Food Bites: Lamb Steak with Kale Caesar Salad

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Food Bites: Lamb Steak with Kale Caesar Salad

Lamb chops – most either love it or hate it, for the meat boasts a strong flavour. If you and your friends fall under the first category, why not try whipping up a lamb dish at your next dinner party? After all, it is a versatile meat that can be prepared with a variety of methods. When cooked properly, lamb meats are juicy and tender, serving as an irresistible main that will delight meat lovers. 

Grilling: Charred Goodness

Meat lovers who are pressed for time will find grilling to be the best cooking method to prepare a mean dish of lamb chops, or a juicy burger. Dry brine the lamp chops. If you have additional time on hand, salt the lamb about forty minutes before grilling the meat. This process helps to release the moisture in the meat. It reabsorbs the moisture after a period of time, leading to a greater concentration in flavours. 

Braising: Moist and Tender

Braising the meat at a low heat helpt to tenderise the meat by breaking down the fibers, and can be done using the stove, oven or a slow cooker. This cooking method is ideal for less tender cuts of meat, such as the shoulder, shanks and ribs.

 

Roasting: Crisp 'N Golden

During roasting, the meat is uncovered during the cooking process, in order to create a crisp and browned exterior and moist interiors. This cooking works best for tender cuts, such as the rack and loin portions from the leg of the lamb. 

Pan-frying: Quick 'N Easy

Pan-frying will suit cooking enthusiasts who are pressed for time, for it is the quickest way to cook the meat. Use a heavy-based pan for maximum heat retention., as such pans heat evenly and retain the heat well. Ideally, the meat should have a minimum thickness of 15 milimetres. 

Now that you know how to whip up a delicious lamb dish, it is time to whip up your cooking utensils and embark on a culinary adventure of preparing a sumptuous lamb dinner! If you are in need of some inspiration, we have an excellent recipe on hand…

Picture a large, white plate, laden with a gorgeous cut of lamb, cooked to a beautiful brown colour. A crisp salad sits by the side, accompanied by a generous scoop of creamy risotto. This, folks, is a mouthwatering dish of lamb steak with kale caesar salad. Hop on over to British Corner Shop for the recipe, and get cracking!

 

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Food Bites: Ox and Guinness Pie

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Food Bites: Ox and Guinness Pie

The Evolution of Pie

The first pie to appear upon English soil is believed to date back to the twelfth century. The Romans were believed to have been the first ones to start the culinary tradition of pie-baking. Back then, the crust of the pie served a different purpose – it was not consumed, but was used to hold the filling during the baking process. The crust was also fairly thick, and the pie contained more crust than filling. 

There was little variety to the fillings, with meat pies often being baked. Fowl was a common ingredient used, and the legs of the animal were left to dangle over the side of the dish, to be used as a handle after the pies were cooked. It was not until the fifteenth century that fruit pies were created. 

One Pie, Many Fillings

These days, countless varieties can be used for baking pies. Delectable dessert pies are likely to contain fruits, such as berries and apples. Foodies in an indulgent mood may include decadent ingredients, such as luscious chocolate and rich caramel. If the preparation of a hearty main dish, fillings such as steak, kidney, pork, as well as an assortment of root vegetables are used. 

If a satisfying pie is what you crave for dinner, you will not go wrong with a tasty ox and guinness pie. Imagine tearing apart the golden-brown crust with a fork, to reveal a filling consisting of tender chunks of meat, celery, onions and a selection of aromatic herbs. An array of delicious sides, such as baked potatoes and stewed vegetables round off the meal. 

 

 

Doesn't this pie look absolutely delightful? If you are itching to bake this savoury treat, check out the full recipe from British Corner Shop. 

An online supermarket offering worldwide delivery, Bristish Corner Shop stocks an amazing array of English food products. A promotional code, "BONAPPETOUR15", is available for our BonAppetour community. This code is valid for 6 months, and gives £15 off your first order (with a purchase totalling over £75).

