QUICK CHICKEN ROAST

QUICK CHICKEN ROAST

Serve up a golden roasted chicken with this simple one-tray bake recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 6 thyme sprigs, leaves picked
• 4 anchovies in oil, drained, chopped
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
• 8 chicken thighs (bone in, skin on)
• 800g baby kipfler potatoes, halved lengthways
• 100g speck or streaky bacon, cut into 5mm-thick batons
• 250g baby truss tomatoes

• METHOD

  • 1
    Preheat the oven to 200C.
  • 2
    Combine the thyme, anchovies, oregano, chilli, oil, garlic and lemon zest in a bowl. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Add the potatoes and toss to combine. Place on a large baking tray and scatter over the speck.
  • 3
    Cut the zested lemon into wedges and add to the tray. Season and roast for 40 minutes or until chicken is golden and potatoes tender. Remove from the oven and top with tomatoes. Roast for a further 10-15 minutes until tomatoes are blistered.
  • 4
    Squeeze over roasted lemon juice to serve.
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VEGETABLE CASSEROLE WITH SIMMERED EGGS (VEGETARIAN)

INGREDIENTS

• 125ml (1/2 cup) olive oil
• 1 onion, peeled, chopped
• 2 potatoes, peeled, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 500g zucchinis, cut into 1cm pieces
• 1 1/2 cups tomato passata*
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 20ml (1 tablespoon) red wine vinegar
• 3-4 free-range eggs
• 4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• Crusty bread, to serve

• METHOD

  • 1
    Place oil in a frypan over low heat. Add onion, potato and carrot and cook until vegetables start to turn golden. Add the garlic and zucchini and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Stir in passata, oregano, vinegar and 3 cups of water. Season.
  • 2
    Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally or until thickened.
  • 3
    Make 3-4 small indents in casserole and break in 3-4 eggs. Partially cover and cook for 10 minutes or until eggs have set.
  • 4
    Sprinkle with parmesan and serve from pan at the table with lots of crusty bread.

  • NOTES

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    * Tomato passata (or sugo) is sieved tomatoes. From greengrocers and delis.

ALMOND BUTTER CHICKEN SATAY WITH ASIAN SLAW

The humble chicken thigh is chargrilled and slathered in a creamy, rich satay sauce.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbs coconut oil
• 1 lemongrass stalk (inner core only), finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
• 5cm piece ginger, finely grated
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes
• 2 tsp coconut sugar
• 2 tsp tamarind paste
• 2 tbs tamari
• 1/2 cup (125g) almond butter
• Juice of 3 limes
• 1/2 Chinese cabbage (wombok), finely shredded
• 1/4 red cabbage, finely shredded
• 2 kale leaves, finely shredded
• 1/4 cup (35g) sesame seeds, toasted
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 8 (800g) chicken thigh fillets, cut in half

• METHOD

  • 1
    To make satay, melt coconut oil in a frypan over medium heat. Add lemongrass, garlic, ginger, onion and chilli flakes, and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add coconut sugar, tamarind paste, tamari, almond butter, juice of 1 lime and 1 cup (250ml) water. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes until combined. Season to taste, then set aside to cool slightly.
  • 2
    Place all cabbage, kale and sesame seeds in a bowl and toss to combine. Whisk sesame oil and juice of remaining 2 limes in a separate bowl, then toss with slaw.
  • 3
    Preheat a barbecue or chargrill pan to high. Thread chicken onto skewers and lightly brush all over with 1/3 cup (100g) satay sauce. Cook, turning, for 10 minutes or until cooked through. Serve chicken with slaw and remaining satay sauce.

  • NOTES

    -

    You will need 16 small metal skewers. If using wooden skewers, soak in cold water for 15 minutes.

BEETROOT RISOTTO WITH GOATS' CHEESE AND WALNUTS (VEGETARIAN)

We bet this beetroot risotto, served with crumbled goat's cheese and crunchy walnuts, won't just be the choice of vegetarians.

INGREDIENTS

• 450g can whole baby beetroot
• 600ml vegetable stock
• 50g unsalted butter
• 1 onion, peeled, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 250g arborio risotto rice
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 150ml red wine
• 75g walnuts, roughly chopped
• 125g soft goats' cheese
• Wild rocket leaves, to serve

• METHOD

  • 1
    Drain the beetroot juice into a jug and add the vegetable stock to make up about 1 litre.
  • 2
    Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until just softened.
  • 3
    Add the rice and thyme and stir to coat the rice grains in the butter.
  • 4
    Add the red wine to the rice and continue cooking until most of the liquid has been absorbed.
  • 5
    Add the stock mixture, a ladleful at a time, stirring to prevent catching and allowing the liquid to be absorbed before adding the next ladleful. Continue for about 20 minutes until the rice is cooked but slightly al dente.
  • 6
    Dice the beetroot into small cubes, and then add to the risotto, along with two-thirds of the chopped walnuts.
  • 7
    To serve, crumble the goats' cheese over the beetroot risotto, sprinkle with the remaining walnuts and then garnish with some wild rocket.

