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Sweet Potato, Cauliflower and Sugar Snap Curry

This is very mild but if you like your curries spicier, add one chopped chilli with the curry powder. You can also substitute any of the vegetables for what you have in the fridge.

Sweet Potato, Cauliflower and Sugar Snap Curry

Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 1 onion thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • 2 to matoes chopped
  • 1 large sweet potato peeled and cut into large pieces
  • 500 ml hot vegetable stock
  • 350 g cauliflower cut into florets
  • 100 g each sugar snap peas and French beans topped

Instructions
 

  • Gently warm the oil in a saucepan over a low heat. Add the onions and fry them for about 5 mins,until soft. Add the curry powder and stir-fry for 1 min, until you are able to smell the distinctive aroma of the spices.
  • Stir in the tomatoes, sweet potato and stock, and bring to the boil. Simmer, covered, for 5 mins, then add the cauliflower. Cook uncovered for 5 mins, then stir in the sugar snap peas and French beans. Simmer for a further 5 mins until all the vegetables are tender. Serve with steamed rice and naan bread.

Gordon Ramsay’s Vegetable Pilau Rice

This is the celeb chef’s version of the classic Indian takeaway favourite, vegetable pilau rice, from the Channel 4 series, Gordon’s Great Escape

Gordon Ramsay's Vegetable Pilau Rice

Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g basmati rice
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp ghee or melted unsalted butter ghee is not suitable for vegetarians
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 6 cloves
  • 4 cardamom pods lightly crushed
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 star anise
  • 2 onions peeled and finely sliced
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp red chilli powder
  • Sea salt
  • 50 g mushrooms cleaned and roughly chopped
  • 75 g green beans
  • 150 g cauliflower cut into florets
  • 1 large carrot peeled and finely chopped
  • 100 g peas thawed if frozen
  • 850 ml water
  • 30 g raisins
  • 30 g toasted pistachio nuts

Instructions
 

  • Wash the rice in several changes of cold water, then leave to soak in fresh cold water for at least 30 mins. Drain well and set aside.
  • Heat the oil and 1tbsp of ghee or butter in a wide, heavy-based pan and add the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, bay leaves and star anise.
  • Fry for a minute until they begin to crackle and smell fragrant.
  • Add the onions and fry for another 6-8 mins, stirring frequently until soft and golden brown. Stir in the turmeric, cumin, coriander and chilli powder and fry the ground spices for another minute.
  • Add the remaining ghee or butter, a pinch of salt and all the vegetables to the pan. Sautee for 3-4 mins then tip in the drained rice and stir well.
  • Toast the rice over a high heat for a minute then pour in the water and add the raisins. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for about 10 mins until the rice looks dry and the water has been absorbed.
  • Turn off the heat and, without removing the lid, leave to steam for another 5 mins. Uncover and fork through the rice and vegetables. Sprinkle with the toasted pistachios and serve.
  • This recipe is taken from Gordon Ramsay's Great Escape, published by Harper Collins, priced £25, available from Amazon
  • Gordon's Great Escape series starts Monday 18th - 20th January 2010, on Channel 4 at 9pm

Notes

In India, the fragrant rice for a pilau is usually cooked separately from the other ingredients and everything is mixed together at the end, similar to the way in which a biryani is made.

Seared Salmon With Cauliflower Colcannon

This updated take on colcannon gets a nutrient boost from kale and substitutes less-starchy cauliflower for some of the traditional white potato. We’ve used a food processor to create a superfine pur?e, but you can use a food mill for an even smoother texture. This dish has a fair amount of fat, but most of it comes from the salmon and olive oil, which both contain heart-smart unsaturated fats. The salmon also provides heartprotective omega-3 fats.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) chopped fresh dill
  • 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
  • 1/4 tsp (1 mL) pepper
  • 4 small, skinless salmon fillets, (1 lb/450 g total)
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) olive oil
  • 4 lemon wedges

Cauliflower Colcannon:

  • 1 lb (454 g) yellow-fleshed potatoes, (about 2 large), peeled and cut in chunks
  • 4 cups (1 L) cauliflower florets
  • 2 tsp (10 mL) olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 leek, (white and light green parts only), halved lengthwise and sliced
  • 4 cups (1 L) thinly sliced stemmed kale, (about half bunch)
  • 2 tbsp (30 mL) light sour cream
  • 2 tbsp (30 mL) 2% plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
  • 1/2 tsp (2 mL) pepper

Preparation

Cauliflower Colcannon: In large saucepan of boiling water, cook potatoes for 5 minutes. Add cauliflower; cook until potatoes and cauliflower are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain.

Meanwhile, in large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tsp of the oil over medium heat; cook garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add leek; cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Transfer to plate.

Add remaining oil, kale and 3 tbsp water to pan; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add to leek mixture.

In food processor, pulse together potatoes, cauliflower, sour cream, yogurt, salt and pepper just until smooth. Transfer to bowl; stir in kale mixture. Cover and keep warm.

Sprinkle dill, salt and pepper over both sides of salmon. In nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; cook salmon, turning once, until fish flakes easily when tested, about 6 minutes. Serve over colcannon with lemon wedges.

Additional information :
Change It Up

Seared Pork Chops With Cauliflower Colcannon
Substitute chopped fresh thyme for dill, and 12 oz (340 g) trimmed boneless fast-fry pork loin centre chops for salmon. Cook pork, turning once, until no longer pink inside, about 4 minutes.