A few simple steps and before too long you can tuck into something divine - these easy meals are working week's best friend.
Aromatic spiced chicken and eggplant
Serves 4
A basket of warm naan breads or roti is a no-brainer of an accompaniment to mop up all these flavoursome, spice-infused juices.
Ingredients
6 boneless, skin-off chicken thighs
1 small eggplant, cut into 3cm chunks
4 medium ripe tomatoes, halved
1 small lemon, quartered
4 sprigs curry leaves
Base
½ cup coconut cream
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 tsp each yellow mustard seeds, sea salt, caster sugar, ground cumin and ground
garam masala
½ tsp each ground turmeric and sweet paprika
¼-½ tsp chilli flakes
1 tsp sea salt
2 sprgs curry leaves, leaves picked
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake.
2. Combine all the base ingredients together in a large bowl. Add the chicken and eggplant and toss to coat.
3. Tip into a 26cm ovenproof sauté pan and fold the thighs to make plump parcels. Nestle in the tomatoes and lemon quarters and place the sprigs of curry leaves on top.
4. Bake for 35 minutes, basting halfway through cooking, or until the chicken is fully cooked. Squeeze over the juice from lemon quarters just before serving.
French onion dogs
Serves 4
A delicious gourmet dog, sort of like America meets France at the hot dog stand.
Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil
4 long bratwurst sausages
4 long bread rolls
100g grated gruyère or aged cheddar cheese
Dijon mustard
Caramelised Onions (store-bought or see recipe below)
4 sprigs thyme
Cornichons, to serve
Directions
1. Preheat the grill to its highest setting.
2. Heat the oil in a sauté pan and cook the sausages until golden and fully cooked. Slice the bread rolls through the top, leaving them attached at the base. Spread both sides of the bread rolls with mustard then a layer of grated cheese. Add the bratwurst then top with caramelised onions and another good grating of cheese. Top with a sprig of thyme and place under the grill until the cheese has melted. Top with cornichons and serve immediately.
Caramelised onions
Makes ¼ cups
It's a good idea to make a double batch of these and use them on everything from pizzas, on baked potatoes with sour cream, in toasties and omelettes and alongside roasted meats.
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
3 large brown onions,sliced 1cm
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tsp finely chopped thyme
Sea salt and ground pepper
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1. Heat the oil and butter in a sauté pan and add the onions, garlic and thyme. Season generously and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
2. Add the sugar and vinegar and continue to cook until deeply golden and glossy.
Spiced coconut rice and chicken
Serves 4-6
The oven does all the work with this aromatic, spicy coconut rice tray bake. The chicken cooks to a wonderful tenderness and the rice is fluffy and totally delicious.
Ingredients
6 chicken drumsticks
5 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
Sea salt and ground pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
2 brown onions, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
1½ tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp each ground turmeric, paprika, garam masala and ground chilli
1 cinnamon stick
3 bay leaves
1⅓ cups basmati rice, rinsed and drained
200ml coconut cream
600ml chicken stock
2 tsp sea salt
To serve
Coconut and fresh mint relish (see recipe below)
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the oil and butter in a large sauté pan and brown the chicken, skin side down, until it is a dark golden colour. Turn and cook for 2 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a large plate. Don't wash the pan.
2. Add the onions, garlic, ginger, all the spices and the bay leaves to the pan with a good pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes, adding a splash of water if the pan is too dry. Stir in the rice, coconut cream, stock and salt.
3. Tip the mixture into the baking dish, spread evenly and nestle in the chicken. Cover with baking paper then foil and cook for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake for a further 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked. Scatter over coconut relish to serve.
Coconut and fresh mint relish
Makes ¾ cup
½ cup picked mint leaves
½ cup desiccated coconut
2 Tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp each ground cumin and sea salt
1. Blitz all ingredients in a food processor until finely chopped.
Find more great recipes at dish.co.nz