitamin, brain function), 28% biotin (good for hair loss, nails, healthy skin, supports metabolism and could aid weight loss, lowers cholesterol, regulate blood sugar), 27% potassium (counteracts sodium, lowers blood pressure, healthy digestion), 26% fibre, 18% B3, 17% B1, 16% B2, 15% phosphorous. (SOURCE: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64 )

     

    RED ONION – The red onion contains a bioflavanoid called Quercetin. Quercetin has been found to contain anti : fungal / bacterial / inflammatory, and cancer fighting properties. One study suggests that half an onion a day could reduce the risk of stomach cancer by 50%. (SOURCE: http://www.healwithfood.org/health-benefits/eating-red-onions.php )

     

    Ingredients.

    1 red onion, chopped

    ½ large sweet potato, peeled and in small cubes

    1 garlic

    ¼ tsp cumin

    ½ tsp herbes de Provence or Italian herbs

    1 tsp smoked paprika

    3 tbsp sweetcorn (frozen is fine)

    4 tbsp kidney beans, cooked

    6 tbsp breadcrumbs (I used a gluten-free seeded brown bread)

     

    Method.

    Preheat your oven to 230 c / 210c (fan) / Gas Mark 8

     

    1. In a large saucepan heat two tablespoons of olive oil and fry the onion, garlic and sweet potato over a low heat for 15-20 mins or until soft.
    2. Transfer the onion, garlic and sweet potato into a large bowl where you will now mash together along with all the spices. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
    3. Stir in the sweetcorn, kidney beans, and breadcrumbs and mix well to combine.
    4. Wet your hands for the next bit. Mould the burger mix into 4 equally shaped patties.
    5. Put a sheet of greaseproof paper on a baking sheet, and then put your patties on top.
    6. Put in the oven for 15 minutes.
    7. Remove from the oven and carefully flip with a spatula. Put back in the oven for a further 15-20 minutes.
    8. Serve on buns with salad, tomato, onion rings, or however you wish to dress it.

     

     

  • RECIPE | Pork Carnitas

    Serves 3 (or two cavemen) | Cook 3 ½ hours | Prep minimum marinade time of 1 hour, overnight would be great

    Slow Cook

    Deliciously sticky, sweet pulled pork can really be a show stopper at the table. Its slow cooking creates such a depth of flavour enhanced with the marinade spices that this meat does not require any effort to “dress up”. Serve alongside simple accompaniments, shredded lettuce, different coloured sliced tomatoes, grated local cheese, flour tortillas etc. Keep it simple, let the meat do the talking. The key is in the length of time you marinate your meat for.

     

    Ingredients.

    Marinade:

    650g pork belly, cubed into small pieces

    300ml apple juice

    1 tbsp garlic powder

    1 tbsp oregano

    1 tsp cumin

    2 bay leaves

    300ml ham stock (you could use pork or chicken)

     

    Method.

    Preheat your oven to 180c / 160c (fan) / Gas Mark 4

     

    1. Combine all the ingredients for the marinade, except the ham stock, in a large bowl with the pork pieces and leave to marinade as long as possible, up to 1 day.
    2. Transfer the pork and marinade, and add the ham stock, into either a large oven-proof casserole dish with a lid, or a deep baking tray with foil wrapped over the top.
    3. Cook the pork in the oven, covered, for the next two hours.
    4. After two hours, remove the foil / lid and continue to cook for another hour.
    5. Remove from the oven and spoon out the pork pieces with some of their oil into a large frying pan over a medium heat.
    6. Remaining marinade juices can now be put into a small saucepan and simmered to reduce down to a sticky sauce to tip over the pork for serving.
    7. Cook the pork in the frying pan for about 30 minutes, stirring regularly.
    8. Transfer the pork to a dish where you can begin to shred the meat using two forks.
    9. Tip over the reduced sauce and serve alongside tortillas, pita breads, fresh salad, cooked onions etc.

