Easy Artichoke snack,

Artichokes are so versatile and delicious, I cannot get enough of them while the are in season, from November until the end of April.  

Ingredients for 4 people:

2 large Globe artichokes.

1/2 cup water

2 tbs gram flour

1 tsp curry powder

salt and pepper

Optional: 3-4 Coriander stalks

Method:

With a sharp knife, remove the outer leaves and cut the ends of the artichokes, peel the stalk until you get to the white part. You need to have the artichoke heart.

Slice the artichokes, remove the choke in the middle.

Beat the water with the flour. Season with the spices and coriander stalks. Slice the artichokes, dip them in the batter and shallow fry for 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve hot, as is or with a yoghurt chutney.

Nutritional facts of Globe or French artichokes:
This food is very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Niacin, Vitamin B6, Iron and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.

Other names:
Alcachofa, Alcaucil, ALE, Artichaut, Artichaut Commun, Artichoke Extract, Artichoke Fruit, Artichoke Leaf, Artichoke Leaf Extract, Artischocke, Cardo, Cardo de Comer, Cardon d'Espagne

Medical uses
Artichoke is used to stimulate the flow of bile from the liver. This is thought to help reduce symptoms of heartburn and alcohol "hangover." Artichoke is also used for high cholesterol, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), kidney problems, anemia, fluid retention (edema), arthritis, bladder infections, and liver problems, including hepatitis C.

Some people use artichoke for treating snakebites, preventing gallstones, lowering blood pressure, lowering blood sugar, to increase urine flow, and as a tonic or stimulant.

Osobuco al Forno. Baked Veal shank

  



For 2-3 people
3 Veal or beef shank steaks, with marrow
herbs
Salt and pepper


This piece of meat is rich in collagen, and it is best slow cooked for 3-4 hours, like a pot roast
You need to make some cuts around the outer part of the cut, because the tendons shrink as they cook.
Simply place the meat in an ovenproof dish, season with salt, pepper, thyme and marjoram. Add half a glass of red wine to the marinade.
Cover with aluminium foil and bake in the oven at 150 degrees for 3-4 hours. It will make its own thin gravy.

You can cook Beef Brisket in the same way, leaving the meat in the oven for longer, 5-6 hours. As this is a very lean cut, ineeds long slow cooking. The meat will fall apart and will be deliciously tender.

Serve with baked potatoes, and braised artichokes

Fried Artichoke Tapas

Ingredients for 4 people

2 large Globe artichokes.

1 beaten egg

1 tbs plain flour

salt and pepper

Method:

With a sharp knife, remove the outer leaves and cut the ends of the artichokes, peel the stalk until you get to the white part. You need to have the artichoke heart.

Slice the artichokes, remove the choke in the middle.

Beat the egg with the flour. Slice the artichokes, dip them in the batter and shallow fry for 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve hot, as is or with lemon wedges.

Nutritional facts of Globe or French artichokes:
This vegetable is very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Niacin, Vitamin B6, Iron and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.

Other names:
Alcachofa, Alcaucil, ALE, Artichaut, Artichaut Commun, Artichoke Extract, Artichoke Fruit, Artichoke Leaf, Artichoke Leaf Extract, Artischocke, Cardo, Cardo de Comer, Cardon d'Espagne

Medical uses
Artichoke is used to stimulate the flow of bile from the liver. This is thought to help reduce symptoms of heartburn and alcohol "hangover." Artichoke is also used for high cholesterol, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), kidney problems, anemia, fluid retention (edema), arthritis, bladder infections, and liver problems, including hepatitis C.

Some people use artichoke for treating snakebites, preventing gallstones, lowering blood pressure, lowering blood sugar, to increase urine flow, and as a tonic or stimulant.

Leftover Fish and spinach pie

A simple, lighter fish pie without the white sauce.

Ingredients

for 4 people

• 400gr cooked fish such as Salmon, Cod, haddock
• 1 nutmeg size piece of ginger
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 bag of spinach
• 3 medium potatoes, boiled and mashed 
• 4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and halved

arrange the fish on an ovenproof dish, season with salt, pepper, ginger, garlic, drizzle a little olive oil over the fish.

