Chicken & Bean Tagine

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Chicken Tagine

This North African dish is named after the earthenware pot it is traditionally cooked in. I have used Chicken which is simmered with the traditional flavours of sweet spices and vegetables. A Typical Moroccan style dish would use beef which has always been their staple diet with sweet spices & dried fruit. I used my heavy Cast Iron Pot for this, which is great for slow cooking and low temperatures.

If you have read through some of my other recipes, you’ll see that I love One Pot Cooking, it is simple and good for batch cooking if you prepare meals ahead of the week. It also means less dishes to wash…lol!

Serves 2

2 Chicken Breasts – but into big chunks

6 Shallots

2 Carrots – chopped

30g Butter

1 Tsp Saffron

1/2 Tsp Ground Ginger

1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika

1/4 Tsp Ground Cinnamon

200g Tin Broad Beans or Butter Beans (you can even use Chickpeas)

50g Dates (Optional)

Salt & Pepper to taste

Fresh Coriander – Chopped

Fresh Parsley – Chopped

  1. Preheat a little oil in the pot on medium to high heat and brown the chicken.
  2. Peel and chop 3 shallots into rings and 3 into quarters. Add into the pan with the carrots, butter and brown gently.
  3. Pour in 400ml of cold water, just enough to cover the chicken, bring to the boil slowly and reduce to a gentle simmer for about 30 minutes.
  4. Add in the saffron, ginger, paprika, dates(if using) and beans to the chicken pot, stir and put the lid back on, continue to simmer for a further 30 minutes. Season with Salt & Pepper.
  5. Serve and garnish with some chopped coriander and parsley. For a more filling dish you can also serve with some couscous.

My Best Beef Chilli Recipe

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Beef Chilli Taco

The weather was turning a bit colder this weekend & there is no better dish than a warm chilli to heat your soul. I decided to slow cook this time and it definitely paid off as the flavours were more intense and the sauce lovely and thick. Chilli is always good the second day too, so this can be made in advance. Some cooks swear by lots of different spices from mustard powder to even cinnamon & I’ve even heard of chocolate in chilli…..(not sure about than one…lol), this combination I found works for me.

Pot of Beef Chilli

Serves 2

250-300g Scottish Beef Mince

1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil

1 Red Onion – Diced

1 Red Pepper – Diced

1 Garlic Clove – crushed (or 1 tsp garlic granules)

1 tbsp tomato puree

1 tbsp chilli powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Salt & Black pepper to taste

1 tsp Herb mix (oregano, basil, coriander)

1 x 225g kidney beans

1 x 400g chopped tin tomatoes

1 Beef oxo cube

150ml water

  1. Heat the oil in a casserole dish or large pan on medium to high heat & fry the onions with the garlic until softened. Add in the Red pepper and cook for a further few minutes until softened.
  2. Add in the Beef mince, season and brown.
  3. Add in the tomato puree, spices & mix through.
  4. To the pot add the kidney beans and tin tomatoes & mix. Sprinkle over the beef oxo cube & the herbs, add in the water, bring to the boil, cover and simmer on a low heat for about 2-3 hours. If the sauce hasn’t thickened, remove lid and cook uncovered for about 10-15 minutes to help thicken sauce.
  5. I Served with Taco’s, Grated Cheese and sprinkled some fresh spring onions on top…yum! Also nice served with rice and soured cream.
  • Beef Chilli Tacos
  • Beef Chilli Tacos
  • Deconstructed Tacos
  • Deconstructed Tacos
Beef Chilli & Tacos

Slow Cook Mexican Beef Mince Tacos

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I have been wanting a Cast Iron Casserole Dish for a while now and my best friend came to the rescue, just out of the blue she gave me this lovely pot, so I just had to come up with a recipe to use it this weekend.

 

Serves 2

1 small onion chopped

1 can black beans, drained

1 can sweetcorn, drained

1 can chopped tomatoes

2 chopped peppers

300g Scottish beef mince

Mexican mix – 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic, 1 tsp chilli powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, salt & pepper.

200ml beef stock

 

  1. Pre heat your oven to Slow Cook Setting or around 90 deg.
  2. Brown the onions in a little oil, then add the peppers and brown, remove from pan
  3. Add the Beef mince and brown all over, adding salt & pepper to taste
  4. Add back to the pan the onions & peppers along with the sweetcorn, beans, tomatoes, seasoning and stock. Mix through and cook in oven for about 5-6 hours.

Corn Tacos & grated cheese to serve.

 

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Steak & Chorizo Slow Cook stew

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We do love a good stew on a Sunday, this is a little change to the normal traditional stew and super tasty with loads of flavour.  All you need is some good fresh bread to douk (dip in) and scoop up the gravy. Yummy!

 

Makes 2-3 servings

400g good scottish steak (diced)

75g-100g chorizo (diced)

1 x 400g can tin chopped tomatoes

1 x 225g tin chickpeas

1 x 225g tin red kidney beans

300ml beef stock

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

1 clove garlic minced

100ml red wine

1 tbsp worcester sauce

1 tbsp tomato puree

1 red onion – chopped

Coriander – chopped to garnish

Salt & pepper to season

 

  1. Heat a little oil in a pan and gently fry the steak until browned, then add in the chorizo and onion until softened.
  2. Sprinkle on the cumin, paprika, garlic, sugar, cinnamon and tomato paste and mix through to coat beef. Season well.
  3. Add in the chickpeas, kidney beans, tin tomatoes, stock and worcester sauce, mix and bring to the boil. Add in the red wine.
  4. Reduce to a low simmer place lid on pan and cook slowly for about 2-3 hours or until meat is tender.
  5. Serve with a sprinkle or coriander. Yum.

 

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