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Food Bites: Falafel

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Food Bites: Falafel

What is round, golden, crispy and tasty?

Why, we are referring to the falafel of course! Flavourful and nutritious, this Middle Eastern dish also packs a nutritious punch, for it are high in protein, complex carbohydrates and fibre.  

Origins: Shrouded In Mystery

The origins of this well-loved dish is shrouded in mystery. It is widely believed to have originated in Egypt, and created as a substitute for meat during the Lent Festival. Later on, the dish was introduced to the Levant region, where the locals used chickpeas instead of fava beans as the main ingredient for the dish.

Falafel Recipes: A Myriad of Ideas

Start off your culinary adventures by making the falafel from scratch. Whiz the ingredients together to form a smooth paste, round them into little balls, drop the falafel balls into a pan and fry them until they turn into a beautiful shade of golden brown.

With a tray of scrumptious falafel balls on hand, you may take a leaf out of Jamie Oliver’s cooking book by making a delicious falafel wrap with grilled vegetables and salsa. If you are not quite in the mood for having a toasty wrap, why not try your hand at putting together a falafel sandwich? After all, this is a quick and easy dish to put together, and it requires only a handful of ingredients to prepare.

If you are racking your brains over what to bring for a fun-filled potluck gathering, perhaps a falafel and hummus mezze platter may serve as the perfect sharing dish. Otherwise, a hearty falafel burger may do the trick, for it will certainly satisfy guests with a healthy appetite.

Self-professed health junkies will be delighted to follow this wholesome baked falafel salad to a T, starting from the process of preparing the falafel balls, to whipping up a light tahini and dill dressing sauce before tossing these ingredients together with fresh greens.

If you need a more substantial meal, go generous with the carbs by cooking up a dish of spaghetti with falafel balls.

Veggie junkies, don't miss out on these yummy vegetarian dining experiences: Gopi's Khazana, Vegetarian Cuisine in Florence, A Day with A Veggy Chef & Cooking Classes with Shalu

Image credits: Food People Want, Food52, Dishmaps

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Food Bites: Limoncello

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Food Bites: Limoncello

Stroll along the beautiful, cobblestoned streets of Sorrento, or in other villages along the southern coasts of Italy, and chances are that you will find an array of shops displaying attractive bottles filled with a zesty liqueur, coloured in a bright yellow hue.

Stored within the bottles are Limoncello, a sweet Italian lemon liqueur. This liqueur is mainly produced in the southern parts of Italy, in the regions near the Gulf of Naples, the coast of Amalfi and the Sorrentine Peninsula.

Serving it Right

Limoncello is usually served ice cold, in chilled aperitif glasses. It is handed out at the end of a meal as a digestif.

Variations: Giving the Limoncello a Twist

A good number of varieties of the liqueur are produced, such as an intriguing-sounding Pistachiocello (flavoured with pistachio nuts), the Meloncello (made from sweet cantaloupe melons), as well as the ruby-red Fragoncello (containing the tart flavour of strawberries).

Those who seek a liqueur with a richer taste should give the Crema di Limoncello a try. Translating to mean ‘cream of Limoncello’, this liqueur contains a lower percentage of alcohol, and boasts a sweeter taste and thicker consistency compared to the original version.

Take a Shot at Making Your Own Limoncello!

Do not be daunted by the thought of making your own Limoncello at home!

Unlike other kinds of liqueurs, making the Limoncello is a fairly simple process, with few ingredients and tools required. If you are a passionate home-cook yearning to serve out several shots of Limoncello to your dinner guests, do take a look at Limoncelloquest for detailed instructions on how to make your own Limoncello.

Looking for a taste of excellent home-made Limoncello? Be sure to dine with our convivial BonAppetour Host, Alessandro in Rome, Italy!

Image Credits: Diane Abroad, Fmms, Foodrepublic

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