Arrange the cooked spinach over the fish, and the halved eggs on top of the spinach. Season.

Spread the mash evenly over the pie.

Bake in a hot oven for 35-40 minutes.

Majorcan Meat Pasties, Empanadas.

These meat pasties were traditionally made around Easter time, they are now available all year round at most local bakeries.
The pastry is lard based; if you want to make the vegetarian option, you can find vegetable shortening at your local supermarket.
The orange juice is what distinguished this pastry. Some recipes add 2 tbs of sugar to the dough, to make a sweet/savory pastie.

For the Dough: will make around 10-12 medium pasties

• 150 ml melted lard or vegetable shortening
• 150 ml Orange juice 
• 150 ml vegetable oil, I use Olive oil
• 1 whole egg
• pinch of salt
• plain flour, about 400-500 gr

Pout the lard into a bowl and mix in the juice, add the whole egg and the salt, mix briefly.
Now add flour little by little and mix in with a wooden spoon until a dough starts to form. Once the dough comes together you can start using your hands to finish. Do not overwork the pastry.
Cover the dough in cling film and refrigerate until needed.





Meanwhile prepare the filling:

Vegetarian:

• Hard boiled egg, 
• peas, 
• a little mint, chopped
• salt and pepper

Meat filling: 

• 400 gr cubed pork meat, cut into small pieces
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste
• Spanish sobrasada, or chorizo

To assemble

1. Line a large baking tray with greaseproof paper. Heat the oven at 180 degrees.
2. Roll out the pastry and cut circles that are 15cm across. You should get 16-20 of them.
3. using a small stainless or plastic ring mold, drape a pastry circle over it, make the shape of the pastie, leaving room for the filling. Put a tablespoon of the filling inside. top with a piece of sobrasada or chorizo, cover the pastie with another circle of pastry, pinch the sides to seal. 
4. Place on the prepared baking tray. Continue with the rest of the pastry until it is finished. 
5. Bake in the oven at 180ºC for about 35-40 minutes until golden.

Serve hot or cold

Leftover Spaghetti with ginger garlic

Picture: Spaghetti with whitebait

This is is my tried and tested Ginger Garlic combination which I use very often.
It is so versatile and loved by all.
You can make it vegetarian, or add a little leftover roast or even flaked fish, cooked prawns.

Ingredients for 4 people:

• 300 gr dry spaghetti
• Flavorings: 100 gr cooked meat of fish, mushrooms, vegetables
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 cm cube of ginger, grated
• 1 hot chili
• olive oil
• Paprika to garnish

Method

• Cook the spaghetti in plenty of boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain and keep to one side.
• Peel the garlic and chop it finely.
• Grate the ginger.
• Heat 3 tbsp oil a large pan, add the garlic, ginger, chili and your chosen flavoring; cook for a few seconds. Add the spaghetti. Mix everything with a fork and reheat well. Serve.

Prawn soup

I love to make this hearty soup using the leftover heads and skins of prawns.
If you do not want to add the cream, use coconut cream instead.

Ingredients for 6-8 people:

• 50 g butter
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, halved
• 1 handful of chopped Parsley 
• 1sprig of thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 125 ml brandy or dry vermouth
• 1 kg cooked langoustines, in their shells
• 1.5 litres fish stock. You can also use chicken stock for a milder flavor.
• 200 ml double cream or coconut cream
• 1-2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 pinch smoked paprika or chilli powder
• 1 lemon, juice only

Method
1. Heat the butter in a heavy-based pan over a medium-high heat until foaming and gently fry the onion, garlic, two sprigs of thyme, parsley and bay leaves for 2-3 minutes, or until the onions have softened.

2. Pour in the dry vermouth and cook until the volume of the liquid has reduced by half.

3. Meanwhile peel the langoustines, reserving all the shells and heads. Add these to the pan, crushing the shells and heads with the back of a wooden spoon to extract as much flavour as possible.

4. Cover with the fish stock and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for about 40 minutes, then strain the stock through a colander, crushing the shells with a rolling pin. Strain the stock again through a fine sieve into a clean pan.

