Brrrrr.. its Winter. Let’s make a snowman & eat big bowls of stews!
What with the snow causing havoc these last weeks its been all about the comfort food…and getting home or moving the car.. From stews, soups, wholesome and hearty flavours with perhaps a little spice in there to warm up the cold nights.
Even if I have been out and about there’s nothing a bowl of steaming ramen won’t sort out, which is what’s been making it ways into my stomach these last few weeks. With a wealth of inspiration in flavours from cooking up a Ottolenghi Family Feast, digging into Tonkotsu at Bone Daddies or making a humble pea and mint soup, these wintry feasts are perfect for this time of the year.
Mauritian Fish Curry-Cooked at home with my lovely mother, a family recipe of thick pieces of fish in a spiced Mauritian mix of flavours, with okra. Eaten with fresh puri’s its all you need on a cold day to spice it up!
Rum Baba’s- A bit like doughnuts, soaked in a naughty rum-liquered and spiced sauce with cinnamon, orange zest, cardamom and brown sugar. Perfect supperclub dessert coming up with my homemade ice creams & exotic sorbet.
Tortilla Hash with Avocado, Egg & Chilli (if you care..) a Breakfast for the weekend. This is my favourite thing to whip up if I don’t have any clue what to make, using tortillas shred them and cook lightly in some olive oil till a little brown and crisp. Then add in your eggs, let it scramble up with the tortilla, I add a little tomato puree or umami paste for extra depth when time is an issue. Chopped fresh avocado smash and coriander finish off this dish..
Ottolenghi Feast- Chicken Shwarma & Red Onion Salsa with Mejadra Rice I was hoping someone would get me Ottolenghi’s Jerusalem book for Christmas, but still haven’t got it yet. I may just buy it myself, its been on the book list for a while! This chef is amazing in his recipes, flavour combinations of these countries, I could live on this
food for a while! Here I made a family spread for my parent’s birthday (lucky parents) which used this recipe for the chicken shwarma
It’s the combination of one of my grown to love spices, Sumac, lemony in-depth its a perfect addition on roasted veg or chicken. Here mixed with paprika, cumin, turmeric and mixed spice the intense spice knocks your taste sensations! Its pretty damn good. We rolled these up in wraps and pitta bread with the addition of some red onion salsa, dusted with sumac, olive oil and red wine vinegar. I added in feta for some extra salty creaminess.
Accompanied with Ottolenghi’s Mejadra rice recipe, a popular Levantine dish, can be eaten hot or cold, with so much flavour in this rice, you don’t even need anything else to eat it with. Every spoonful is a taste sensation, quite similar to a briyani using the burnt onions to add extra crispy crunch.
Grilled Mackerel on Beetroot Risotto- Well risotto says it all in this weather, rich pink-purple with the beetroot, fulfilling and uber satisfying. With some smoked grilled mackerel and a dash or horseradish in the risotto makes more a comfy, cosy dish
Bone Daddies- Tonkotsu Ramen & Soft Shell Crab- It’s the most I could manage in a half hour lunch break in soho, next time will make sure I take more time with the menu.. but on a cold, snowy day the Tonkotsu Ramen is a must have, with beautifully runny eggs, pork, smoky broth, full of flavour! Just a bowl of that would do me anytime.. and at £10 it beats any cheap eat. 
The Soft Shell Crab, was crispy, not greasy, seasoned pieces of crab all neatly stood up with some fiery chilli green sauce, beautifully vibrant and a perfect starter.
Koasarn, Brixton Village A cheap eats place to go in Brixton for something spicy, tasting home cooked and warming up those cockles! I opted for one of their bowls of soup, medium spiciness (which is also quite spicy!) with tempura battered prawns on top for crispy texture.. BE WARNED.. plenty of sniffing afterwards, sure to clear an impending cold!
Chorizo & Kale Stew with Homemade Cornbread- This wintry stew is perfect for a midweek lazy and warming supper. With salty, spicy chorizo pieces and a healthy potion of super-food kale its delicious. Here is the recipe from Jamie Oliver’s Caldo Verde Soup a must try! I made it with some of Steve Parle’s cornbread recipe, I have used a few times and every time I get a great result.
As you can see I have been cooking and eating some winter warming dishes in the last few weeks, with more to come as this post would last FOREVER.. if I didn’t stop. So I’m off to make another comfort dish the BABOTIE! Layers of meat, custard topping (hmmm ok..) its a mousakka type of dish!
Have a lovely weekend, keep warm! For those of you in warmer climes, enjoy the sun! (not jealous at all..)
Selina x
