Wednesday, 30 November 2016

Creamy Coriander Tomatillo Soup

I grew some tomatillos this year in the garden and I am just getting around to using them. I made some delicious soup with some of them. Next I'm going to make something actually Mexican!





















Creamy Tomatillo Soup (from Sumptuous Spoonfuls)
(Serves 4)

900g fresh tomatillos (weighed after peeling the outer shells off)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, peeled and chopped
2 - 5 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
1 tsp oil
60ml whiskey
250ml chicken or vegetable stock
1 tsp cumin
1/2 - 1 tsp red pepper flakes
375ml evaporated milk
bunch coriander, chopped

Heat the oven to 180C.

Peel the papery shells off the tomatillos and rinse them just to make sure all the dirt is off. Slice them in half and set them in a bowl. Drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil over the tomatillos and toss them lightly in the oil to coat them. Place them on a baking sheet, cut side up, and sprinkle liberally with pepper. Roast in the oven for 20 - 30 mins or until they are tender.

Meanwhile, peel and chop the onion and garlic and heat the oil in a saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and saute over medium heat until the onion is soft and translucent. Pour in about half of the whiskey and cook, stirring constantly, until the liquid is gone, then add the rest of the whiskey and cook again until the liquid is gone.

When the tomatillos come out of the oven, let them cool a bit, then add them to the saucepan blitz using a hand blender puree till smooth. Add in the cumin and red pepper flakes along with the evaporated milk and coriander and blend until the coriander is chopped into little bits. Warm the soup and serve.

Monday, 28 November 2016

Veal Chop with Mashed Potato and Sautéed Mushrooms

I got some veal chops cheaply in Waitrose and then this recipe popped up in my Mum's copy of the Telegraph magazine. It was lovely and tasty, I love the combination of the veal and mushrooms.





















Veal Chop with Mashed Potato and Sautéed Mushrooms (from The Telegraph)
(Serves 4)

4 veal chops
4 tbsp oil

For the mash
1.4kg potatoes, peeled and quartered
60g unsalted butter
50g milk

For the mushrooms
240g mixed mushrooms
1 tbsp oil
knob butter
1 garlic clove, chopped
100ml white wine
1 tbsp chopped parsley

Rub the chops with the oil and season. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 190C.

Meanwhile, cook the potatoes until tender.

Heat a frying pan over a medium high heat and add a splash of oil. Add the chops and cook until golden brown on one side, about 5 mins, then turn and cook for another 5 mins.

Remove the chops to a roasting dish and roast for 15 mins. Leave to rest for 10 mins.

Meanwhile, drain the potatoes, return to the pan and mash with the butter and milk. Season.

Heat a large frying pan over a high heat and add the oil and butter. Add the garlic and mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms are golden brown. Then add the wine and reduce until the liquid disappears. Remove from the heat, season and toss in the parsley.

Divide the mash between 4 plates, top with the veal and the mushrooms. Drizzle any mushroom juices round the plates.

Meal Planning Monday

So last week was busy, really I'd like a rest week but this week doesn't show signs of getting any quieter! Before we went to the theatre in Hampstead we once again went to Guglee, this time I tried the Seabass Nazakat, which was basically seabass with herbs and chilli steamed in a banana leaf with Bombay Aloo and a Mint Paratha. It was delicious and much better than their Chicken Tandoori.


My veg bag also arrived this week, in it I got squash, carrots, broccoli, cavolo nero and fennel complete with enormous fronds!


I also gave my gingerbread biscuit recipe out to a parent at school and she gave me some of the cookies she made. They were delicious!


Then on Thursday we went for Afternoon Tea at The Ritz, which we found rather disappointing. The staff were rude, both on arrival and they tried to take our food away before we had finished, when we still had 30 mins left at our table. The sandwiches were unexciting and a bit dry. The scones were terrible, far too full of baking powder. The cake offerings were miserly given the money we had paid and very uninspiring, the only good things were the macarons that actually tasted of lemon and the raspberry tart. Needless to say I won't be going back, it is clearly a con for the tourists, I'll go to the Wolseley next door for a better Afternoon Tea for half the price.



