savoury – Cookin' with Carmel

Anna-Jane’s Thyme to Eat Salmon Fish Cakes and Mango Salsa

September 11, 20161 Comment

I have been following Thyme to Eat, and I’ll admit, drooling over Anna-Jane’s dishes for some time now! So I am really excited to have her as a Guest Blogger and feature her recipe!

Her passion for food and for healthy cooking really shows through on her blog, social media, and demos. There’s really something for everyone, and her recipes are regularly featured in major publications; she has also appeared on IrelandAM.

If you have mashed potatoes from your Sunday roast leftover, this is an excellent lunch or dinner idea! The Mango Pineapple Salsa is a colorful addition, and adds that summery feel, especially with weather turning grey as of lately.

Fish cakes are a fantastic way of introducing kids and other fish phobes to the wonderful world of seafood. Not only do they taste great and provide some brain love in the form of omega 3, they’re also the perfect way to use up left over mash and create lunch or dinner in a flash!

The Mango and Pineapple Salsa adds another healthy element to the dish, as well as marrying all the beautiful flavours.

Serves: 4 large fish cakes

Creative serving suggestion – Present the fish cakes as fish burgers in a seeded or brioche bun with some tasty condiments and a side of sweet potato fries.

Ingredients – Fish Cakes

300g of mashed potato
213g of tinned pink/red salmon (freshly cooked salmon is also an option)
Pinch of sea salt and black pepper
½ teaspoon of paprika
3 spring onions or scallions
2 cloves of garlic
Some flour for dusting (use tapioca flour for a gluten-free version)
Rapeseed/Olive Oil for frying

Ingredients – Salsa

1 medium sized mango
Equal part pineapple to mango
¼ of an onion
1 red chili
Handful of fresh coriander
¾ lime
Pinch of sea salt
1 teaspoon of paprika

Method:

Place the cooled mashed potato in a large mixing bowl.
Add the drained salmon, salt, pepper and paprika to the bowl and mix into the potatoes.
Dice up the scallions and garlic and heat a small frying pan with one tablespoon of rapeseed oil.
Over a medium heat,sauté the scallions and garlic for about a minute, then add these to the potato mix.
Next, flour a chopping board or work surface with some flour.
Start preparing the potato patties by using a tablespoon or ice-cream scoop – two spoonfuls is enough for one patty.
Shape them in your hands and coat each side of the patty with the floured board.
Heat a large frying pan on a medium to high heat with four tablespoons of rapeseed oil.
Add the patties to the pan and allow them to cook on each side for five minutes. While each side is cooking – start preparing the salsa.
Dice up the mango, pineapple, onion and chili into fine pieces. Add everything to a large bowl and add the juice of the lime, the sea salt, paprika and the roughly chopped coriander. Mix everything really well and taste.
Once the fish cakes are ready – serve them up two per person for dinner or one as a starter with a side of salsa. As mentioned previously, creating fish burgers is another delicious way to serve these up to kids or guests.

Spicy Prawn Salad

August 24, 20161 Comment

Sun’s out in Dublin, and it’s beautiful! Such a change from yesterday. Maybe you’re hosting or going to one last summer BBQ? Or just don’t feel like cooking a massive meal?

This is a super quick and easy salad recipe, but there is a lot of flavor. It’s a colorful and bright dish, but the marinade really steals the show! It’s a good go-to for get togethers. Although it’s only August, this would make for a great, and very refreshing, starter at Christmas time.

The prawns are from Castletownbere, where the seafood is unreal. If you ever find yourself in West Cork, picking up some seafood is a must! Top chefs all over Ireland use, and give high praise to, West Cork’s seafood.

I made this Spicy Prawn Salad at my cooking demo earlier this month, and it was such a hit! Thanks again for those who came out.

