Pork fillets with mozzarella, spinach and pancetta
Serves 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
What to know: Fresh mozzarella is a soft Italian cheese. It is packaged in water to prevent drying and to preserve its delicate flavour. Its smooth elastic texture makes it ideal for melting, hence its popularity as a pizza topping.
Thursday Food tip: Chop mozzarella and mix with grated cheddar to melt in recipes. Mozzarella melts beautifully for a soft, golden finish.
Ingredients
375g pork tenderloin fillet
125g pack of diced mozzarella
250g callaloo, cooked and
squeezed dry
50g finely chopped vine tomatoes
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
85g Parma ham or slices of your
own favourite.
Method
Trim the pork, then cut almost in half, lengthways. Place between
two sheets of greaseproof paper
and using a rolling pin, flatten to
1cm thick.
Mix together the mozzarella, callaloo, tomatoes and seasoning.
Place the mixture evenly down the centre of the pork. Using wet hands, roll up the pork fairly tightly. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Wrap the ham around the pork to hold secure. Place in a lightly oiled roasting pan or a baking sheet.
Roast for 40 minutes until cooked through and golden.
To serve, cut diagonally into four, place on a bed of fine green beans with sweet potatoes or yam.
Parmesan-crusted fish with tomato and olive dressing
Serves 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
For the fish:
75g breadcrumbs
60g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
20g pack of flat leaf parsley (try JoJo’s or Sovereign Liguanea)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 fillets of snapper/parrot
15ml spoon of olive oil
For the dressing:
4 plum tomatoes, skin and seeds removed and chopped
50g of olives, pitted and chopped
2X15ml spoons of olive oil
20g pack of basil, leaves torn
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Preheat the oven to 190?C, 375?F or gas mark 5.
Mix together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley and seasoning.
Brush the haddock fillets with olive oil and coat with the breadcrumb mixture.
Place on a baking sheet in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until cooked through and golden.
Meanwhile, mix together the dressing ingredients and season. Top the fish with the dressing and serve with tomatoes and a salad.
Chicken satay
with peanut butter
Serves 6
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
For the chicken satay:
4 skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2cm pieces (boneless chicken thighs are a good option too)
8 wooden skewers soaked in cold water
15ml spoon of oil
1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped
1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
1/2 (medium) jar of crunchy peanut butter
400ml coconut milk
For the rice:
15ml spoon of oil
100g bunch of spring onions, chopped diagonally
1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into strips
2X275g pouches of pre-cooked Indian basmati rice.
Method
Preheat grill to a moderate heat.
For the satay: thread the chicken onto the soaked skewers. Heat the oil in a pan and saute the garlic, onion and chilli over a moderate heat until soft – about 3-4 minutes.
Add the peanut butter and coconut milk and cook for 5 minutes or until thick. Brush half the satay sauce over the chicken.
Place the chicken satay under the grill and cook for 8-10 minutes turning occasionally.
For the rice, heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok. Add the spring onions and pepper and saute over a moderate heat for 2 minutes.
Add the rice and cook for a further 3-4 minutes, until piping hot.
Spoon the remaining satay sauce over the chicken satay and serve two per person with the rice.
Cook’s tip: To enhance the flavour of the satay sauce, add a few drops of soy sauce or serve with a dish for dipping.
Smoked Scottish salmon and cream cheese parcels
Serves 4-6
Ingredients
100g of asparagus
200g of full fat soft cheese
20g of fresh chives, finely chopped, reserving 12 whole chives for garnish
grated zest of 1 lime
salt and freshly ground black pepper
230g of smoked Scottish Salmon
Method
Blanch the asparagus in a pan of boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and refresh in cold water.
Remove 5cm from the bottom end of each asparagus spear and finely chop, reserving the tops.
Place the soft cheese, chopped asparagus, chopped chives, lime zest and seasoning in a bowl and mix together well. Cut the salmon slices into 12 lengths. Place a spoonful of the soft cheese mixture at one end of each length, top with an asparagus spear and roll up to enclose the filling.
Tie a reserved chive around each parcel and serve 2-3 per person as a starter or as canapes.
NB Smoked marlin is just as delicious.
Dish: Pork fillets with mozzarella, spinach and pancetta
Recommended wine: Monterra Merlot
The plummy fruit and soft body complements the style and weight of this dish. The grapes are from the cool Monterey climate of California so they have a touch of herbaceous-ness, which will complement the spinach and pancetta.
