Curried Egg and Cauliflower Salad

Do you remember Coronation Chicken which was served originally as "Poulet Reine Elizabeth"? Well as Yotam Ottelenghi says at the beginning of his recipe, this is what it would taste like if you replaced the chicken with cauliflower and boiled eggs, and I wholeheartedly agree with him. You will need to taste this salad to understand what I am talking about. Beautiful fresh vegetables and boiled eggs lightly coated in a  curry cream sauce is the basis of this recipe. However if you really want chicken to be involved, bake a chicken on the weekend and serve this healthy and delicious salad with it. Cauliflowers are very well priced at the moment so now is the time to buy up big on cauliflower and embrace their versatility. I believe they are one of the most adaptable vegetables to have on hand, and I often eat bits and pieces raw while I am chopping and cooking with them.

Le Cordon Bleu, London is one of the oldest cookery schools in London. Rosemary Hume, the founder of the school and her students, prepared the Coronation Luncheon in January 1953, for Queen Elizabeth and 350 guests in the great Hall of Westminster School. This event made Le Cordon Bleu and the recipe famous and it is still served today as Poulet Reine Elizabeth in some British restaurants.  I remember eating it at a restaurant in Mackay just after we first moved here around 35 years ago. I've never forgotten it, absolutely delicious. Some of you will be aware that Queen Elizabeth then toured Australia the following year in 1954, and I was lucky enough to be able to dress up and catch a glimpse of her, albeit from my pram, but my Mum always loved to tell that story. Anyway enough nostalgia, we need to make this salad.

This  is also one of the more simple recipes that I have cooked, and also absolutely delicious. We ate it over two days. This is my version of Yotam Ottolenghi's recipe from his book "Simple".

Ingredients:

Serves four to six people

1 medium cauliflower, trimmed and broken into 3-4cm florets: keeping the tender green leaves (500g)

1 onion, sliced into 1cm thick wedges (180g)

2 tbsp Extra Virgin olive oil

1 tbsp mild curry powder (I used good old reliable Clive of India) (divide into 2 + 1 teaspoons)

9 large eggs

4 fresh red radishes

100 g Greek-style yoghurt (I use Valia for it's probiotic qualities)

50g mayonnaise

1/2 tsp regular chilli flakes (be brave it isn't too  much), or 1 tsp of Aleppo if you can find them

1 tsp cumin seeds, toasted and roughly crushed

2 lemons, 1 squeezed to get 1 tbsp juice and the second cut into 4-6 wedges, to serve

10g tarragon, roughly chopped, I used a bit more but I have it growing.

salt and black pepper

Method: 

Preheat the oven to 230 deg,C.

Bake the cauliflower, onion and spices. Mix the cauliflower florets and any young tender leaves in tact, in a large bowl with the onion, oil, 2 teaspoons curry powder, 3/4 teaspoon of salt and plenty of pepper. Spread the combined mixture out onto a a baking tray lined with baking paper, and roast for 15 minutes, until the cauliflower is soft and golden brown but still retaining a bite. It needs to be tender enough to eat at this stage without falling apart, as an indicator. I also used a skewer to test it. Stick it back in the oven for another few minutes if you think it needs a bit longer. 

Remove the tray from the oven and place on a cooling rack.

Boil the eggs. Fill a medium saucepan with plenty of water and bring to the boil on a high heat. Reduce the heat to a medium simmer and carefully lower the eggs into the water on a large spoon, and boil gently for 10 minutes, until hard-boiled. Drain the eggs, then return then to the saucepan and fill with cold water so that they chill and stop cooking. This also prevents that dark ring forming around the yolk of the egg. 

When they are just cool, carefully remove the shells from the eggs by peeling them, and place them in a large bowl and break them roughly with the back of a fork to form large chunks. This whole eggy process could be done the day before serving and kept in a lidded container in the refrigerator. I have to restrain myself from not eating the mashed egg there and then on a sandwich with mayo.

Slice the radishes and keep them chilled in the refrigerator.