     

  • RECIPE | Baked Apples in Cider

    Serves 2 |  Prep 10 mins | Cook 40-50 mins

    Literally golden and delicious. Apples baked in a dark, vanilla, cider syrup with a hint of nutmeg. A lovely, no fuss dessert paying homage to the apple by saucing it in a sweet nectar of itself. To serve with cream is a must.

    Ingredient.

    2 apples (I used Braeburn variety)

    250ml cider

    1 tablespoon salted butter, room temp

    2 tablespoon dark muscovado sugar

    1 tsp vanilla flavouring or extract

    grating of whole nutmeg

    Double cream to serve

    Ingredients.

    Preheat your oven to 210c / 190c (fan) / Gas Mark 6-7

     

    1. In a large deep frying pan, add the cider and boil over a high heat for about ten minutes until it has reduced by at least half and appears syrupy. Meanwhile…
    2. You want to now remove the core of each apple but keeping the base of the apple intact. I simply cut a circle out by the stem of each and used a teaspoon to scoop the core / seeds out. Place in a small baking dish.
    3. Now remove the apple skin using a peeler.
    4. Back to your cider syrup. Whisk in the butter, sugar and vanilla and pour into the wells you have made in the apples until they overflow. Spoon over the sauce to coat the apples entirely.
    5. Give a small grating of whole nutmeg over the top.
    6. Place in the oven for the next 40-50 minutes until they have cooked through, I basted mine three times throughout. Serve.

     

  • RECIPE: Beetroot Chocolate Cake

    Beetroot Chocolate Cake

    Healthier Cake / Gluten-free / Anti-Oxidant Rich

    I’m writing the intro for this as my cake sits cooking in the oven. Cakes or anything with precise measures tend to stress me out as I basically can’t be slap dash and have to be accurate. However the preparation from start to oven seems to have passed me by unnoticed. It’s an extremely easy recipe to follow. I’ve cut out wheat so this recipe is gluten-free (as long as the baking powder you buy is also gluten-free). Ground almonds act as the binding agent to bring together this beautifully rich, moist cake.

    If you are looking for a healthy alternative to your average cake, then with 300g beetroot packed into this flourless, no “added” sugar, gluten-free cake- I think we have a winner.

    This cake has many anti-oxidant properties gained from the ingredients within it. Beetroot, almonds, dark chocolate, and honey all have healthy heart benefits to them as well, so why not make this healthy cake for someone you love.

    BEETROOT– Beetroot are high in potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin A, B6, C, folic acid and anti-oxidants. (SOURCE http://www.webmd.boots.com/healthy-eating/guide/beetroot-benefits ) The nitrates in beetroot help lower blood pressure and may help heart disease. Also, beets contain boron which is good for sexual stamina and all-round energy levels! (SOURCE http://www.undergroundhealth.com/12-healthiest-foods-on-earth/ )

    ALMONDS – Naturally low in saturated fats, and high in vitamin E, almonds make a great anti-oxidant. Clinical studies actually conducted that a handful of almonds a day alongside a healthy diet, helps to lower cholesterol and promote a healthy heart. (SOURCE: http://www.theguardian.com/california-almonds/introduction )

    DARK CHOCOLATE – Nutritious. Yes it is, in moderation. You wouldn’t want to eat it in one sitting obviously, but just to show you, based on 70-85% cocoa; 100g dark chocolate contains the following percentages of your recommended daily intake; 67% iron, 58% magnesium, 89% copper (great for immune system), 98% manganese, along with potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and selenium. A sensible size slice of this cake along with a healthy diet could be helping you get all your essential minerals. Dark chocolate could also improve blood flow / lower blood pressure, and even improve risk factors for heart disease. (SOURCE; http://authoritynutrition.com/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate/ )

    HONEY – Honey contains flavanoids / anti- oxidants which help reduce the risk of certain cancers, and heart disease. Honey actually helps the body regulate its blood sugar levels too. (SOURCE; http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-health-benefits-of-honey.html?page=2 )

