food and beverage

I ate my first ever figs last week. According to Ian they weren't anywhere near as tasty as the ones he had in Africa (fresh from the tree), but I enjoyed them nonetheless.

We made this without the cheese and it still tasted very good.

Ingredients
Mixed nuts (e.g., walnuts, hazelnuts, sesame seeds, almonds, cashews) - 250g
Shallots - 100g
Chopped tomatoes - 400g tin
Egg - 1, beaten
Cheddar cheese - 100g, grated
Dried thyme - 0.5 tsp
Dried sage - 0.5 tsp
Dried mint - 0.5 tsp
Parsley - 1 tbsp, finely chopped
Marmite or other yeast extract - 1 tsp blended with 1 tsp boiling water
Lemon juice - 1 tsp
Black pepper
Butter / margarine for greasing tin

Methods
1) Dry fry the nuts, stirring gently, until golden fragrant, taking care not to burn. Remove to a bowl and leave to cool.
2) Blend in a food processor until thoroughly ground.
3) In a large bowl, combine the ground nuts with all remaining ingredients. Mix thoroughly.
4) Preheat the oven to 180° / gas mark 4. Grease the loaf tin with butter/margarine.
5) Scoop the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until firm and golden. Cool slightly, then turn out.

Jazz up tuna with Moroccan spices for a super fast meal

Ready in 10 minutes

Ingredients - serves 4
20g pack coriander (leaves and stalks)
3 garlic cloves
½ tsp each paprika , ground cumin and chilli powder
1 tbsp lemon juice
150ml extra-virgin olive oil
4 x 8oz/200g fresh tuna steaks, each about 2.5cm/1in thick

Method
1. Put the coriander, garlic, spices and lemon juice into a blender and blitz to a purée. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil until you get a smooth, thick sauce. Set aside.

2. Sit the tuna steaks in a non-metallic dish and cover with two-thirds of the sauce. Cover with cling film, then leave to marinate in the fridge for about 20 mins (or for up to 4hrs).

3. Heat a griddle pan or grill. Shake off any excess marinade, season the tuna steaks, then cook for 2-4 mins, depending on thickness for medium rare, turning once (cook 2 mins more for well done). Drizzle over the remaining sauce paste to finish. Try serving with new potatoes; for a Moroccan twist, toss melted butter, harissa spice mix and chopped coriander leaves through the potatoes.
Nutrition per serving
623 kcalories, protein 54g, carbohydrate 1g, fat 45 g, saturated fat 8g, fibre 0g, salt 0.29 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, May 2006.

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Lesley Waters’ rich chicken dish has vibrant North African flavours and goes fantastically with rice or couscous

Preparation time 20 mins
Cook time min 1 hr 40 mins
Freezable
Super healthy


Ingredients - Serves 2 adults and 2-3 children
2 tbsp olive oil
8 skinless boneless chicken thighs
2 garlic cloves , crushed
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground coriander seeds
1 tbsp sweet paprika
1 large onion , finely sliced
50g split red lentils
400g can chopped tomato
1 tbsp tomato ketchup
700ml chicken stock
1 cinnamon stick
200g whole dried apricots
handful mint leaves, to serve (optional)

Method
1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Rub 1 tbsp olive oil into the chicken thighs. Mix the garlic, cumin, coriander and paprika together, then rub all over the chicken thighs on both sides.

2. Heat a large flameproof casserole, add the chicken thighs and cook over a medium heat for 5 mins until golden on both sides. You might need to do this in 2 batches, depending on the size of the casserole. Set the chicken aside. Turn down the heat, add the remaining oil and fry the onion for 5 mins until softened.

3. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, apart from the mint and bring to the boil. Place the chicken thighs on top and pour in any juices. Cover and cook for 1½ hrs, until the meat is tender and the sauce thickened. Can be cooled and frozen at this stage for up to 1 month. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge, then gently warm through. Scatter with fresh mint leaves and serve with couscous or rice.

Nutrition Per serving
461 kcalories, protein 48g, carbohydrate 40g, fat 13 g, saturated fat 3g, fibre 6g, salt 1.45 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, January 2006.

Easy Moroccan chicken tagine recipe
Moroccan Chicken Drumsticks

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This hearty and healthy stew is perfect to share with your friends and family

Ingredients - serves 4
2 tbsp olive oil
550g lean lamb , cubed
1 onion , chopped
2 garlic cloves , crushed
700ml lamb or chicken stock
grated zest and juice 1 orange
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp clear honey
175g ready-to-eat dried apricots
3 tbsp chopped fresh mint
25g ground almonds
25g toasted flaked almonds
steamed broccoli and couscous , to serve

Method
1. Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole. Add the lamb and cook over a medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes until evenly browned, stirring often. Remove the lamb to a plate, using a slotted spoon.

2. Stir the onion and garlic into the casserole and cook gently for 5 minutes until softened. Return the lamb to the pot. Add the stock, zest and juice, cinnamon, honey and salt and pepper. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, cover and cook gently for 1 hour.

3. Add the apricots and two-thirds of the mint and cook for 30 minutes until the lamb is tender. Stir in the ground almonds to thicken the sauce. Serve with the remaining mint and toasted almonds scattered over the top.

Nutrition per serving
441 kcalories, protein 34g, carbohydrate 23g, fat 24 g, saturated fat 6g, fibre 0g, salt 0 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, May 2002.

Try
Moroccan Lamb Recipe
Moroccan Lamb Curry Recipe
Moroccan lamb cutlets recipe

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If you usually serve meatballs with spaghetti, try this summery Moroccan version with couscous for a casual dinner party

Ingredients - Seerves 4
500g lean minced lamb
1 red onion , grated
2 garlic cloves , crushed
2cm chunk root ginger , grated
a pinch dried chilli flakes
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon
olive oil
2 x 400g tins plum tomatoes
200ml chicken stock
½ bunch coriander , chopped

HERB COUSCOUS
200g couscous
50g butter
350ml chicken stock , boiling
½ bunch coriander , chopped
½ bunch parsley , chopped

Method
1. Put the lamb, onion, half the garlic, half the ginger and half the spices in a bowl and season well. Mix (clean hands are best) and form into little meatballs (you'll make around 30).

2. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick pan and add the meatballs in batches, frying until browned all over. Scoop out, then add the rest of the garlic, ginger and spices and cook for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and stock and season. Simmer for 10 minutes, then add back the meatballs and cook for another 20 minutes until sauce is thickened. Stir in the coriander.

3. To make the couscous put in a bowl with the butter and some seasoning. Pour over the chicken stock and cover with clingfilm. Leave for 10 minutes. Stir the herbs through and serve with meatballs.

Nutrition Per serving
544 kcalories, protein 30.2g, carbohydrate 36.7g, fat 31.7 g, saturated fat 15.2g, fibre 2g, salt 1.67 g

Recipe from olive magazine, July 2009.

Try
Moroccan meatballs

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The white/green colour group includes garlic, onions, spring onions, celery, pears, white wine, endive and chives. Plants in the onion family contain allicin, which has been shown to have anti-tumour effects. Foods in this group are also rich sources of flavonoids, which when consumed result in a reaction by the body involving an increase in the antioxidant capacity of the blood. This in turn plays a role in the prevention of cancers and of cardiovascular disease.