5. Add the cream and lemon juice to the strained stock and warm through gently. Add the langoustine meat, then season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

6. To serve, ladle the bisque into bowls. Roughly chop the remaining parsley and use to garnish the bisque.

Majorcan roast pork 'Porcella'

The famous 'Porcella' is traditionally made in a wood oven, slowly roasting a whole pig for 4-5 hours.
A very good home alternative is to use a pork shoulder or a large piece of pork belly,

Ingredients:

• 1 pork joint, with the skin on
• Salt, pepper, 
• 3 bay leaves,
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 lemon
• 1 glass of sherry or white wine

Method:
Heat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.
Pat the skin dry with a kitchen towel. The skin must be very dry to make a crackling.
Score the skin with a sharp knife, to make strips of crackling.

Rub some salt and pepper on the skin, and season the meat with more salt, pepper.
Sit the joint in a roasting tin, over the bay leaves, garlic, lemon juice and sherry, being careful not to make the skin wet.

Place the joint in the oven and cook for 50 minutes per kilo.
At the end of the cooking time, bring the oven temperature up to 200 degrees and cook for a further 20-30 minutes, to produce the crackling.

To serve:
Roast potatoes, String beans and Green Salad.

SpanishTortilla

Known in Mallorca as 'Truita de Patata'
When it is made properly it should be juicy and succulent, equally good cold or warm, and it cannot be made in a hurry.
Here is the true Spanish tortilla, where you only need eggs, onion, potatoes and salt.

Ingredients:

• 5 large potatoes with white, waxy flesh
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 6 eggs
• salt, pepper
• oregano (optional)
• olive oil

Preparation:

1. Start by stir frying the onion in 2 tbs of olive oil.
2. Peel and dice the potatoes finely. Add them to the onion and fry gently over a low heat and covered with a lid. Stir from time to time, cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes or until well cooked, they must not turn brown. Season them well.
3. Alternatively, place the potatoes and oil in a bowl, cover with cling film. Punch a few holes and microwave for 4 minutes at the highest power. Let them rest for a minute, stir them and cook again for 2 minutes. Check that they are fully cooked.
4. Meanwhile crack the eggs into a large bowl, stir them with a fork and season with salt and pepper. Add a little marjoram or thyme if you wish to give an extra flavor.
5. When the potatoes are cooked, lift them out of the oil with a slotted spoon and put them in the egg while they are still hot. This is important to the dish as the potatoes will start to cook the egg and will absorb the flavor. Leave the potatoes to stand in the egg for a few minutes or until they cool slightly.
6. Heat 2 tbs olive oil in a 20cm non-stick pan, pour the potato and egg mix. Stir with a fork for a minute or so, then turn the heat down, cover with a lid and let the tortilla cook for 6-10 minutes.
7. Now it is time to turn the tortilla over with the help of a plate. Cook the tortilla for 5 more minutes on the other side. Turn the heat off and let it stand for a few minutes before turning onto a plate.
8. If you don't dare turn the tortilla, grill the top in the oven for 5-6 minutes.

Serve the Tortilla warm or cold with green salad. Great for picnics and parties.

Tuna Tartar

Ingredients for a Starter for 2
This dish is quite indulgent as it uses fresh red tuna from the market. However, it is worth it!. It is very easy to make and the result is impressive.

• 1 fresh red tuna steak, about 250gr
• chopped coriander leaves about 1tbs
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
• lemon juice, to taste
• 1/2 clove of garlic, minced to a pulp
• salt
• pepper
• 1 tsp wasabi, optional
• soy sauce, to taste

Chop the tuna into small bits. Do this with a heavy chopping knife, until it resembles mince meat.

With a metal spoon, carefully mix in 1 dessertspoon lemon juice, a good pinch of salt, the chopped coriander,  grated ginger garlic,  soy sauce and pepper to taste. Stir 1 tbs of good olive oil into the tuna. Try a little and correct the seasoning to taste.
Stir a little wasabi sauce if you like it.
Serve with Melba toast, as a starter.

Note. If you don't have coriander use the same amount of chopped parsley instead.