Recipes

    Chicken Cacciatore

    This is my adaptation of a fairly standard cacciatore recipe. And what makes it so easy is it’s a one pan meal that can be done on the stove top fairly simply. Don’t forget, you can also liven up the recipe with a pinch of chilli flakes.

    Ingredients:

    • 2 tbsp oil
    • 1 chicken breast, cubed
    • 1 onion, diced
    • 4-6oz sliced mushrooms
    • 80ml red wine
    • ½ cup orzo
    • 1 tsp oregano
    • 1 bay leaf
    • tin chopped tomatoes or jar tomatoes and basil
    • 75ml chicken stock
    • fresh ground black pepper

    Method:

    1. Heat oil in large frying pan that has a lid. Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes till browned. Set aside and keep warm.
    2. Add onions and garlic to the chicken juices and cook till translucent 1-2 minutes. Add mushrooms, and cook for a further 1 min.
    3. Pour in red wine and bring to a rapid boil, and reduce by ½.
    4. Add oregano and bay leaf, and tomatoes, stir and mix thoroughly.
    5. Return chicken to pan, cover, and simmer for another 15 minutes.
    6. Lift lid and add orzo, cover and continue simmering for several minutes or till the orzo is cooked.
    Serves: 2

    Pork in Garlic Mushroom Sauce

    Tonight I’m making this simple but very adaptive recipe based on pork. You can use either a cheap cut of cubed pork, pork chops, or even pork loin. The choice is yours.

    Ingredients

    • 8 oz of cubed pork or chump pork chops
    • ½ tsp of paprika
    • 4 tbsp butter
    • 8 oz of sliced mushrooms
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced/diced
    • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
    • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup beef broth
    • salt & pepper to taste

    Method

    1. Season the pork with paprika, salt & pepper.

    2. Heat a large skillet over a med-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of butter. Sear pork till golden brown and no longer pink. Remove and set aside.

    3. Melt remaining butter in the skillet and, over a medium-high heat, sauté the mushrooms for about 5 mins. Add garlic and mustard and cook for a further min till garlic is fragrant.

    4. Add flour to the skillet, stirring to remove any lumps. Slowly add beef broth whisking until incorporated. Season with salt & pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring often, until sauce thickens (about 5 mins).

    5. Return pork to pan and cook until heated through (about a minute). Serve with a side of mashed potatoes and your favourite veg.

    Serves: 2