This week promises to be just as busy. I'm trying to fit exercise around everything and just about managing. I'm only allowed to swim on my back and use an exercise bike, both of which I have discovered are much more fun with a friend!

Monday
Smoked Mackerel and Beetroot Frittata with Salad
Leftover Turkey Green Enchiladas

Tuesday
Curried Courgette Soup with Bread
Out before the theatre

Wednesday
Tomato and Cheese Quiche with Salad


Thursday
Pesto Prawn Pasta Salad
Chicken and Basil Coconut Curry with Rice

Friday
Stuffed Chayote
Tuna Burger

Saturday
Out at Balthazar Boulangerie
Out at The Delaunay

Sunday
Sweetcorn and Squash Fritters with Ham
Chicken and Broad Bean Pilaff (Hairy Dieters)

Saturday, 26 November 2016

Curried Courgette Soup

This used up the last of my courgettes. I love making courgette, this one is spicy and fresh. 





















Curried Courgette Soup (from Health Magazine)
(Serves 4)

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tsp curry powder
900g courgette, coarsely chopped
1l chicken or veg stock
salt and pepper
4 tbsp sour cream
2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander for garnish

Warm oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Add garlic and curry powder and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Raise heat to medium-high, add zucchini, pour in broth and add 1 tsp. salt. Cover and bring to a simmer. Remove cover, reduce heat to medium to maintain a simmer and cook until zucchini is very tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let soup cool slightly. 2. Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth whisk in sour cream and season with salt and pepper. Ladle into chilled bowls, garnish with cilantro and serve.

Thursday, 24 November 2016

Mixed Beans with Many Spices and Lovage

My Mum saved me some runner beans from her last crop, just so I could make this recipe! It was lovely and fresh and full of well, beans! 





















Mixed Beans with Many Spices and Lovage (from Plenty by Ottolenghi)
(Serves 4)


3 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tsp tomato purée
½ tsp each ground cumin, turmeric and coriander
1 tsp each ground ginger and cardamom
pinch of ground cloves
400g can chopped tomatoes
1 tsp caster sugar
150g sugar snaps, halved at an angle
200g runner beans, sliced at an angle
250g shelled broad beans
2 tbsp chopped lovage salt and black pepper

Heat the oil in a large pan and add the onion. Sauté on medium heat for 3 mins, stirring frequently; add the garlic and cook for 1 more min. Now add the tomato paste, spices and some salt and pepper and keep on cooking and stirring for another min.

Next, add the tomatoes, sugar and all the peas and beans. Stir to mix. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer gently for 15 to 20 mins, or until the sugar snaps are cooked through but are still crunchy. Season. Stir in the lovage and then served.

Wednesday, 23 November 2016

Chocolate Beetroot Cake

I made this chocolate beetroot cake for a staff meeting a couple of weeks ago. I had a lot of beetroot that needed using and this was perfect. This is a picture before I added the icing. It was very rich and you'd definitely only need a small piece!





















Chocolate Beetroot Cake (from Delicious Magazine)
(Serves 10-12)

250g plain chocolate, broken up
3 large eggs
200g light muscovado sugar
100ml sunflower oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g self-raising flour
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp baking powder
50g ground almonds
250g raw beetroot

For the icing
150g plain chocolate
100g icing sugar
100g soured cream

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 22cm round, loose-bottomed cake tin with a little butter and line the base with baking paper.

Place the plain chocolate in a bowl and set over a pan of gently simmering water. Allow the chocolate to melt slowly until smooth, then set aside to cool.

Place the eggs, sugar and sunflower oil in a large mixing bowl and whisk together, using an electric hand whisk, for about 3 mins until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in vanilla extract, then sift over self-raising flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and gently fold in, together with the ground almonds.

Peel and grate the beetroot, then squeeze out the excess liquid. Fold the beetroot into the mixture with the cooled chocolate, until thoroughly mixed.

Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake for 50 mins-1 hr. Cover with foil if the cake browns too quickly. Test the cake by inserting a skewer into the centre to see if it comes out clean. Cool for a little while, then remove from the tin and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.

For the icing, place the plain chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water. Allow to melt gently until smooth. Set aside to cool, then beat in the icing sugar and soured cream until you have a thick, creamy and spreadable icing. Spread it over the top and sides of the cooled cake and serve.