Make the Yoghurt Sauce. In another separate smaller bowl, mix together the yoghurt, mayonnaise, the lemon juice,  the remaining 1 teaspoon of curry powder, half the chilli flakes, the cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. 

Assemble everything. Combine the eggs, with the cooled cauliflower and onion, the radishes and the tarragon and add the sauce. Mix this together well, and spoon the mixture onto a large serving plate. Sprinkle over the remaining chilli flakes, and little bit of chopped tarragon, and garnish with the lemon wedges. Bon appetit!

I've learned not to be concerned when my day isn't planned. The need to plan is such a spin off from working all of my life, when my days were pretty much planned out, but now it's amazing how unplanned days become some of the best. The simple things in a day can bring me the most pleasure and make me smile. An early morning walk around the garden now that's it's Spring, the discovery of a tomato on our new tomato bush that is ripening, and the flowers emerging on the bean vines with the promise of a good crop to come in the Summer months hopefully. We bought a Cumquat tree last week, a dwarf Nagami, however I've learned that in the tropics dwarf can mean normal sized, normal can mean giant. Given the success of my latest cumquat marmalade, and Mr. HRK's love for jams and marmalades especially cumquat, we invested in a tree. So the unruly pumpkin vines came out and a kumquat tree went in. 

Another early morning discovery, there are buds on the tree, so exciting. Now the million dollar question is should we remove the buds so the tree has a chance to strengthen for 12 months, as we do with lemon and lime trees, or do do we allow it to yield a crop this Summer. Of course I am with letting the buds develop into fruit because cumquats are only a small fruit and surely the tree can handle it?? Anyway I'll do some more research and we will make a decision.

Happy Friday my friends, and I haven't forgotten what a wonderful feeling it was when I was working to reach Friday. If you have a chance to try this Curried Egg and Cauliflower Salad on the weekend, I hope you enjoy it, it's a cinch to make and what I love from a cook's perspective  is that the various stages can be prepared in advance and the dish assembled just before serving. Otherwise, It will be perfectly delicious for Meat Free Monday.

 

There are more Covid lock downs threatening Queensland, will the football finals go ahead? I hope despite all of the inconveniences being experienced by everyone around the world, you still manage to have a great weekend, finding joy in the simplest things.

Warmest wishes,

Pauline

Microwave Shakshuka Eggs Recipe

Shakshuka, also spelled Shakshouka or chakchouka, cooked  in the microwave oven is a real game changer. One morning, when we were in a hurry for brunch, and I had all the ingredients on hand including some very fresh free range eggs, I decided to experiment with cooking Shakshuka in the microwave.  Whilst this is delicious cooked on the stove top or in the oven it can take at least 30 minutes to cook after the initial preparation, but in the microwave it took inside 3 minutes, with the egg whites set beautifully, and the yolks just how I like them. However even better, the eggs can be cooked to everyone's individual taste, very easily this way in individual serving dishes.

Shakshuka  is a popular dish in Israel, although it is supposed to have originated from Tunisia in North Africa. If you are into having fun with words and pronunciations, Shakshuka is pronounced "shahk-SHOO-kah". This recipe is a riff on my original  Shaksuka with Eggs for a Weekend Breakfast or Brunch, which is cooked in the oven or on the stovetop. You will also find  the complete backstory on this dish at this link. If you've never eaten Shakshuka my friends, I hope you give this a try, as it is a delicious way to eat eggs in a very healthy way as well, and it will transport you to exotic locations beyond our reach at present. Treat yourself to this on the weekend when you can enjoy the preparation and the food at your leisure. Think Shakshuka, and think Middle Eastern. Go as simple as you like with this dish, or add extra ingredients to really rev it up.

