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Posts Tagged ‘coconut’

Caribbean Coconut Curry

January 24, 2014 by sarah

With the horrible cold long winters’ nights I like to turn to spicy recipes to warm from the inside as well as out as they cook on the stove or an excuse to put the oven on. This recipe from the Caribbean, courtesy of Levi Roots, fits the bill perfectly. Wouldn’t life be so boring without these exotic spices that can transport us half way around the world in one sniff, even if we haven’t been there ourselves?

Even the cat, Brian, is around more and more, even if it is mostly quick stops for drying off on the bed linen or an extra portion of cat food! I wonder if he would like butternut squash soup? Some sad news this week though; two of the chickens were taken by a cat in the early hours of dawn at the weekend. Poor Gertrude and Mrs Speckledy and now Mrs White is all alone. I will have to get her some friends in the spring.

Martinique Coconut Curry by Levi Roots (Caribbean Food Made Easy) with some alterations by yours truely. Serves 4.

2 tbsp sunflower oil

6-8 chicken pieces (thighs and drumsticks work best)

2 medium onions roughly chopped

500g butternut squash, peeled and cubed into 3-4cm cubes

1 large aubergine, cut into cubes 3-4cm

6 new or baby potatoes cut in half

400ml can coconut milk

300ml chicken stock

1 tbsp tamarind paste

3 bay leaves

FOR THE SPICE MIX

1/2 tsp ground turmeric

2 tsp ground coriander

2 tsp yellow mustard seeds

3 garlic cloves, peeled

1 hot chilli – fresh or in vinegar

1 tsp sea salt flakes

TO FINISH

juice of a lime

1 tbsp of rum

mango or papaya cut into chunks

Grind the spice mix in a mortar and pestle until a smooth paste.

In a large flameproof pan, heat the oil and brown the chicken on all sides, in batches if necessary. Remove the chicken and set aside.

Turn the heat down to medium and add the onions; cook until soft. Add the squash, aubergine and potato and cook until slightly softening. Now add the spice mix and stir constantly for a few minutes until the aromas are released. Add all the other main ingredients, including adding back the chicken. Bring to the boil then turn down to a simmer and cover. Cook like this for 30 minutes then remove the lid and cook for another 15 minutes to thicken the sauce. Finish with any combination of the finishing ingredients; if using the fruit, cook until the fruit is hot through. Serve with boiled rice.

Category Home, Recipe Index | Tags: Caribbean,cat,chicken,coconut,curry,main meal,main meals,spices | No Comments
Coconut Kitsch! Coconut Cake

June 1, 2013 by sarah

I finally get time to bake a cake again – I needed the therapy. I found a bag of dessicated coconut in my baking ingredients drawer and decide to make a coconut cake. The recipe called for Malibu but I hate the stuff (smells of cheap tanning oil) so substituted rum which works nicely. The recipe is courtesy of Nigella’s Domestic Goddess – I think I must be making my way through the book! Lilac and clematis flowers from the garden.

2 x 21cm sandwich tins, lined and buttered

225g unsalted butter, softened, 225g caster sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 4 large eggs, 200g self-raising flour, 25g cornflour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 50g dessicated coconut soaked in 125ml boiling water.

Filling – 25g dessicated coconut, toasted in dry pan, 75g soft unslated butter, 150g icing sugar, 1 tbsp rum/Malibu

Make the sponge by the all in on method and cook for 25mins at 180 degrees until cake tester comes out clean.

Make the buttercream by softening butter then sifting over icing sugar, beat until smooth then add the toasted coconut.

Iced with glace icing made from icing sugar and rum, topped with some more toasted coconut.

Enjoy your slice of coconut heaven!

Category Home, Recipe Index | Tags: bake,baking,coconut,kitsch,retro,vintage | No Comments

Bake Rattle 'n Roll

Posts Tagged ‘coconut’

Caribbean Coconut Curry

Coconut Kitsch! Coconut Cake