Tuesday, 22 November 2016

Chicken and Ham Hock Pretzel Pies

These were absolutely yummy. Something a bit different with the pretzel topping, full of chicken and ham. I served it with green veggies.


Chicken and Ham Hock Pretzel Pies (from WeightWatchers)
(11 Smart Points per serving)
(Serves 4)

165g strong white bread flour, plus extra to dust 
½ x 7g sachet fast action dried yeast 
1 tsp brown sugar 
1 tbsp olive oil 
Calorie controlled cooking spray 
1 onion, finely sliced 
300g skinless chicken breast fillet, diced 
2 tbsp plain flour 
300ml chicken stock, made with ½ stock cube 
2 tbsp half-fat crème fraiche 
150g cooked ham hock, shredded 
100g frozen peas 
1tbsp fresh thyme leaves  
2 tbsp bicarbonate of soda 
rock salt 

Put the bread flour in the bowl of a stand mixer. Combine 110ml warm water with the yeast, sugar and half the oil, and add to the flour. Mix for 5 mins, until you have a smooth dough. Put in a bowl misted with cooking spray, cover, and let rise in a warm place for  30 mins to 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, gently fry the onion in the remaining oil for 3-4 mins, until soft. Add the chicken and fry for 2-3 mins. Add the plain flour and cook for 1-2 mins, stirring. Gradually add the stock, stirring well between each addition. Simmer gently until the sauce starts to thicken, then add the crème fraiche, ham, peas and thyme. Set aside.

When the dough has risen, tip it onto a floured surface and divide into four equal portions. Roll each one into a long sausage, then form a U shape. Cross the ends over each other twice, fold the U down to sit on the two ends, and press the ends in to secure. Leave to rise for 20-30 mins.

Preheat the oven to 180C. Divide the pie filling between four pie dishes. Bring 1 litre of water to the boil and gently poach the pretzels, two at a time, for 1 min, turning once. Remove with a slotted spoon. Put a pretzel on top of each pie, scatter with the rock salt and bake for 20-25 mins, until deep golden brown.


 


Monday, 21 November 2016

Meal Planning Monday

Last week was lovely. I went to see a panel discussion about the Tastes of Childhood with Claudia Roden and Bee Wilson on Friday at the Foundling Museum, which was really very interesting. Then on Saturday I went to my friend Daniela's house for Thanksgiving. My contributions this year were Apple Pie, Green Bean Casserole, Creamed Kale and Spaghetti Squash. It was a really lovely day.




















Next week I am out most evenings. At the theatre and then to The Ritz for Afternoon Tea on Thursday! Then at the weekend I am going to see my sister in Bath. So meals are not all that exciting. A lot of soup!

Monday
Curried Courgette Soup
Out for curry before the theatre

Tuesday
Summer Veg Pizza Pie with Salad
Wasabi Salmon Skewers with Rice

Wednesday
Mexican Vegetable Soup
Out before the theatre

Thursday
Creamy Tomatillo Soup
Out for Afternoon Tea

Friday
Salmon and Cream Cheese Wrap with Crisps
Lamb Burger

Sunday, 20 November 2016

Smoked Salmon and Spelt Kedgeree

This is absolutely delicious. I had it for lunch, so I left the spelt to cool before topping with the salmon and egg. It's a great big hit of vitamin D too.





















Smoked Salmon and Spelt Kedgeree
(Serves 2)

1 leek, sliced
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp curry powder
100g pearled spelt
500ml chicken or veg stock
2 eggs
100g green beans, chopped
juice 1/2 lemon
handful chopped dill
100g smoked salmon

Heat the oil in a saucepan and add the leek, cook for 10 mins, stirring occasionally. Add the curry powder and cook for 1 min. Add the spelt and stock and simmer, stirring occasionally for 15-20 mins, until the liquid has been absorbed.

Meanwhile, put the eggs in a saucepan full of water bring to the boil and boil for 9 mins, adding the green beans for the last 2 mins of cooking time.

Peel and quarter the eggs. Season the spelt and stir in the juice 1/2 lemon, the beans and the dill. Top with the smoked salmon and eggs. Serve.