Cooks tips:

• Cook up a large amount of the tomato and vegetable sauce, separate it into portions and freeze it to make life easier for when you want to make your shakshuka. Then you will just need to add your eggs and fresh herbs.
•  Substitute cannellini beans drained and rinsed for the tomatoes for a more hearty meal if you don't like tomatoes, or just add some beans to the tomatoes.
• Chickpeas are a great addition as well.
• For a more wholesome dinner dish, and to add more "hidden" vegetables, also add 1/2 a small grated zucchini and 1/2 a grated carrot or 1 finely chopped small eggplant and cook with the capsicum, chilli and garlic for about 5 minutes before adding to the tomato mixture. Increase the width of your microwave bowl if you do this. If the zucchini, carrot and capsicum are grated or chopped very finely, they can be cooked all together at the same time in the microwave with the eggs.
• Add some chopped green olives for even more flavour if you have them on hand, not essential though.
• I hope you realise now just how versatile shakshuka is to make, depending on what supplies are in your pantry. Eggs are generally a staple for most people aren't they?

• 

Ingredients:

This recipe is for one serve, so just double or triple the ingredients for extra serves. This is where it's useful to have a large quantity of sauce already cooked and ready to use if you are cooking for a family.

You will need 2 medium sized microwave safe breakfast or dessert bowls to cook these in the microwave for two people.

 1 tablespoons Extra Virgin olive oil
1/4  red capsicum, deseeded and thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 mild long red chilli, sliced finely or a dash of tabasco sauce if you like a bit of heat
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 can diced tomatoes, or organic cherry tomatoes (delicious), or use tomato passata (about 200 ml)
2 large eggs per person
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground coriander (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Tasty grated cheese

( I like lots of flavour, so if you are a bit timid about using spices reduce the amount to 1/4 teaspoon each of sweet paprika and cumin.) 

Freshly chopped mint and coriander

Method:

Coat a microwave safe breakfast or dessert bowl with olive oil using a pastry brush.

Add the tomatoes, capsicum, garlic, chilli or tabasco sauce. Using a small sifter, sift the cumin, paprika, and salt over the tomatoes for even distribution. Add the ground coriander. Season with the black pepper.

Place 2 large evenly spaced indents into the mixture with the back of large spoon, and crack an egg into each indent. Pierce the yolk of the egg with a skewer  or the end of sharp knife. (This is very important so that the egg doesn't explode in the microwave)

(This dish can  also be baked in the oven in individual ramekins if you have them, by adding some of the tomato mixture to each ramekin and then adding the eggs. )

Sprinkle tasty mature grated cheese and 1 tablespoon chopped mint over the mixture but not the egg yolks. I love grated cheese over my shakshuka.

Cover the bowl with cling film or a plate or microwave lid, and then microwave for 1 minute.

Microwave twice more for 20 seconds each, and then check if the whites are setting. Keep microwaving for 20 second bursts until the whites are set, and the egg is cooked to your individual taste. This could take about 2 minutes all up to cook. My eggs were perfect after 2 minutes.
Two small breakfast bowls should fit into your microwave for cooking at the same time.
To serve sprinkle with freshly chopped mint and coriander, and hot buttered sourdough toast, or to keep to the Middle Eastern theme, serve with Toasted Turkish bread.

Shakshuka is delicious for breakfast, but my preference is to serve it for brunch on the weekend. I also plan to make it for Sunday night dinner next week and I think I will also add a small chopped eggplant to the tomato sauce for extra flavour and texture. Eggplant  will need to be cooked prior to microwaving, it can be steamed very quickly.

This dish is healthy, full of flavour and not expensive to make. I have made a quantity of the tomato mixture to freeze so that next time I want to make it for brunch I can just defrost the tomato base, and add the eggs and make it very quickly. 

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for dropping by,

Warm wishes

Pauline

Shakshuka with Eggs for a Weekend Breakfast or Brunch

Shaksuka is a popular dish in Israel, although it is supposed to have originated from Tunisia in North Africa. I ordered an Italian version of this dish for breakfast, or something very close to it, in the Yarra Valley at a wonderful little Italian cafe in village Healesville, called Essenza. It is only an hour from Melbourne.

