Garlic and ginger king prawn stir fry with a timbale of coconut rice topped with tempura tiger prawn

I grew up in Hong Kong so Oriental food has a very special place in my heart. The smell of onions, garlic and ginger frying take me right back to my childhood for me there is no better smell! The idea behind stir fry's is that they are cooked very quickly at a high heat. When they are served they should have a 'breath of the wok'. 

Ingredients(serves 2)

18 tiger prawns shelled and de-veined (keep one back for the tempura prawn)

1 cup of rice

1 tin of coconut milk

1 chilli seeded and finely chopped

4 garlic cloves crushed

25g of ginger finely diced

2 tbsp of oyster sauce

1 red onion finely diced

8 pieces of mange tout

8 baby corn sliced in half

4 florets of broccoli

1/2 a red pepper finely sliced

4 spring onions sliced

1/2 cup of chopped corinder

Oil for deep frying (for the tempura prawn)

1 egg

1 cup ice cold water

1 cup of all purpose flour sifted

Method

Cook the rice in a sauce pan with the coconut milk, add some water if it starts to dry out during the cooking process. 

To make the tempura batter beat the egg in a bowl, add the iced water and flour and mix lightly be careful not to over mix. Heat the oil for deep frying.

Heat a splash of vegetable oil in a wok and get smoking hot. Add the onion, chilli, garlic and ginger, fry for 30 seconds. Add the prawns and all vegetables except the spring onions and coriander. Deep fry the tempura prawn until it floats, then remove and leave on some kitchen paper. Add the spring onions, coriander and oyster sauce to the stir fry mix and stir well. Place the cooked rice in a timbale and turn onto a plate and top with the tempura prawn. Divide the stir fry mix between 2 plates, serve and enjoy!

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Fillet of Haddock with cauliflower puree, dauphinoise potatoes and an oyster and chive cream

This recipe is a bit more hands on, but well worth the effort. Make sure your fish and oysters are nice and fresh.

Ingredients:

(serves 2)

2 fillets of haddock

4 live oysters

1 red onion diced

8 florets of cauliflower

500ml double cream

2 garlic cloves crushed

250g butter

200ml white wine

2 spring onions sliced

Salt and pepper

Flat parsley leaves

Method

Firstly trim your haddock into nice sized fillets. Place the trimmings in a pan with water, skin of the onion and any other bits you may have lying around that would be good for the fish stock. General rule for stocks are vegetables that grow under ground are good. Simmer the stock VERY gently otherwise it will become cloudy. Simmer for no more than an hour then strain through a fine sieve.

Slice the potatoes quite thin, put them into a sauce pan, cover with cream add 1/2 the onion and some garlic. Season and simmer gently for 10 mins (this gives the dauphinoise a head start before you put them in the oven). Pre heat your oven to 220c and put the potatoes in (make sure your sauce pan is oven proof!)

Bring the cauliflower to the boil in some salted water and continue to boil till tender. Drain then put them in a blender with a nob of butter and a splash of cream, season then blend till fine. Pass through a fine sieve and return them to the sauce pan.

In another sauce pan melt a knob of butter and add the other half of diced onion. Fry for a minute then add the garlic and shucked oysters. Fry for 30 seconds then add the white wine, simmer the wine until the alcohol burns off (about a minute) . Add the double cream, season and leave to simmer very gently.

Now would be a good time to check the potatoes, if a knife sinks through them then they're done. Cover with foil and leave them on the side, they will retain their heat.

Heat a frying pan with a splash of oil and a knob of butter. Season the haddock and fry skin side down for 30 seconds, carefully turn over fry for another 30 seconds then into the oven for 5 minutes.

While you're waiting heat up the cauliflower, check the sauce for seasoning and get your garnishes ready (sliced spring onion and parsley leaves). Arrange as per the photo, serve and enjoy!

Scallops wrapped in Parma ham with Chorizo and Watercress salad

For me nothing says Spanish food more than Scallops and Chorizo. The two were made for each other, wrapping the Scallops in Parma ham keeps the Scallops nice a moist and adds a bit of saltiness to them, the peppery watercress give some natural goodness and balance to the dish.

Ingredients (Serves 2)

6 Scallops with the roe removed

6 slices of Parma ham

6 slices of Chorizo

Handful of washed watercress

Pepper for seasoning

Method

Wrap each scallop in Parma ham, one layer of ham will do so it cooks evenly. Heat a small splash of olive oil in a pan and when hot add the sliced chorizo, turn after a minute then add the scallops. Cook the scallops for 30 seconds each side and remove from the heat. Dress the watercress in a little olive oil and arrange on the plate. Season the scallops with cracked pepper and place on the plate on top of the chorizo. Serve and enjoy!

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Salt and pepper Calamari

Ingredients:

(Serves 4)

3 squid hoods cleaned and turned inside out

Plain flour

Salt and pepper

1/2 tsp paprika

Oil for frying

Sweet chilli sauce (for the dip)

Method

Put the flour in a bowl and season with the salt and pepper and add the paprika. Slice the squid hood into rings and pat dry with kitchen paper. Put the rings in the flour and mix so they have a flour dusting. Then put them into a sieve and shake so any excess flour comes off. Heat the oil in a pan (it's hot enough when you drop a cube of bread in it and it starts to fry). Fry the dusted rings for 30 seconds (no more) and drain on kitchen paper. Serve immediately with the dipping sauce and a wedge of lemon. Serve and enjoy!