     

    Ingredient

    300g cooked beetroot in natural juices, pureed

    4 large free-range eggs

    4 tbsp honey

    4 tbsp olive oil

    1 tbsp cocoa powder, and a little extra for dusting

    1 tsp vanilla extract

    1 tsp gluten-free baking powder

    125g ground almonds

    125g dark chocolate (I used 85% cocoa)

     

    Instructions

    Preheat your oven to 180c / 160c (fan) / Gas Mark 4

    1. Grease and line a round loose-bottomed cake tin, I used a 22cm.
    2. In a large bowl, combine the beetroot with the eggs, vanilla extract, honey, cocoa and baking powder. I do this by hand so I can justify a larger piece of cake at the end of it! You can of course use an electric whisker if you want.
    3. Once combined, fold in the ground almonds.
    4. Using a heatproof bowl, place on top of a small saucepan that has a little boiling water in it, and place the chocolate in the bowl. Make sure the bowl isn’t actually touching the boiling water beneath it.
    5. Once all the chocolate is melted you can stir in the olive oil.
    6. Add the chocolate now to the cake mix and stir slowly to combine.
    7. Tip the cake mix out into your cake tin, levelling out with a spatula, and bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes. You will know the cake is ready when inserting a skewer into it’s centre and it comes out clean. Cake mix clinging to your skewer means it is not ready!
    8. Leave the cake to cool in its tin and then transfer to a wire rack.
    9. Dust with cocoa powder by tapping it through a sieve and serve. This cake does go rather well with a dollop of organic coconut Greek yoghurt, a healthier option than cream.

     

     

  • RECIPE: Pigs In Trees

    Pigs in Trees

    Serves 2

    Prep 5 mins

    Cook 45 mins

    Easy / Minimal Ingredients / Gluten- Free

    With broccoli and fennel fumbled together in a fresh lemony marinade this works wonderfully alongside little herby sausage balls nestled amongst them. With it’s subtle mustard undertones I like to serve a side of plain roasted butternut squash and sweet potatoes, making this a simple throw together and bung in the oven meal. Just add gravy on the side and you have a twist on the Sunday roast.

    Use high quality sausages with no less that 90% sausage meat, the cheaper the sausage the more nasties you’ll find such as a high salt content. You wouldn’t want to counteract the positive influence that both fennel and broccoli have on blood pressure by opting for a low grade banger.

    With the other half of the fennel I made a simple low fat slaw as part of my lunch the following day by finely slicing the fennel, half a small onion, a handful of chopped walnuts with a teaspoon of wholegrain mustard, two tablespoons natural yoghurt and one of low fat mayo.

    BROCCOLI – Rich in vitamin C, A, folic acid, calcium and fibre. A good source of calcium particularly for those that avoid dairy products. Not only can calcium promote healthy bones but certain research has suggested that it may play a role in controlling high blood pressure, and could help prevent colon cancer. Sulforaphane within broccoli has anti-cancer properties. Broccoli is equal part soluble and insoluble fibre helping you to meet requirements for both types of fibre. (SOURCE; http://home.howstuffworks.com/broccoli3.htm )

    FENNEL – Fennel contains a healthy amount of flavanoids that give it strong anti-oxidant properties. When researchers tested the impact of fennel on animals, it has repeatedly shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and help prevent cancer. Fennel is a very good source of fibre too, as fibre helps flush out potential carinogenic toxins, fennel could be useful in treatment of colon cancer. High in potassium this vegetable is another winner for helping lower blood pressure. (SOURCE; http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=23 )

     

    Ingredients

    400g pack high grade gluten free sausages with herbs, casings removed and each sausage made into 4 meatballs

    1 head broccoli, split into small florets

    ½ fennel, sliced.