Friday, 18 November 2016

Duck Breast with Blackberry Sauce

This is a delicious dish to use up those autumn blackberries. It's a really lovely pairing. I served it with cauliflower mash, sugar snap peas and kale.





















Duck Breast with Blackberry Sauce (from Lunch in Paris - Elizabeth Bard)
(Serves 2)

2 duck breasts
2 tsp butter
1 tbsp sugar
220g blackberries
splash sherry vinegar
1 tbsp chicken stock

Place the duck breasts, skin side down, in a frying pan. Cook over low heat until the fat is rendered and the skin is golden and crisp.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small frying pan, add the sugar and the berries, and stir, crushing with the back os a wooden spoon until they begin to bubble.

Deglaze the pan with a splash of sherry vinegar. Add the chicken stock, reduce a tiny bit and set aside.

Finish cooking the duck breasts, skin side up, for 3 mins. Pour any juice from the duck into the sauce. Reheat lightly.
Serve the duck topped with the sauce.

Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Indian Salmon and Veg Flatbread Pizza

I made this lovely pizza one day for lunch during half term. It's a very quick way to get a pizza and tasty to boot.





















Indian Salmon and Veg Flatbread Pizza
(Serves 1)

1 salmon fillet
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 red pepper, cut into chunks
1/2 courgette, cut into chunks
1 flatbread or tortilla
1 tbsp tomato paste
coriander leves
1 tbsp natural yoghurt

Preheat the oven to 200C.

Put the salmon on a baking sheet and sprinkle the curry powder over the top. Bake in the oven for 12-15 mins until cooked. Flake.

Put a little oil in a frying pan and fry the courgette and pepper until starting to soften.

Spread the tomato paste over the flatbread and top with the salmon, courgette and peppers. Put into the oven for 5 mins to crisp up. Remove from the oven and top with the yoghurt and coriander. Serve.

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Pasta with Bacon, Spinach and a Poached Egg

Really simple pasta dish, full of flavour and quick to whip up.





















Pasta with Bacon, Spinach and a Poached Egg
(Serves 1)

60g spaghetti
2 rashers bacon, chopped
30g cream cheese
1 egg, poached
handful spinach leaves
grated parmesan

Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions.

Meanwhile, heat a little oil in a frying pan and fry the bacon until crisp and poach your egg.

When the pasta is cooked, drain and then add back to the pan along with the cream cheese, bacon and spinach. Stir to combine. Put into a serving bowl and top with the parmesan and egg. Serve.

Monday, 14 November 2016

Meal Planning Monday

So last week was, there was a fair bit of eating out and my veg bag arrived. This week I got; kale, carrots, onions, cauliflower, chillis, beetroot and a chayote. I'm not really sure what a chayote is but I'll give it a go!


On Thursday I went to Dirty Burger/Chicken Shop in Crouch End with a friend. I had the chicken with sweet potato fries and we shared onion fries.


Then we had apple pie with ice cream for dessert. The food was delicious but the service wasn't great and the got the whole of my friends order wrong!


On Saturday I had cake. We were going to go to Dominic Ansell but when we went in the place felt a bit well, pretentious! So we went down the road to Peggy Porshen, which is just an emporium of pink glitteryness! Mush more our scene! We shared the salted caramel cake and the strawberry and champagne cake. Both of which were absolutely delicious.





















This week I am not going out for any meals, Monday will be a sandwich from Pret, apart from Thanksgiving, which I'm helping to cook at a friends house. I am really looking forward to it and have been tasked with green bean casserole and apple pie.

Monday
Spring Veg Curry with Rice Noodles
Out

Tuesday
Squash and Kale Bake with Salad
Courgette Falafel Pitta

Wednesday
Tomato and Cheese Quiche with Salad
Creamy Salmon and Potato Bake with Veg

Thursday
Bulgar and Chicken with Basil Pea Mash
Fettucine with Squash and Red Poblano Crema

Friday
Prawn Cocktail with Salad
Chicken and Chickpea Curry with Rice

Saturday
Prawn and Salmon Cauliflower Chowder
Out for Thanksgiving

Sunday
Chicken Salad with Raspberry Tarragon Dressing
Sausage, Cheddar and Mushroom Pasta Bake

Sunday, 13 November 2016

Tomato, Spinach and Garlic Quinoa

This is the last Secret Recipe Club ever :(. This month I had Pale Yellow, this blog is mostly a baking blog, but as I am currently trying to loose weight I went for a savoury salad recipe! I will definitely have to try some of the cakes when I'm not, they look delicious.