CARMEL’S SPICY PRAWN SALAD

Serves 5-6

INGREDIENTS:

6 ears of fresh corn

1 lb cooked prawns

10 ounces cherry tomatoes

1 red bell pepper

1 teaspoon cumin powder

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon paprika

¼ cup tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced

sprinkle of chili flakes

2 tablespoons parsley

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 tablespoons white vinegar

salt and pepper

METHOD:

Marinade the prawns for at least 45 minutes(the longer the better!). Marinade is: olive oil, cumin, turmeric, paprika, garlic and chili flakes. While marinating the prawns, cook the corn. Place the corn in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to boil, then drain and rinse. Set aside to cool. Whisk together parsley, lime juice, vinegar and salt and pepper. Put corn, prawns, tomatoes, and bell pepper in bowl. Pour the parsley dressing over. Serve alongside BBQ and enjoy!

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First look at my recipe eBook!

August 11, 2016August 11, 2016Leave a comment

Here’s a peak at my FIRST recipe eBook! A handful of my blog’s most popular recipes, as well as two exclusive recipes just for the eBook, and some of my favorite pantry essentials!

I wanted to keep the cover clean looking and keep it fairly short. So the theme is quick and easy, and for the most part, it showcases more ‘Saintly’ than ‘Sinful’.

I’m just tweaking the layout and it’ll be ready for purchase!

It’ll be available August 21–keep your eyes out for more updates/news!

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COOKING DEMO NEXT WEEK

July 27, 2016Leave a comment

In West Cork next week?! I am giving a cooking demonstration on Bere Island! It’ll be at 5pm in the Community Center.

There’s a lot of fun activities on Bere Island happening over the next week, check out the line-up:

bifest

Sweet Potato and Red Lentil Turmeric Curry

July 1, 2016July 1, 2016Leave a comment

This is a quick and easy meal to put together. It’s ideal in this Irish summer! It’s been pretty rainy this week, so a bowl of this is just what I needed. And I’m sure by now, you have noticed my little obsession with turmeric. I love the flavor and the amount of benefits you can get from turmeric-whether it be in a dish like this one or as a DIY Face Mask!

Sweet Potato and Red Lentil Turmeric Curry

Ingredients

olive oil or coconut oil

1 red onion, diced

2 Sweet Potato, diced

150g Red Lentil

1 can chopped tomatoes

1 tablespoon Turmeric

1 tablespoon Curry Powder

Teaspoon chili flakes

Sprinkle of The Laughing Oyster Seaweed Flakes

Salt and pepper for taste

Optional: Chickpeas and Spinach

Method

In a large pot sweat the onion in the oil. Add the spices and Seaweed Sprinkles. Then add the sweet potato and tomatoes(and chickpeas if adding). Adjust with salt and pepper. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Stir in the spinach.

Serve with basmati rice or naan bread! A great and much healthier alternative to a takeaway!

You can make A LARGE batch of this and it easily freezes.

Soy Honey Marinade AND Lime-Chili Butter

June 19, 2016June 19, 2016Leave a comment

I used this Marinade on some ribs yesterday. But it would go on any cut of chicken, beef, pork, etc. I oven baked the ribs, but throwing them on a BBQ would be fantastic!

But before baking the ribs, I marinaded them overnight-which I highly suggest, to really get all the elements of flavor!

It is SSSOOO good! And so easy to put together!

Soy Honey Marinade:

1/4 cup Soy sauce

3 tablespoons Honey

2 teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon ginger, minced (I added a little extra to give it that extra kick!)

1 tablespoon parsley leaves, roughly chopped

1 teaspoon , each, of poppyseed and sesame seeds

Large sandwich bag.

You simply toss all the ingredients into the sandwich bag, along with your meat. CLose tightly, and shake. Leave to marinade anywhere fro 4 hours, to overnight.

Bake or grill your choice of meat (or chunky veg, like aubergine/eggplant or courgette/zucchini)! Sprinkle with more seeds and parsley. Can easily be doubled.

Now time for the second recipe~

I slathered this on corn, but it can go on anything. Even use it in frying(or butter your toast with it and make fancy toast!). It’s so simple but adds that extra WOW factor to any dish.