A Mediterranean Vegetable Frittata for Brunch or a light Dinner is Healthy, and so Easy

This Frittata recipe is a combination of roasted capsicum, spinach, chick peas and smoked paprika and the best eggs I can find.  I have also added healthy turmeric as we harvested a lot of our crop recently and then dehydrated it and ground it up into a wonderfully aromatic powder. You can find that story here. 

Easy Vegetable Quiche Recipe

Quiche is such an easy and tasty solution on those nights when there has been no time to prepare ahead and shop for special ingredients. Most of the ingredients except perhaps the cream, are fairly standard items in most kitchens. I grow my own herbs, and generally have a few different types of vegetables on hand so preparation is very simple.  I  often also serve quiche for a nutritious and sustaining lunch and everyone always enjoys it.

This is a versatile recipe where the vegetables, herbs and cheese used are all optional according to what you have on hand, and the real bonus is that I don't need to make pastry, although I do love a nice, crisp pastry.

This is my version of the recipe my dear friend Noela gave me many years ago, and brings back many pleasant memories whenever I bake it.

Ingredients:

• 4 free range eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup Self Raising Flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup fresh cream or low fat sour cream
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 1/2 cups grated tasty low fat cheese
• 2 cups finely chopped vegetables and ham (including any combination of capsicum, celery, zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, fresh asparagus and thawed frozen peas) (ham is also optional)
• 2 tablespoons chopped herbs including flat leaf parsley and 2 teaspoons chopped thyme (Thyme is quite a strongly flavoured herb so not as much is needed in a recipe)

Let's Cook:

1. Combine beaten eggs, flour, milk, cream and butter. Whisk until all lumps have disappeared and it is a nice, even consistency.

2. Stir in cheese, herbs  and vegetable filling. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3. Pour into a 24 cm  lightly greased quiche or pie dish.

4. Garnish the surface with thinly sliced capsicum, or thinly sliced zucchini.

5. Bake at 180 deg. c for 40 mins. or until cooked and nicely browned.

Serve with a crisp tossed salad and vinaigrette.

The Classic and Original Zucchini and Bacon Slice

Zucchini slice was originally created, back in the 1980's to assist very busy Mothers to cook a healthy, nutritious and very tasty savoury slice for the family, requiring no precooking of any ingredients, just some grating and slicing. It became so popular, that  you could depend on  there being a Zucchini slice at any family gathering or party.

Low Fat French Tarragon and Thyme Omelette for breakfast

Late breakfast this morning following a session at the gym and I needed protein and a good coffee hit. As my barista set to work I started on an omelette. Nothing new you say, however most of the recipes out there , and there are a lot of French omelette recipes, use copious amounts of oil, fat and cheese.

It is now a balancing act between controlling the kilos and the food still tasting great. I use spray on rice bran oil in a non-stick pan, low fat tasty cheese, unless it is a really special occasion and I will substitute goats cheese or Gruyere. A low fat omelette with good fresh ingredients  is also an easy and tasty option when travelling, as retirees do. I am so lucky that I can pick all of my herbs fresh from my garden and they last well refrigerated or in a vase of water. I must source some chervil though, as it's not in my garden at present.

French Herb Omelette for two

Ingredients:

4 organic eggs
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon or leaves from two good sprigs (your call depending on your love of this flavour)
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Ground pepper and salt to taste
Rice Bran Oil cooking spray
6 cherry tomatoes
Handful of chopped mushrooms


Remove the leaves from the sprigs of tarragon and chop finely. Scramble the eggs with the tarragon, thyme, and half the parsley. Spray the oil into a small omelette pan and heat. Saute the mushrooms in the pan until slightly soft. Pour in the omelette mixture over the mushrooms and start cooking. Add a layer of the halved tomatoes to the eggs when slightly set. Cook the omelette until the base is just brown and leaves the pan cleanly with a spatula.

Sprinkle cheese on top and place pan under the grill to lightly brown the omelette.
Garnish with chopped parsley to serve.

Please note: I am using the correct spelling of omelette, not omelet, as it is originally a French word, so it is an omelette.