I took the salad with me when I went to London Zoo for the afternoon. I did make one substitution to the recipe and used chard instead of spinach. Yum!





















Tomato, Spinach and Garlic Quinoa (from Pale Yellow)
(Serves 4)

200g quinoa
500ml vegetable stock
pinch salt
1 tbsp oil
1/2 large yellow onion, chopped
4-5 garlic cloves, chopped
140g fresh baby spinach
280g cherry tomatoes, halved
juice 1 lemon

Add the quinoa, stock, and a pinch of salt to a medium saucepan. Heat on medium-low so that the mixture is simmering. Stir occasionally and cook until all the stock is absorbed.

Meanwhile heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the onion and cook until the onions begin to brown. Sprinkle the onions with a pinch of salt. Add the garlic and cook for 1 min. Add the spinach and cook until the spinach is wilted. Leave to cool slightly.

Add the tomatoes, then stir in the cooked quinoa. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix to combine. Serve.

Saturday, 12 November 2016

Courgette, Tomato and Cheshire Cheese Bake

Almost the last of the courgettes from the garden. Delicious tomatoey bake, a little time consuming as you have to grill the courgettes the first but really tasty.





















Courgette, Tomato and Cheshire Cheese Bake (from The Guardian)
(Serves 2-3)

4 medium courgettes, cut lengthways in thin slices
oil
500ml passata
2 red onions, peeled and finely sliced
2 tsp dried oregano
salt and pepper
200ml Greek yoghurt
1 egg
100g Cheshire cheese, grated

Heat the oven to 220C. Heat a griddle pan. Brush the courgettes with oil, then chargrill and season lightly.

Build the dish in a frying pan: start with a good layer of tomato passata in the base, top with a thin layer of red onions, and add a tightly packed layer of courgettes, sprinkled with oregano, salt and pepper. Repeat, and finish with a thin layer of passata.

Mix the yoghurt and egg, season, then spoon on top of the passata. Cover with cheese, sprinkle with oregano and bake for 20 mins until golden.

Thursday, 10 November 2016

Broccoli, Pea and Spinach Gnocchi Bake

An easy veggie dish that came straight out my veg bag and the freezer.

















Broccoli, Pea and Spinach Gnocchi Bake
(Serves 4)

800g gnocchi
1 head broccoli, cut into florets and stalk chopped
100g frozen peas
2 large handfuls spinach
3 garlic cloves, crushed
bunch mint, chopped
300g crème fraîche
salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese, grated

Preheat the oven to 200C. Grease the inside of a 2-litre ovenproof dish.

Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Add the gnocchi, broccoli and peas. Bring the water back to the boil and simmer for 3 mins, until the gnocchi are bobbing on the surface. Drain straightaway.

Return the gnocchi and peas to the saucepan and stir through the spinach, crushed garlic and mint. Add the crème fraîche. Mix until all the ingredients are evenly distributed and then season well with salt and pepper.

Transfer the contents of the pan to the greased dish, level the surface, scatter with parmesan and cook, covered, in the preheated oven for 20-25 mins, until the gnocchi have puffed a little. Serve straight from the oven.

Tuesday, 8 November 2016

Spinach Pancakes

So I made these because I didn't have any bread and I'd taken a burger out the freezer to eat! I also had a large amount of spinach in my fridge and I loved them. This, I think, is my most successful use of rice flour and flax seed, which have sat for months in my cupboard waiting to be used.





















Spinach Pancakes (from Spabettie)
(Makes 10-12 3in pancakes)


3 handfuls fresh spinach
3 tbsp ground flax seed
125ml + 1 tbsp warm water
100g rice flour
1 tbsp baking powder

Combine the flax seed with the water, and put into the fridge to gel.

Put the spinach and flax gel into a food processor  and pulse until blended. Add the flour and baking powder, pulse until completely blended.

