Sag Paneer

This is a lovely vegetarian Indian dish that works as a stand-alone main course or to go alongside a curry dish such as Chicken Dhansak or Beef and Lentil Curry perhaps.

Paneer is a lovely cheese that really absorbs flavour like a sponge and this is a delicious dish - although it took me a few goes to find the right spicing and I pinched from BBC Good Food, Jamie Oliver and The Guardian to make this plus some of my own experimentation.

Sag Paneer

Here’s how:

• 1 large onion
• 3 cloves of garlic
• Thumb sized piece of ginger
• 1 large green chilli
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 2 tsp garam masala
• 2 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 500g spinach
• 400g paneer
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 tbsp ghee (butter will do just as well if you don’t have ghee)

Firstly melt the ghee or butter in a bowl and mix in the turmeric and chilli powder.

In the meantime cut the paneer into cubes and then toss into the melted butter and spice mixture. Ensure they are coated all over.

Place the spinach into a colander and pour over freshly boiled water. Allow to drain off and then place the spinach into a clean tea towel or muslin and squeeze off the excess water. Chop roughly.

Chop the tomatoes and set aside for the minute.

Make a paste by roughly chopping the onion, garlic, ginger and chilli and adding to a blender or Nutribullet and blitzing.

Now add the paneer to a hot frying pan and allow to cook on all sides, getting colouration on each side. Cook for 7-8 minutes and then remove from the pan but leave the pan on the heat.

Add the cumin seeds to the pan and allow to cook for a minute before ading the onion mixture and them allow this to cook for ten minutes until the onions are beginning to caramelise.

Now add the chopped tomato and garam masala and cook for a further three minutes or so to allow the spice to cook out.

Now add the spinach to the pan seasoning generously with salt and white pepper at this stage. This will cook in a minute or so and now it will be time to add about 3 tablespoons of water to unleash all the delicious flavours from the bottom of the pan.

Add the paneer at this stage, and squeeze over the lemon juice and cook for a further 3-4 minutes; remove from the pan and serve immediately. Enjoy

Bridget and Bea’s Mild Chicken and Vegetable Curry

Me and Glen love curries in all their glorious forms but we are both prone to up the chilli heat to a level that wouldn’t be enjoyable to our girls just yet.

Both of my girls love helping in the kitchen and Bridget has often helped me with various tasks appertaining to a hot curry and asked if she could make one for her and Beatrice. The below is a very simple recipe and uses plenty of vegetables and chicken so has a whole load of nutrients in there. It’s an adaptation of my Mum’s long-standing family favourite curry, just tweaked for a younger palate.

You could omit the chicken for a vegetarian option and switch around the vegetables according to what your little ones like best or what you have in stock too.

My Mum always stirs through 1-2 tablespoons of double cream before serving which gives a lovely rich and creamy finish, but I’ve omitted here. If you find the curry is a little spicy though this trick will help to make it slightly milder and natural yoghurt or crème fraiche work just as well too.

The below makes 4-6 small children’s sized portions which freeze really well too.

Bridget and Bea's Mild Chicken and Vegetable Curry

Here’s how:

• X2 skinless chicken breasts
• 1 large onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 thumbnail piece of ginger
• 1 red pepper
• 1 courgette
• 6 tomatoes
• Handful mushrooms
• Small pack of baby sweetcorn
• Tin of coconut milk
• 1 level tablespoon mild curry powder - I used Schwartz
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Couple of cloves
• Drizzle of rapeseed or vegetable oil

Firstly add the oil to a heavy bottomed pan and place onto a low heat.

Now peel and dice the onion finely, mince the garlic and add to the pan to gentle fry.

Peel and finely slice or grate the ginger and add to the pan too.

All this mixture to cook down and soften and once the onions are soft and translucent, add the curry powder, turmeric and paprika. Allow to cook for a few minutes and then use a slotted spoon to remove the mixture and place into a bowl for the time being.

In the meantime chop the tomatoes into small cubes, slice the courgette and pepper and set aside.

Now dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces and add back to the now-empty onion pan. You may need a drizzle more oil here. Allow the chicken to colour on all sides, moving around with a spatula or wooden spoon.

Once the chicken has been seared on all sides, return the onion, garlic and ginger mixture, and the rest of the vegetables to the pan.

Pour over the coconut milk and add the cloves and cinnamon stick.

Add sliced mushrooms for the final five minutes of cooking time.

Allow to cook for twenty minutes, stirring every few minutes, and then try to remove the cloves and what is left of the cinnamon stick.

Serve with your choice of accompaniments. Bridget and Bea love rice or a jacket potato with a little naan bread for dipping into the curry sauce. Enjoy! 

Chicken Dhansak

I have recently started cooking this delicious curry at home, and whilst it’s a touch too spicy for the girls, it’s a great meal for Glen and I and has fast become one of our favourites.

I originally used this Olive recipe, but have made a few slight adjustments over the last few times of cooking, adding extra spices from research amongst other recipe resources.

Originally four types of lentil were used but I’m sticking with my favourite - the simple red lentil as they do the job, taste great in this dish and what’s more they cook in very little time compared to other types.

I also use chicken thighs as find this meat is always tastier and retains its’ moisture better - but you can use chicken breast if you prefer, and the traditional meat here is actually lamb or mutton.

Serve with rice, naan or just a simple cucumber and tomato salad.

The below serves four.

Chicken Dhansak

Here’s how:

• 300-400g skinless chicken thighs
• 1 large white onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 green chillies
• Fresh ginger - about a 3cm long piece
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1tsp turmeric
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 3-4 cloves
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• 3 cardamom pods
• 100g red lentils
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes
• 200ml chicken stock
• Generous handful fresh coriander leaves and stalks

Firstly whizz up the paste by placing the green chillies - seeds and all, peeled ginger and garlic cloves and roughly chopped onion into a blender with a smidge of cold water - I use my Nutribullet for a really smooth paste.

Add the oil to a wok or heavy bottomed pan and place on a gentle heat and add the paste - cook for about ten minutes or until the paste is colouring to brown.

Now add the dried spices and use the knife to bash the cardamom pods up a little, then add to the mix and cook for a further few minutes.

Now add the chicken and cook to colour for a few minutes, then turn each thigh or piece and colour on both sides.

Now add the lentils and stir well to ensure they get a good coating of the base mixture, cook for a minute.

Now add the chopped tomatoes and chicken stock, stir well and allow to gently cook for twenty minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through. They will puff up to almost double their size, so it’ll be easy to tell.

Before serving remove from the heat and stir through half of the coriander and then use the rest as a garnish on top of the dhansak.

Serve with your choice of accompaniments. Enjoy!