Lime-Chili Butter:

1/2 pound of butter (about 1/2 a stick)

1/2 teaspoon tumeric

1/2 teaspoon finely chopped red chili (or use chili flakes)

1 teaspoon lime juice

In a mixing bowl, use a wooden spoon to soften the butter. Add the rest of the ingredients. Sprinkle with roughly chopped parsley and sea salt. This can easily be doubled. And what you don’t use, just store covered in fridge. Think I’ll use my leftovers on a shrimp dish this week!

Featured recipe on KptnCook!

December 17, 2015April 1, 20161 Comment

Ahhh I’m sooo excited-I couldn’t wait to post this any longer.

Holy shiitake! My recipe for Peanut Butter Curry is going to be featured on @kptncookapp TOMORROW! @kptncookapp is an awesome app that shares 30 minute meals everyday-makes healthy and wholesome cooking easy! Go download the app tonight and check it out tomorrow! Also, how gorgeous are these photos the Kptns took?!

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

November 2, 2015November 16, 2016Leave a comment

Feeling settled WAY MORE settle into work and the new place-it’s been killin’ me Smalls not to be blogging! With the nights getting a lot colder, I’ve been craving warm comfort foods. Although I have a soft spot for pasta on a chilly night, a hearty soup can be just as comforting, yet I feel less guilty!

Butternut squash is one of my favorite soups. It’s hearty, a little bit sweet, and FULL of antioxidants, vitamins, and proteins. My soup is also vegetarian, gluten, dairy, and wheat free.

Roasting the butternut squash and using heaps of herbs really gives the soup depth, so don’t shy away from those herbs!

Here’s what you’ll need (serves approximately 4, depending on size of bowls or cups):

2 tablespoon oil

2 butternut squash

1 large white onion, diced

2 garlic cloves

2 tablespoon sage

2.5 tablespoon thyme

1 tablespoon oregano

2.5 cups hot low sodium vegetable broth (or you can use chicken broth)

Salt and pepper (roughly a teaspoon of each, but add more if need be)

Preheat oven to 200C. Peel and dice the butternut squash. (You want the squash to be diced fairly small, about 1/2 an inch or less, to be kind to your blender blade). Put the squash on a baking tray, lined with foil. Sprinkle on some oil, and all of the herbs, give it a good toss/mix around. Place in oven, and roast for 20 minutes. While the squash is roasting, dice and sweat your onion and garlic until soft(with butter or coconut oil, and add a teaspoon of se salt) in deep saucepan. Then add the roasted squash to the pan, and let cook for about 5 minutes. Add your stock, salt and pepper, and bring to the boil. Puree in the blender. Top with toasted seeds, Greek yogurt, or diced chorizo! Delicious!!

Crazy Good BBQ Sauce

May 16, 2015July 3, 20161 Comment

About three years ago I visited my friend in Texas, where I was introduced to homemade barbecue sauce. Ever since, I have been hooked! I have even said “I could drink bbq sauce!” There are so many varieties out there, so many brands, but so many additives. Why not bring a jar of your homemade bbq sauce to your next spring/summer grill out? Your friends and family will be highly impressed. I flavored mine with honey and whiskey(today happens to be National Whiskey Day!) and it’s lovely on sliders or pulled pork sandwiches!

Carmel’s Crazy Good BBQ Sauce: 1 onion-chopped 4 cloves of garlic-chopped 1 can of chopped tomatoes 2 tablespoons tomato paste ½ cup of brown sugar 2 tablespoons honey Pinch of chili flakes or two-three tablespoons hot sauce 1/3-1/4 cup of Worcestershire sauce 3/4 cup whiskey Using a heavy bottom sauce pan, cook onion and garlic in whiskey until transluscent, about 10-12 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring the pot to a boil, and simmer away for an hour to an hour and a half. Pour through a sieve or pour the mix into a blender/food processor and blend until smooth. Store in sterilized, air-tight jars, it should keep for three weeks. Enjoy!