Pour in 1/4 cup increments onto a heated griddle over a medium heat, turning once when cooked through.

Monday, 7 November 2016

Meal Planning Monday

So I completely forgot to take pictures of either of the meals I went out for last week! Instead I'm including a picture of a giraffe we got to feed on Saturday. My sister and I went to a Meet the Giraffes experience at London Zoo and we go to feed the giraffes. They are amazing animals. really majestic and they have this fab way of curling their tongues around the carrots to eat them. We had a lots of fun!





















Next week, I am going to try Dirty Burger/Chicken Shop, going to the RHS Urban Garden Show and out with a friend on Sunday. Still trying to get rid of some of those recipe clippings and also using a book this week! What a novelty!

Monday
Harissa Roast Veg with Giant Couscous (Hairy Dieters Fast Food)
White Chilli Chicken with Yoghurt Flatbread

Tuesday
Smoked Mackerel Flan with Salad
Veal Chop with Potato and Mushrooms (Telegraph)

Wednesday
Chicken with Bulgar Wheat, Pea and Basil Crush (Waitrose)
Creamy Crab Linguine (Waitrose)

Thursday
Lettuce Soup with Bread
Out at Dirty Burger

Friday
Beetroot Falafel Pitta with Crisps
Aubergine and Feta Burger

Saturday
Chard Pancakes with Lemon Yoghurt
Lemongrass Salmon Pilaff (Times)

Sunday
Out for lunch

Sunday, 6 November 2016

Rice Noodles with Sticky Lime and Chilli Chicken

I do like a good stir fry and in fact haven't made one in ages. This is very tasty dish and very quick to make. I used veggies from the garden, but you can use whatever you like!





















Rice Noodles with Sticky Lime and Chilli Chicken (from Olive Magazine August 2006)
(Serves 2)

4 chicken thigh fillets
1 lime, juiced
1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
125g rice noodles, cooked according to packet instructions
stir fry veg
1 tbsp soy sauce

Mix the chicken with half the lime juice and the sweet chilli sauce. Season. Put on a baking sheet, flattened out as much as possible and grill on each side for 5 mins or until cooked through.

Meanwhile, heat a little oil in a pan and stir fry the veg until cooked through, then add in the soy sauce.

Drain the noodles and add the veg and the rest of the lime juice. Serve.

Friday, 4 November 2016

Beetroot and Lentil Salad with Rose Petals

So I got given a box of rose petals. I had no idea what to do with them until the Waitrose Weekend Newspaper thing offered a few suggestions. One of them was to sprinkle them over a beetroot salad, so I duly accepted. I'm not sure that the rose petals added anything taste wise but they were very pretty!






















Beetroot and Lentil Salad with Rose Petals
(Seves 1)

60g dried puy lentils
1 medium beetroot, cooked and cut into chunks
salad leaves
25g feta or goat's cheese, crumbled
parsley, tarragon, basil, chopped
1 tbsp rose petals
french dressing

Cook the lentils according to packet instructions and leave to cool.

When the lentils are cool, mix with the beetroot.

Put the salad leaves into a bowl and top with the lentils and beetroot. Sprinkle over the cheese followed by the herbs and rose petals. Pour over some french dressing and serve. If you are using a lunchbox to take to work, then pack the dressing separately and pour over the salad just before eating.

Wednesday, 2 November 2016

Broccoli and Smoked Mackerel Gratin

This was a delicious bake, use homemade or store bought bechamel sauce.


















Broccoli and Smoked Mackerel Gratin (from The Guardian)
(Serves 4)

200g broccoli
375g smoked mackerel
2 large tomatoes, quartered
500ml bechamel sauce
4 handfuls fresh breadcrumbs
4 tbsp grated parmesan

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add the broccoli and leave to cook for 3-4 mins until bright and still a little crisp. Drain and cool under cold running water, then set aside. Set the oven at 180C.

Remove the skin from the smoked mackerel and break the flesh into large pieces, removing any bones as you go. Put the smoked mackerel, drained broccoli and tomatoes into a shallow ovenproof dish or baking tin.

Pour over the béchamel sauce, scatter with the breadcrumbs and Parmesan. Bake in the oven for 45 mins or so, until crisp and bubbling.