    ½ lemon, zested

    ½ tsp lemon juice

    1 tsp wholegrain mustard

    1 ½ tbsp olive oil

    Black pepper

     

    Instructions

    Preheat your oven to 220c / 200c (fan) / Gas Mark 7

    1. In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, mustard, lemon zest & juice.
    2. Tip the vegetables into a large casserole / baking dish and mix with the mustard lemon marinade to coat them.
    3. Arrange the broccoli florets and fennel slices in a single even layer.
    4. Nestle your sausage balls amongst the vegetables, drizzle with a little more olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of black pepper before putting in the oven for 45 mins or until the sausages are cooked through and browned. If you like crispy textures then pop the dish under the grill for a few mins before serving.
    5. Serve with vegetables of your choice.

     

  • RECIPE: Crack Crispy Kale

    Crack Crispy Kale

    Serves 1, but could be shared through gritted teeth

    Prep 5 mins

    Cook 25 mins

    Uber addictive and really more-ish. If you like crispy seaweed from your local Chinese- then you’ll love this. I was feeling sloth-like when deciding to make these and opted for a pre-shredded bag of kale, as opposed to buying and preparing it myself. Sure, if I had prepared it myself I could have made larger style pieces- but I honestly don’t care as long as they can fit in my palm and shovelled to face.

    The absolute key to success with this dish is keeping the kale as dry as dry can be. You want to initially rinse your kale to rid of grit and dirt, but after, lay spread out on thick kitchen towel and then top and press down to absorb as much water as you can. I did this twice. Waiting for these to be ready is probably the most difficult part of this recipe.

    KALE – There are only 50 calories in 100g kale. Kale is really high in iron, per calorie more so than beef. (SOURCE: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4408/Top-10-Health-Benefits-of-Eating-Kale.html ) Rich in vitamins A, C, K, kale has been marked as a “superfood” for years now.

     

    Ingredients

    100g kale

    1 tbsp olive oil

    1 tsp salt

     

    Instructions

    Pre-heat your oven to 180c / 160c (fan) / Gas Mark 4

     

    1. Wash the kale in a colander and dry, dry, dry with kitchen towel. Remove any thick root like parts from the kale as these will not be crispy, but rather chewy!
    2. Line a large baking tray with foil, shiny side up.
    3. Put the kale on top of the foil and drizzle in the oil and salt. Rub all together and lay out in a thin even layer.
    4. Place in the oven for 10 minutes.
    5. Rotate baking tray 180 degrees and place back in the oven for a further 15 minutes. You can then eat these straight away or leave to cool. I prefer them straight from the oven.

     

    Spice Tip!

    If you enjoy these, then why don’t you experiment by adding a teaspoon of different spices with each batch you make. Chilli ? Five spice? Cumin? Even oregano!

     

     

     

  • RECIPE: Winter Lentil, Kale & Sausage Soup

    Winter Lentil, Kale & Sausage Soup

    Serves 2 large portions (this would comfortably serve 4 alongside a carb such as wild rice)

    Prep 10 mins

    Cook 1 hour

    Digestion Helper

     

    It’s difficult to decide whether this is in fact a soup, or a casserole. I am going with it being a butch soup. It’s packed full of goodness with a range of classic vegetables. It really is more-ish which is why I’ve put serves 2 large portions. If you wanted it to serve 4 people I would suggest a wild rice accompaniment. It’s nutty tones would work well against the soup’s earthy, herby flavours. I did have some leftover when I made this for the pictures (minus the sausage as that’s always the first bits to go!), so the next day I re-heated with some added water and blended for my lunch.

     

    It’s a great source of fibre from the green lentils and kale. The green lentils will also work along side the spinach with their healthy digestive properties, helping to ease constipation, protect you from ulcers, and flush toxins from the colon.

