Baked Bean Curry

An ideal student dish (inexpensive, easy to prepare, and tasty). Made with half a medium sized leek, eight chopped baby plum tomatoes (or similar), about 120g of tomato passata (or paste), half a standard tin of baked beans, half a dessert spoonful of curry powder, half a teaspoonful of powdered ginger, half a teaspoonful of dried coriander, one red chilli (deseeded), plus a pinch of cumin seeds (or powdered cumin).

The leek was divided lengthwise, and the halves were further divided, then diced. Added to a small pan with a drizzle of sunflower oil, and cooked at a medium heat until the leek pieces soften and begin to brown. The the chopped tomatoes were added and stirred through. Cooked until thoroughly softened (about ten minutes or so).

Add a little water. Add the tomato passata, and stir. Allow to simmer until the mixture thickens (watch carefully). Add the curry powder, the red chilli, the cumin seeds, the coriander, and the ginger. Stir through for a minute or so.

Finally, add the half tin of beans. Allow to heat close to boiling, then serve with a halved garlic and coriander naan bread, cooked in a toaster until it begins to sizzle!

Chorizo Sausage Stew, with Seeded Flatbread

A chorizo sausage stew, made with chorizo, potato wedges, carrot wedges, red onion, green pepper, spring onion, and diced cherry tomatoes.

The red onion and spring onions were cooked first in a little olive oil, until soft, and beginning to brown. After that the quartered cherry tomatoes were added.

Cooked for fifteen to twenty minutes, and then a third of a pint of boiling water was added, followed by the potato and carrot wedges, and the diced green pepper.

Simmer under glass for forty minutes, and then serve with a seeded flatbread. Delicious!

Black Pudding, with Mushrooms and Tomatoes

A simple breakfast dish - two slices of black pudding, and a rasher of crispy smoked bacon, cooked at a medium heat in a skillet. Plus quartered mushrooms, chopped cherry tomatoes and a diced spring onion, cooked in a little sunflower oil in an omelette pan.

The black pudding slices were cooked first, in total for fourteen minutes, seven on each side. After five minutes, the rasher of bacon was also added to the skillet, and turned once. Both items were cooked in their own fat.

The vegetables were cooked for ten to twelve minutes, and stirred frequently.

The vegetables and the black puddings were served on top of a lightly toasted (and unfolded) seeded flat bread. The dish was dressed in freshly ground black pepper, and a pinch of basil. Delicious!

Lamb Chilli with Seeded Flatbread

Ground lamb, cooked in a little sunflower oil, along with white onion, peppers, and some dried red chillies, and three green chillies.

The lamb was cooked first for 45 minutes, before the onion and diced spring onion was added (three). After that, the diced carrot, and the red pepper (half, diced), and about half a pint of water. Then  the lamb stock. Simmered under glass for an hour.

Before serving, add two pinches of dried coriander (or diced coriander leaves if you have some fresh available in your kitchen).

The seeded and folded flatbread was sourced from Aldi. Soak under the tap and allow to drain for two or three minutes. Then toast.