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Spanish tortilla with paprika ketchup

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Spanish tortilla with paprika ketchup

What could be more satisfying than homemade tortilla? Ours comes with homemade paprika ketchup, made using fresh vine tomatoes, pimentón, garlic granules and red wine vinegar
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Total Time 1 hr 30 mins
Calories 209 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 450 g waxy potatoes peeled
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion finely sliced
  • 6 large eggs

PAPRIKA KETCHUP

  • 600 g large ripe vine tomatoes roughly chopped
  • 60 g tomato purée
  • 2 tbsp hot smoked paprika (pimentón) * (see cook's notes, below)
  • 1 tsp garlic granules
  • 1/4 tsp celery salt
  • 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
  • 4 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 50 g soft light brown sugar

Instructions
 

  • To make the ketchup, put the tomatoes, tomato purée, paprika, garlic, celery salt and salt in a pan with a grinding of black pepper, and mix well. Cook, covered, for 15 minutes, then uncovered for 15-20 minutes more, stirring frequently until reduced to a thick sauce. Remove from the heat and blend with a stick blender until smooth. Strain through a sieve into another pan, and stir in the vinegar and sugar. Cook over a low heat for 15-20 minutes or until it forms a smooth, shiny ketchup consistency. Spoon into a sterilised jar or bottle and, once cool, keep in the fridge for up to four weeks.
  • Cut the potatoes into thin slices, put into a pan of cold water with a large pinch of salt, bring to a gentle simmer, then remove from the heat and leave for 5 minutes. Drain well and leave to steam-dry in the colander for a few minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a 20cm non-stick frying pan and fry the onion gently for 8-10 minutes, or until soft but not golden. Whisk the eggs with some seasoning in a bowl.
  • Tip the potatoes into the beaten eggs and mix carefully to avoid breaking up the slices. Pour the mixture over the onions in the pan, and leave the base to set over a medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes. When the sides are set, flip the tortilla onto a plate. Add the remaining 1 tbsp oil to the pan, slide the tortilla back in and cook for 5 minutes until set and cooked through. Serve warm or chilled in slices, with a spoon of the paprika ketchup for dunking in.

* Cook's notes

  • Smoked paprika is known as pimentón in Spain, and is widely used in Spanish cooking. This vivid red spice is very different to Hungarian paprika in both look and flavour. To make pimentón, red peppers are dried over wood smoke and then ground to give a smoky, earthy spice. It comes either picante (hot and spicy) or dulce (mellow and sweet). The finest Spanish pimentón has DOP status – check the packaging when buying.

Slow-roasted tomato and harissa tartine

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Slow-roasted tomato and harissa tartine

Something magical happens inside the oven with this recipe – the tomato flavour intensifies ten-fold to the point where it’s almost jam-like
Print Recipe
Total Time 55 mins
Servings 4
Calories 281 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 6 large & ripe plum tomatoes halved
  • 1 clove garlic crushed
  • 2-3 sprigs thyme leaves picked, plus extra to serve
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 ball burrata
  • 4 thin slices sourdough toasted
  • 2 tbsp rose harissa or regular harissa

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 and line a baking tray with baking paper.
  • Put the tomato halves in a bowl with the garlic, thyme and olive oil, then season – toss to make sure the tomatoes are well coated. Scatter over the lined tray, cut-side up, and roast in the oven for 45 minutes-1 hour.
  • To serve, spread the burrata on the toast, then spoon on some of the harissa. Top with the roasted tomatoes, then sprinkle over a little more thyme to serve.

Slow cooker instructions

  • Put the tomato halves in your slow cooker, along with the garlic, thyme and olive oil, then season. Toss to make sure they are well coated, then make sure they’re all cut-side up. Put on the lid and cook on the high setting for 2 hours. Then follow step 3 as above.