    GREEN LENTILS- Lentils are a slow-burning energy giver from it’s complex carbohydrate composition. The high levels of soluble fibre mean that lentils can help lower cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease (as they also contain folate & magnesium) , and have great digestive health properties; prevent constipation, slow down digestion and stabilise blood sugar levels. (SOURCE; http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5488/7-Health-Benefits-of-Lentils.html )

    Ingredients 

    90g dried green lentil, pre-cooked according to pack instructions- alternatively cook along side from when you start browning the sausages and they can finish cooking when you add them to the soup and simmer.

    1 bay leaf

    400g sausages with herbs, each sausage cut into 4 chunks

    1 onion, finely chopped

    2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

    110ml red wine

    2 celery sticks along with any leaves, if possible- finely chopped

    3 carrots, chopped into small pieces

    1 tbsp marjoram

    500ml chicken stock

    140g frozen baby leaf spinach

    50g kale, shredded

    1 ½ tbsp organic tomato ketchup

     

     

    Instructions

    1. Brown the sausage in a deep frying pan along with the bayleaf for 10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
    2. Lightly fry the onion and garlic in the pan for 10 minutes.
    3. Add the wine and de-glaze the pan for a couple of minutes.
    4. Now you can add the lentils, stock, celery, carrots, marjoram, ketchup and reserved sausages. Bring the pan to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 45 mins or until the carrots are cooked through.
    5. If you see the pan going dry at any point then add some water to prevent it sticking. Stir often to prevent lentils clinging to the pan.
    6. Add the spinach and kale and get the soup really hot ready to be served in big bowls.

    Remove bay leaf. Check seasoning before serving and adjust if necessary.

     

     

     

     

     

  • RECIPE: Portabella Chicken

    Portabella Chicken

    Serves 4

    Prep 10 mins

    Cook 1hr 10 mins

     

    There is nothing better than a rich red wine sauce in the Winter. Packed with portabella mushrooms this dish really is a meal in itself. I like to serve mine alongside a big bowl of tender stem broccoli and a hunk of crusty bread. For a crowd you could easily double the recipe. If this is a meal for two then why not reduce the amount of chicken, and with any leftover sauce you can freeze and use for another meal.

    PORTABELLA MUSHROOMS – A 100g serving of portabellas will provide you with the following of your recommended daily intake; 15% B5, 29% B2, 38% B3, 6% B9, 6% B1.

    B Vitamins are required to maintain a healthy metabolism and nervous system. They are also great for your skin, hair, eyes, and liver. Minerals found in portabellas’ include; potassium, phosphorous, selenium, and copper. Copper is an important mineral for our immune system. (SOURCE: http://www.livestrong.com/article/421447-portabella-mushroom-benefits/ )

    Ingredients

    2 tbsp carotino oil (or a healthy cooking oil of your choice, I always use carotino oil in rich reddish dishes for added colour and it’s vitamin properties)

    400g can Italian plum tomatoes

    300g mini portabella mushrooms, peeled and quartered

    300ml red wine

    150ml chicken stock

    4 chicken pieces (I used thighs and drumsticks)

    2 onions, chopped finely

    2 garlic, chopped finely

    2 carrots, grated

    1 tbsp sundried tomato paste

    1 tbsp porcini paste (you could use a few porcini mushrooms in place of the paste if you don’t have it )

    Handful of basil and parsley, chopped finely

     

    Instructions

    Heat your oven to 200c / 180c (fan) / Gas mark 6

     

    1. Heat the oil in a casserole dish that can both be used on the hob and in the oven. Brown the chicken on all sides for around ten minutes.
    2. Remove the chicken and put on a plate for later.
    3. Fry the onion lightly in the same pan for 10 minutes, and then remove.
    4. Fry the mushroom on a high heat for 5 minutes.
    5. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute further.
    6. Add the wine and de-glaze the pan, scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon to lift any sticky parts. Let the wine bubble out for 5 minutes.
    7. Now add the onions back to the pan along with the carrots, tomatoes, both pastes, fresh herbs, chicken stock, season to your taste and bring the sauce to a boil.
    8. Nestle your chicken pieces on top of the sauce and place in the oven for 45 mins.