Baharat and Orange Chicken Thighs with Saffron Jewelled Rice, Dukkah Roasted Carrots and Dill Tahini Yoghurt
This is one of my favourite recipes I’ve made recently and would make a great alternative to your Sunday roast. The flavours are also quite festive and Christmassy. The spiced chicken thighs with the sweetness of the orange and pomegranate glaze were so tasty and the rice was buttery and rich with saffron, nuts and dried fruits. The carrots were roasted in a mixture of spices and topped with pistachios, dukkah and fruity pomegranates. The creamy dill tahini yoghurt underneath really made the dish - this is definitely a side that could go with anything.
Panfried Halibut with Warm Tartare Sauce, Crushed Potatoes with Spring Onions and Chives, and Wilted Spinach
Halibut will always be my favourite white fish. It’s so meaty and tasty and can be paired with so many things. With fish as beautiful as this, all it needs is to be panfried in some rapeseed oil and basted with lots of butter, seasoning and lemon. Served with a warm tartare sauce and some crushed new potatoes, this is one of those simple dinners which feels very special. I could eat this every night.
Rosemary, Thyme and Garlic Baked Camembert with Homemade Fig Jam and Fennel Seed Croutons
If you’re not having baked camembert during the festive period then frankly you are doing Christmas all wrong. What is better then salty cheese studded with herbs, garlic and nuts, topped with a sweet balsamic fig jam and served with fennel seed ciabatta croutons to dunk into all that cheesy, oozy goodness.
Slow Cooked Chilli Con Carne with Chocolate, Ancho Chilli and Coffee
Not all chilli con carnes are created equally and this is one of the those chillies. The combination of the beef brisket and pork shoulder works so well together, while the chocolate and coffee add a real depth and richness. I love a slow cooked recipe I can shove in the oven and forget about, and the longer you leave this one, the better. It also always tastes so much better after it’s had a night in the fridge and the flavours have had a chance to develop, so if you can make it a day ahead. If you’re after a special, fuss-free dinner party dish which won’t break the bank then this is the one for you.
Za’atar Halloumi Flatbreads with Tzatiki and Greek Sumac Salad
Meat-free, healthy, delicious, and full of some of my favourite Greek flavours, this halloumi dish is a knockout. I love halloumi and by marinading it in a mixture of za’atar, garlic, lemon and finishing it in the pan with a drizzle of honey, you will not be able to resist it.
Dukkah Roasted Butternut Squash with Brussel Sprouts, Dates, Labneh, Zhoug and Pecans
This dish would make a great side dish but it also made a lovely light dinner for us. Meat free and vegetarian, it’s full of flavour and texture. The roasted squash and sprouts crusted with dukkah, coriander, cumin seeds and nigella seeds is delicious. Teamed with creamy labneh yoghurt which is so easy to make, zingy green zhoug dressing, crunchy toasted walnuts and sweet juicy dates, this would be a great addition to any feast and a different way to have sprouts on Christmas Day.
Spiced Lamb Chops with Mustard Seed Slaw and Chat Masala Potatoes
I love any kind of spiced marinaded lamb and after several tries, I think I might have found the perfect lamb marinade. If you can, do marinade the chops in the fridge overnight. It just helps the flavours to really sink into the meat and make it extra tender and juicy. Paired with a fresh and zingy slaw it is a marriage made in heaven.
Crab, Fennel and Courgette Bucatini with Anchovy, Caper and Lemon Parsley Breadcrumbs
Crab and fennel is a classic combination. Teamed with lemon, parsley, chilli, anchovies and capers, the flavours just come alive. This is the recipe for my crab bucatini which is healthy, full of flavour and so versatile. It is both a perfect quick midweek meal and a dish to impress for a dinner party. For me it’s the breadcrumbs which make this recipe so don’t miss out on those.
Panfried Salmon with Beetroot Houmous and Apple, Fennel, Walnut & Dill Salad
I am a complete houmous obsessive and have found an alternative way to make my favourite dip. This beetroot houmous recipe is so tasty and versatile - you could have it with fish, chicken or as a dip as part of any vegetarian or meat mezze feast. It worked really well with this super fresh, crunchy salad and a salmon fillet for a tasty, quick, healthy, light dinner.
