Spetsofai

As with all good meals - photographs questionably but tastes fantastic

A firm Greek favourite to finish off 2020.

I go to the same Greek restaurant all the time – but obviously not recently. One thing I was really missing was this amazing chorizo and pepper stew which tastes rich and delicious. I think cooking time is the key, this could be a great slow cooker meal. But I have nothing if not time on my hands at present, so I had time to cook it low and slow on the stove.

The boyfriend required chips with his.

I had mine with flat bread, but this would also be amazing with a fresh slice of thick bread, or even a nice crisp side salad. Rice and chips also work!

Leek, Chorizo and Sweetcorn Frittata

I don’t mean to brag, but I sometimes go to the gym. And my sessions are late in the evening, so it can be around 8pm before I’m getting home. And by that stage I’m utterly  STARVING. So I need something quick and filling. I’m often looking out for recipes that take no time to prepare from scratch, because I’m not a fan of ready meals and I don’t really like reheating leftovers.

Enter the frittata. I have so far avoided them because I really hate omelettes and for some reason I assumed that frittatas were the same. But I was wrong – they’re so much better!

Imagine an eggy, cheesy, golden and crispy dinner, filled with your favourite meat and veggies, that’s ready in less than 20 minutes? Imagine no more! Here it is! I had mine with a slice of buttered sourdough, but it would also be good with some wheaten bread, or a crisp salad. It's also crazy versatile, next time I might add in a little tuna with the sweetcorn and some red onion, and I think ham, broccoli and peas could also be a total winner. Hello winter warmer!

Tomato and Sweet Potato Soup

Winter is here! The nights are dark and the weather is absolutely BALTIC. My duffel coat feels like it is permanently attached to my body, and I don’t leave the house without thick socks.

This is firmly soup weather.

And it's good timing, as I've just realised that I haven't posted anything savoury to the blog since August. That's a little embarrassing.. but I love sugar!!

I do enjoy soup, but for me to look forward to making and eating it, it has to be absolutely delicious. Otherwise it can feel a little like a runner up dinner. Luckily, this soup is really delish, and uses up a lot of my cupboard/fridge staples. It’s thick and creamy and full of nutritious veggies, a perfect wholesome dinner for those days when you go out for breakfast and then manage to have a massive slice of cake and a mocha as well. 

Everything in moderation!

The chorizo on top is a nice little smoky treat, but feel free to skip it if you’re feeling veggie, or add something else like diced scallions or buttery sweetcorn.

Chorizo and Pepper Risotto

I LOVE RICE!

I don’t like to mess with perfection, and I was so pleasantly surprised by the last time I made a risotto in the oven that I’ve decided to do it all over again! Of course, I’m changing the flavours around a little, but the basic method is the same.

I really stand by this kind of cooking, it is really simple to change recipes around by adding a different meat, or adding some spices, or even just changing the veggies can make a big difference and stop you getting fed up with dishes.

I decided to go kind of Mexican style with this risotto, with peppers, paprika and chorizo. Delicious for dinner and for leftover lunch the next day!

Black Bean and Chorizo Quesadillas with Sweetcorn Salsa

How's that for a slice of fried gold?

A type of Mexican food I’ve never made before!! YAY!

I love Mexican food. I love it a lot. I once ate so much Mexican food it was painful to breathe, and I would do it again. And probably will. NO REGRETS.

The only thing that puts me off cooking Mexican cuisine at home is the time consuming nature. And that is where a quesadilla comes in. Cheese, tortillas, meat, cheese, beans, cheese, spices, more cheese. Cook, assemble and grill until cheese melted- so simple and quick. Obviously the beans in this recipe took a while (because they were dried) but you could use canned beans and cut the cooking time drastically. Or leave the beans and add more potato and onion and maybe throw in a pepper and other vegetables you have laying around.

The versatility of these bad boys knows no bounds. I think these will become a weeknight dinner staple for a long time and even just typing this I want to eat them again.

Chicken, Chorizo and Potato Oven Bake

As much as I spend most of my evenings stirring a pan of gently frying onions, garlic and assorted spices, there are sometimes when I just want to put something in the oven and walk away. This, for me, is the perfect work-night meal. Quick and simple, and really can be served with a variety of sides depending on what is in the cupboard.  

I have an exam coming up, and as much as I love to cook on my days off, I love these oven meals that I can forget about for 30 minutes while I keep studying.

While it was cooking my mind skimmed through the options for what to serve it with. Do I make it a decandent Mediterranean feast with hunks of buttered bread, or be good and serve with a nice big salad? Or, go Irish (potato on potato!) with some sweet potato fries. There is enough food here that you don’t really even need a side, but I am a feeder, and that thought is unacceptable to me.

Jambalaya

This food was MADE for me. It combines all of my favourite things; sticky rice, meaty spiced chorizo and crunchy scallions. I would not be sad if I could just eat this every day for the rest of my life. I think of it as the Cajun/Creole version of another one-pot rice favourite of mine: veggie pilaf.

So, apparently there's a few schools of thought on jambalaya, but it basically comes down to whether you include tomatoes, or not. I am no fan of tomatoes (I pick them out of EVERYTHING) but using passata is perfect for me, enough silky tomatoey flavour without any of the horrific texture issues.

There is something about this kind of all-in-one-pot meal which is irresistible to me. It’s comforting, all the flavour stays really packed in, and best of all: hardly any clean-up! I spend a significant proportion of my cooking time stirring a pot of meat, sauce and assorted vegetables. And I'm okay with that.

Beef and Chorizo Enchiladas

Mexican food is kind of my spiritual savoury cuisine. I only started making and eating it for reals a little while ago, aside from the Ol Del Paso fajita kits of my childhood. I am in a bit of a chorizo phase at the minute, and the only Mexican food that my boyfriend really likes is enchiladas, any rational brain would therefore come up with what follow. 

An aside, I don't measure out cheese ever, hence just calling it a handful here or there. Just listen to your heart (if it sounds clogged and like its begging for mercy, maybe hold back on the cheese).

The sauce is thick and delicious, and the addition of a touch of orange peel really makes it tasty and zesty. My mostest favourite ingredient, however, is the Sriracha rooster sauce. This is so delicious and versatile, it’s spicy with a depth to the heat and goes well on EVERYTHING. Makes grown men cry. And should be easily located in your local Asian supermarket. It will change your life.

One thing: you need a bigger rectangular dish for this than the one I used. I'm on it, the scouting mission for cut price Le Creuset has begun!

Chorizo and Butterbean Stew

Here are a few of my favourite things

Where has this been all my life?!

Seriously, this stew packs an epic punch. Forget greying mince and lacklustre gravy, this is a stew like nothing this Irish chick has eaten before. Thick, flavourful, meaty and amazing. The beans are a perfect antidote to the rich chorizo.

The other bonus is that it is so easy to make, making it the perfect work-night, cold-evening dinner. It's what I'm having tonight, and you should too!

Chorizo Carbonara

Sriracha hot sauce in the background, standard.

This is so quick to make! I am genuinely surprised that this Jamie 15 minute meal literally took 15 minutes. I win at Countdown-clock dinner!

This is a perfect dinner for when you really can’t be bothered making food. Normally, I would throw bacon in there, but I had chorizo in the fridge that needed used up and I thought I would mix things up a bit. Dat bright orange oil.

I know that "real" carbonara does not contain cream, but really, we're striving for delicious here, not authentic.