Spicy chicken thighs with cucumber and cashew salad

Ingredients

For the spicy chicken thighs

• 3 tbsp fish sauce.
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled, crushed.
• 2 large red chillies, finely chopped.
• 2 tsp sugar.
• 8 chicken thighs, bone and skin removed.
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil.

For the cucumber and cashew salad

• 3 tbsp lime juice.
• 3 tbsp caster sugar.
• 200g/7oz vermicelli rice noodles.
• 2 cucumbers, halved and thinly sliced.
• small handful fresh mint leaves.
• 4 spring onions, sliced finely.
• 2 tbsp cashews, crushed.

Preparation method

1. For the spicy chicken thighs, whisk the fish sauce, pepper, garlic, chillies and sugar together in a bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, pour half the marinade over the chicken thighs. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Reserve the rest of the marinade.
3. For cucumber and cashew salad, make a dressing by adding the lime juice and sugar to the reserved marinade, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
4. In a heat-proof bowl, cover the vermicelli with boiling water and leave for a minute or so until the noodles have softened.
5. Drain and rinse the noodles under cold water. Mix the drained noodles in a large bowl with the cucumber, mint, spring onions, cashews and the dressing until well combined.
6. Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade, shaking off any excess. Fry the chicken thighs in the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. (You may have to do this in batches.)
7. To serve, divide the cucumber and cashew salad among four plates, slice the chicken and place alongside.

Beefburger recipes with homemade tomato ketchup, fries and corn on the cob

Ingredients

For the beefburgers

• 1 tbsp olive oil.
• 2 shallots, 1 finely chopped, 1 sliced into rings.
• 700g/1lb 9oz good-quality beef mince.
• 2 tbsp chopped flatleaf parsley.
• 4 burger buns.
• 1 round lettuce, leaves separated.
• 2 vine tomatoes, thickly sliced.
• 1 buffalo mozzarella, cut into 4 thick slices.

For the homemade tomato ketchup

• 75ml/3fl oz red wine vinegar.
• ½ tsp ground coriander.
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon.
• 25g/1oz light soft brown sugar.
• 1 fresh bay leaf.
• 1 x 400g/14oz can chopped tinned tomatoes.
• 1 tsp salt.
• 1 tsp English mustard powder.
• 1 garlic clove, crushed.
• Tabasco sauce, to taste.
• 2 tsp tomato purée.
• 1 tbsp cornflour, mixed to a paste with 1 tbsp water.

For the corn on the cob

• 2 corn on the cob, cut in half horizontally.
• 50g/2oz butter.

 

For the onion rings and chips

• vegetable oil, for frying.
• 1 shallot, sliced.
• 3 tbsp plain flour.
• 1 free-range egg, lightly beaten.
• 50g/2oz breadcrumbs.
• 2 large chipping potatoes, cut into fine matchsticks.

Preparation method

1. For the homemade tomato ketchup, heat the vinegar, spices and sugar in a heavy-based saucepan until simmering.
2. Add the remaining ingredients, except the corn flour, bring to the boil and stir to prevent the mixture from sticking to the side of the pan. Once the mixture has reached boiling point, reduce the temperature to a simmer and cook for a further 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Blend the mixture in a blender until smooth, then push the ketchup through a sieve into a bowl.
4. If the mixture is a little thin, whisk the corn flour mixture into the ketchup and heat until the mixture has thickened. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
5. Cook the corn on the cob in a pan of boiling water for 6-8 minutes.
6. Drain and return to the pan with the butter then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Keep warm.
7. For the beefburgers, heat the oil in a frying pan, then fry the shallot for 2-3 minutes, or until softened. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool slightly.
8. Place the beef mince, cooked shallot and flatleaf parsley, in a large bowl and mix until well combined. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Divide the mixture into four and shape into burgers.
9. Reheat the frying pan used to cook the shallots until hot, and fry the burgers for 4-6 minutes on each side, or until just cooked through. Remove from the pan and set to rest in a warm place for 2-3 minutes.
10. For the onion rings and chips, heat the vegetable oil in a deep-fat fryer to 190C/375F.
11. Sprinkle the flour and breadcrumbs onto separate plates. Whisk the egg in a bowl.
12. Dredge the shallot rings in the flour, dip into the egg and coat in the breadcrumbs.
13. Deep-fry the onion rings for 1-2 minutes, or until crisp and golden-brown. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside to drain on kitchen paper. Season with a little salt.
14. Add the potatoes to the deep-fat fryer and fry for 3-4 minutes, or until golden-brown and crisp. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside to drain on kitchen paper. Season with a little salt.
15. Meanwhile, toast the burger buns, cut side-down, in a hot frying pan for one minute, or until hot.
16. To serve, place the bottom of the buns onto serving plates, then top with some lettuce and tomato, a burger, a slice of mozzarella and some shallot rings. Cover with the top of the burger bun and pile some fries alongside. Serve with a piece of corn on the cob and a dollop of ketchup.