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Balti

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At just £1.09 per serving, this vegetarian curry makes a lovely mid week meal. Quick and easy, it’s a great way of getting more veg into your family’s diet

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Balti

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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 onion peeled and cut into thin wedges
  • 3 tbsp balti paste or more if you like it spicy
  • 500 g 1lb sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 400 g can chopped tomatoes
  • 400 g can chickpeas drained and rinsed
  • 125 g 4 oz frozen spinach chunks
  • Naan breads or rice to serve

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and fry 3-4 mins. Stir in the balti paste and sweet potato chunks and cook for a couple of mins.
  • Add the tomatoes, 300ml (½ pint) hot water and the chickpeas. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 10-15 mins. Check the seasoning.
  • Microwave the frozen spinach for a few mins and spoon on top of the balti (or add to the balti for the last 5 mins of cooking). Spoon curry into bowls. Serve with hot naan bread or rice.

Notes

You can add chicken to this dinner to make it a little meatier

Quorn Sausages with Lentils

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Sausage casserole is a great recipe for a grey day and you don’t have to use meat. Lentils and veggie sausages taste just as good with plenty of vegetables

Quorn Sausages with Lentils

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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 250 g pack/6 Quorn Sausages
  • 2 tbsp rapeseed oil
  • 4 sticks of celery chopped
  • 1 large red onion finely chopped How to chop an onion video
  • 1 clove garlic finely chopped
  • 400 g can brown lentils rinsed and drained
  • 75 g sundried tomatoes roughly sliced
  • 200 mls Vegetable Stock such as Marigold Swiss Bouillon
  • 4 tbsp half fat crème fraîche
  • 200 g cherry tomatoes halved
  • Chopped fresh coriander to garnish

Instructions
 

  • Slice each sausage diagonally into 3 pieces. Heat the oil in a large non-stick saucepan. Add the onion, garlic, celery and sausages and cook, stirring, for 5-6 minutes.
  • Add lentils, stock, sun-dried tomatoes and seasoning to taste and cook over a low-medium heat for a further 10 mins.
  • Stir in the crème fraîche and cherry tomatoes and serve garnished with coriander.

Notes

Not a vegetarian? Meat sausages work just as well - just change the stock accordingly

Tikka Masala

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Tikka Masala is a famous Indian dish usually served with chicken, but for a twist on this classic dish it can be adapted for vegetarians by using cheese.

Tikka Masala

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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 1 hr
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 packet Paneer cheese eg. Clawson, boiled for 20 minutes and cut into 2cm cubes
  • 5 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 6 green cardamom pods
  • 1 ” cinnamon shard
  • 1 medium onion made into a paste
  • 3 garlic cloves peeled and made into a paste (Anjum uses a fine microplane grater)
  • 1¼ ”ginger peeled, made into a paste (Anjum uses a fine microplane grater)
  • 3 medium-large tomatoes pureed
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1¼ tsp garam masala
  • Salt to taste
  • ¼-1/2 tsp red chilli powder or to taste
  • 6 tbsp double cream
  • 3 good tbsp butter
  • 15 cashew nuts blended with some water

Instructions
 

  • Blend the onion until smooth.
  • Boil paneer in plenty of water on a low flame for 20 minutes.
  • Heat the oil and 1 tbsp of the butter until hot, add the cardamom and cinnamon stick and follow, 10 seconds later with the onions. Cook on a moderate flame until the excess water has dried off and the onions have turned golden.
  • Add the ginger and garlic pastes and sauté, over a gentle flame, for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, powdered spices and salt. Cook, over a moderate flame, for 20-25 minutes or until well reduced and you can see oil coming out of the sauce. Turn the heat up and fry this paste for a further 3-4 minutes. Add the paneer, butter and cream and 400ml water. Bring to a boil and simmer for another 5-7 minutes. You may want to add a little more water, depending on how thick you like your sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning and serve.

Notes

Garnish your tikka masala with a swirl of cream and a little fresh coriander.

Simon Rimmer’s Vegetable Curry

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This vegetarian curry is great with naan bread, chutney and steamed rice! Try Simon’s recipe when you’re tempted by a weekend takeaway but want something healthier.