THREE-CHEESE PUMPKIN PIE (VEGETARIAN)

Enclosed in this free-form pie is a perfectly balanced mixture of sweet pumpkin and salty cheese.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 25g unsalted butter
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 butternut pumpkin (about 450g), peeled, cut into 1.5cm cubes
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten, plus 1 lightly beaten egg to brush
• 100ml pure (thin) cream
• 120g Gruyere, grated
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan
• Fried sage leaves, to serve (optional)

Pastry

• 2 cups (300g) plain flour
• 30g cheddar, grated
• 150g chilled unsalted butter, chopped

• METHOD

  • 1
    For the pastry, place flour, cheddar and butter in a food processor with a pinch of salt. Process until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Add 1/3 cup (80ml) chilled water and process until mixture comes together to form a smooth ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
  • 2
    Meanwhile, make the filling. Heat the oil and butter a in large frypan over low heat and cook the onion for 5 minutes or until soft. Add the pumpkin and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes.
  • 3
    Add 1/2 cup (125ml) water and bring to a simmer. Cover, return heat to low and cook for 20 minutes or until the pumpkin is soft. Stir in the sugar and balsamic vinegar, then allow to cool.
  • 4
    Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
  • 5
    Roll out pastry on a lightly floured board to a 30cm disc and place on the prepared baking tray.
  • 6
    Place the cooled pumpkin mixture in a large bowl. Add the eggs and cream, and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir in half the gruyere, then sprinkle the remaining gruyere over the pastry, leaving a 2cm border. Fill the centre of the pastry with the pumpkin mixture, then fold over the 2cm border and roughly pleat. Brush the pastry edge with the beaten egg and sprinkle with parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
  • 7
    Serve the pie warm, garnished with fried sage leaves, if using.

  • NOTES

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    Vegetarians can use animal rennet-free cheese, available from selected supermarkets. Note: Instead of making the pastry yourself, you can use a 375g block of frozen shortcrust pastry (from supermarkets) for this recipe.

VEGETARIAN PASTRY PIZZAS

INGREDIENTS

• 2 sheets frozen reduced-fat puff pastry
• 220g tub cherry bocconcini, drained
• 1 zucchini
• 4 tablespoons (1/3 cup) tomato and basil pasta sauce
• 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves

• METHOD

  • 1
    Preheat 2 baking trays in the oven at 220°C.
  • 2
    Remove pastry from the freezer to thaw slightly while you prepare the toppings. Tear the bocconcini in half and drain on paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. Slice zucchini into very thin rounds.
  • 3
    Halve the pastry sheets and fold in the sides of each piece to make a 5mm border. Place on sheets of baking paper, then spread with pasta sauce. Top with zucchini, bocconcini and oregano. Remove trays from oven and place baking paper with pizzas onto the hot trays. Bake for 12 minutes or until puffed and golden
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EASY VEGETARIAN PIE

Creamy vegetarian potato pie with a crisp pastry shell is a fantastic vegetarian dish any night of the week.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 large potatoes, peeled, thinly sliced
• 60ml (1/4 cup) olive oil
• 20g unsalted butter
• 4 onions, sliced into thin wedges
• 1/2 cup (125ml) thickened cream
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 x 375g blocks butter puff pastry
• 1 egg, beaten

• METHOD

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 180°C. Place the potatoes on an oiled baking tray, drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil, then roast for 15 minutes.
  • 2
    Heat remaining oil and butter in a pan over low heat. Add onion and cook for 20 minutes until soft and golden. Set aside to cool. Combine onion and potato with cream, thyme and garlic. Season and set aside to cool.
  • 3
    Roll out pastry blocks on a lightly floured surface to 35 x 20cm rectangles. Place one sheet on a lightly-floured baking tray and spread the mixture in the centre, leaving a 2cm border. Brush edge with egg, place other sheet on top and press together, pinching until sealed. (We used a little extra pastry to make decorative leaves.)
  • 4
    Brush all over with egg. Make 2 air holes in the top and bake for 25 minutes until crisp and golden.