Classic Victoria Sponge Loaf Cake with Lemon Sponge, Chantilly Cream and Raspberry Jam
Sometimes you just can’t be a classic and Victoria Sponge will always be up there with my favourite type of cake. I added some lemon zest to the sponge and made a chantilly cream instead of buttercream as I find buttercream a bit too sweet, but this is a classic recipe which no one will be able to resist.
Za’atar Chicken Thighs with Watermelon and Feta Salad
A refreshing watermelon and feta salad with some mouth-wateringly succulent marinaded chicken thighs. I love the addition of fruit in salads, and the crisp, sweet juiciness of watermelon chunks with salty crumbled feta, kalamata olives and a light lemon, balsamic and honey dressing is hard to beat.
Seared Beef Noodle Salad with Asian Dressing, Peanuts and Crispy Garlic and Ginger
This is a fresh and zingy salad that is a great way to satisfy your beef cravings and still enjoy a light meal. Salty, sour, sharp, and nutty, this would make a lovely dinner party starter in small quantities or it would also be great on the bbq in the summer. It’s also very quick to prepare on a midweek night and works really well as leftovers (that’s if there is any).
Charred Nectarine, Burrata and Prosciutto Salad with Fennel Seed Croutons and Basil Dressing
This is my version of the ultimate summer salad but it is so good you will want to eat it all year round. It is full of so much flavour and texture - salty prosciutto, creamy burrata, sweet smoky charred nectarines, crunchy croutons and the zing of a basil dressing, this is a salad I could just eat and eat and eat.
Panfried Seabass with Sauce Vierge, Roasted Fennel and Asparagus, and Crushed Garlic Thyme Potatoes
This seabass dish with my twist on a classic sauce vierge recipe and my version of roasted crushed potatoes will transport you to the sunshine with every mouthful. Just make sure to enjoy with a chilled glass of wine. Fresh, vibrant and full of flavour.
Lamb, Feta and Pistachio Meatballs with Tomato Sumac Salad and Za’atar Flatbreads
With this dish I tried to combine some of my favourite Middle Eastern flavours. These are up there with some of the best meatballs I’ve ever made - the crunch from the pistachios, saltiness from the feta, freshness from the herbs and sweet, sticky glaze from the pomegranate molasses made them completely moreish. With a refreshing tomato and olive sumac salad, bulgur wheat tabbouleh, tzatziki and homemade flatbreads to mop up all the deliciousness, this is my favourite type of food.
Chicken Satay with Mango, Lime, Charred Pineapple and Peanut Salad
Everyone loves chicken satay and this is my go-to recipe for the juiciest, most succulent chicken thighs in a moreishly aromatic peanut marinade. With a fresh mango, lime, carrot and charred pineapple salad it is fresh, healthy and full of flavour and texture.
Chargrilled Sweetheart Cabbage with Harissa Butter, Preserved Lemon and Parsley Yoghurt, Pickled Red Onions, Toasted Hazelnuts and Raisins
I love the smokiness of the charred cabbage with the heat of the harissa butter, cooling sharpness of the lemon yoghurt, and all the textures from the toasted nuts, pickled onions and sweetness from the raisins. This is a filling, flavour packed veggie dish which works great on its own or as a side dish and can easily be made vegan.
Old School Jam Sponge and Custard
Is there anything more comforting in the world than fluffy sponge with fruity jam and silky smooth vanilla custard? Follow my recipe to recreate this ultimate old school, budget friendly pudding which everyone will love.
Slow Roast Porchetta with Salsa Verde, Apple Sauce, Polenta Roasties, Honey Thyme Carrots & Stir-Fried Kale
Some days just feel like a roast day. And some days feel like slow cooked, crispy crackling kind of roast days. I’d never tried salsa verde with pork before but I’m now a total convert. The sharpness and acidity of the sauce cuts through the richness of the pork and works so well. It’s also compulsory to serve any kind of roast pork with apple sauce and roast potatoes.