Simon Rimmer’s Vegetable Curry

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Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 500 g 1lb 2oz sweet potato, peeled and cubed
  • 400 g 14oz courgettes, trimmed and cut into 2.5cm (1-inch)
  • Rounds salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 red peppers deseeded and finely sliced good handful of baby spinach
  • Sauce
  • 1 tsp each of cumin coriander,
  • fennel and fenugreek seeds
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 onions sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves crushed
  • 2 small red birds eye chillies
  • deseeded and finely chopped
  • 400 g can chopped tomatoes
  • 2.5 cm 1-inch piece fresh root
  • ginger peeled and grated
  • 1 tbsp turmeric
  • 2 cardamom pods crushed,
  • pods discarded
  • 250 ml 9fl oz vegetable stock

Instructions
 

  • For the sauce, gently toast the cumin, coriander, fennel and fenugreek seeds for 2 minutes in a dry pan, then grind them using a pestle and mortar.
  • Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large pan, add the onions and fry gently for 10 minutes until well coloured. Add the garlic and chilli.
  • Stir in the tomatoes, ginger, turmeric, cardamom seeds and toasted, ground spices.
  • Add the stock, bring to the boil and then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 25 minutes.
  • Tip the curry sauce into a food processor and blend until very smooth.
  • Boil or steam the sweet potato until tender.
  • Toss the courgettes in the remaining oil, then fry them for a few minutes on each side until lightly browned. Season well.
  • To serve, add all the veggies to the prepared sauce and warm through.
  • The Seasoned Vegetarian by Simon Rimmer is published by Mitchell Beazley, £14.99 www.octopusbooks.co.uk

Notes

Serve with steamed rice, naan bread and any other bits you fancy, such as chutney and raita.

Sweet Potato, Cauliflower and Sugar Snap Curry

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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

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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.

Moroccan Mushrooms

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These tasty mushrooms are quick to make and perfect for vegetarians

Moroccan Mushrooms

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Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 30 ml 2tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 red onion sliced
  • 450 g 1lb mixed open and closed cup mushrooms
  • 1 400g can chick peas, drained
  • 1 400g can chopped tomatoes
  • 45 ml 3tbsp harissa paste
  • 1 lemon grated zest and juice
  • 45 ml 3tbsp chopped flat parsley
  • couscous to serve

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the onion and sauté over a medium heat for 4 mins. Add the mushrooms and sauté for a further 5 mins until the mushrooms are browned.
  • Stir in the chick peas, tomatoes, harissa paste and lemon juice. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 8 mins. Remove the lid and season to taste.
  • Mix the lemon zest and parsley together. Serve the mushrooms with couscous and a scattering of the lemon and parsley.

Spanish-Style Ratatouille

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A low cost, quick and simple Spanish ratatouille made with roasted chunky vegetables of aubergine, peppers, potatoes, onions and courgettes

Spanish-Style Ratatouille

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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 hr 15 mins
Total Time 1 hr 25 mins
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 1 medium aubergine sliced into 12 large slices and halved
  • 1 onion peeled, quartered and leaves pulled apart roughly
  • 1 orange or red pepper deseeded and roughly chopped
  • 2 courgettes trimmed and cut into wedges
  • 400 g can chopped tomatoes
  • 3 tsp fresh oregano or 2tsp dried
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
  • 6 medium potatoes unpeeled and thickly sliced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Set the oven to gas mark 6 or 200°C. Put a roasting tin in the oven to heat up. Add the oil and toss the aubergine, onion, pepper and courgettes in the oil, in the hot tin and roast for 10 mins.
  • Meanwhile, put the can of tomatoes, oregano and garlic in small pan, and simmer over a medium heat for 10 minutes, until reduced by about a third.
  • Mix the slices of potato in with the roasting vegetables, and spoon in the tomato sauce. Season well. Cover the tin with foil. Bake for 30 mins, then take off the foil and bake for another 20-25 mins, until the vegetables are tender. Leave for 5 mins before serving.

Notes

This could be cooked on the hob, for about an hour. If the sauce looks as though it’s disappearing, mix some tomato ketchup with a little hot water and stir it into the vegetables.