Hot Beef and Cauliflower Fry - Recipe

Bonjour!

Yet again I've neglected the 'Biryani' aspect of the blog so thought I'd share a quick recipe I rustled up the other night with some leftover roast beef.  My mum does a mean cauliflower and mince curry and I decided to chuck in some cauliflower I had at the bottom of the salad/vege drawer for good measure to see what happened! As as you may know, my recipes/ingredients are very 'loose' aka 'thrown together' so things can be added/taken away/adjusted etc ...

Ingredients:

Leftover roast beef - enough for four portions (chopped up)
A couple of large onions (and I had a red one to use up so threw that in as well)
A few cloves of garlic
1 large chilli - you always use a smaller one or none at all if you're a big girl's blouse (kidding!)
A couple of tsp lazy ginger
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp turmeric (mum always says too much turmeric will make the dish bitter to taste!)
A dash of pepper (I like garlic pepper!)
Beef Oxo cube or something similar
1 large potato (cubed) and approx 1/4 cauliflower
Coriander (which I forget to include in the above pic)

I whizzed the onion, garlic, ginger and chilli in my new chopper (a birthday present to myself!) but you could just chop/slice finely (or leave chunky if you prefer) and fry in a couple of tbsp oil until soft ..

Add the cumin, ground coriander, turmeric and pepper, potatoes and meat - I also whizzed up a load of fresh coriander and added to the pan - fry for about 10 mins ...

Then add the beef stock cube (dissolved in  boiling water - the amount of water depends on how much gravy you want - I used about 500ml), a dash of salt and bring to the boil for a few mins, reduce the heat and simmer covered for about 35-40 mins adding the cauliflower about 20 mins from the end so that it doesn't break up too much.  Add extra water from the kettle if you think it's drying up ... chuck in a bit of fresh coriander towards the end eh voila ...

We served with rice and poppadoms and a little natural yogurt on the side ... oh and some of my mum's hot apple pickle!  How do you use your leftover roast beef?

Jen x

Aloo Saag aka 'Potato Stuff'!

Bonjour!

It's been ages since I've 'done a foodie' but after I watched 'Rick Stein in India' (a while ago I know!) I was inspired!   Just a humble offering of Aloo Saag (Spinach potatoes) or 'potato stuff'! as myself and brothers called it when we were little. It's so simple to make but so tasty and satisfies my carb cravings - of which I have many ...

The ingredients are approximate and you can use more or less until you happen upon your perfect combo - Mum always says not too much turmeric though as it can makes things bitter!

Oil -couple of tablespoons
Onion - 1 large chopped
Garlic - few cloves chopped
Ginger - couple of teaspoons lazy ginger (or a small piece of chopped unlazy/fresh ginger)
Chillies - chopped - amount depends on hot how you like it!
Mustard Seeds - 1 teaspoon
Turmeric - 3/4 teaspoon
Potatoes (5/6 small/medium chopped to make 4 servings?)
Spinach (I use frozen for convenience and add a good few tablespoons)
Fresh/Frozen coriander to season (I am addicted to coriander!)
Salt to taste

Fry the onions, garlic, ginger and chillies in the oil to soften - add mustard seeds and turmeric and fry for a further 5 mins or so.  Chuck in the potatoes, spinach, coriander and salt to taste. Add enough hot boiled water to steam the potatoes and the amount is really trial and error, depending on how much you're cooking. Too much and you end up with soup so better to use less as you can always add more from the kettle at any time.  Bring to the boil and simmer for about 20 mins until potatoes are soft.

When we were little we would sometimes have our 'potato stuff' with dhal and parathas - makes a great veggie meal.  Also as a side dish with curry and rice - we had it with roasted garlic chicken, rice and Mum's South Indian pepper-water the other night (because we're greedy!) and it went down a treat!

Hadn't added the pepper-water, yogurt, salad and pickle at this stage but you get the picture!

What would you eat with your Aloo Saag - or should I say 'Potato Stuff'?

Jen x

Love On My Mind and Indian Food!

Bonjour!

How is everyone ...?  Been trying to get over the heavy cold that I succumbed to last week - these things do have a tendency to hang around and leave you depleted of energy once they get a hold.  Anyway, I didn't visit the gym for a week whist I was ill - that's a long time for me - so forced myself to go Tuesday night for a gentle workout.  I wasn't very enthusiastic on the treadmill I have to say ... until I heard this tune on my I Pod ...

Freemasons - Love On My Mind ...

Always loved this since it's release in 2005 - good grief 2005 - only seems like yesterday! This is a track that would have had me up on the dance floor of any club in my day ... not that I tend to 'do' clubs anymore ... nowadays it just gets me up on the treadmill...

So - enough of clubbing and back to reality!  As my youngest brother G left to return home to France this week, the other decided to turn up for a few days, so we were treated to a lovely meal Wednesday night when  Gourmet Gorman cooked for the family. Tandoori Pork, Chicken Mulligatawny and my Grandpa Richard's 'Devil Chutney' - (tomatoes, onions, chillies, mint and coriander I think!).  

All I've seemed to want to eat recently is Indian food - it's the only thing I've been able to taste...and I can confirm that all of the above tasted bloomin' marvellous!  Thanks Gourmet Gorman!

Have a great weekend!

Jen x