Friday 3 April 2009

Healthy Fish, Chips and Peas

Fish, chips and peas is not often considered the healthiest of meals. If you fancy having it for dinner tonight, however, or indeed any night, why not try this method of cooking it?

Ingredients (Per Person)

One skinned fillet of white fish such as haddock
1 large maris piper potato (unpeeled)
1 tbsp of frozen peas
Salt
Olive oil

Method

Put your oven on to preheat to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6 with a baking sheet inside. Chop your maris piper potato in to chips and add them to a large bowl or basin with enough olive oil to subsequently coat all the chips when stirred and salt to taste. Put the chips on to the hot baking sheet and in to the oven.

Place a large sheet of aluminium foil on to a second baking sheet and lightly oil the centre with olive oil. Place the fillet of haddock on the foil and wrap in to a sealed but loose parcel.

When the chips have been cooking for about fifteen minutes, take them out and shake the tray gently to ensure they are not sticking to it. Return them to the oven for a further twelve to fifteen minutes along with the tray containing the fish.

The frozen peas generally only take two to three minutes to cook in boiling water. The instructions will be on the packet which you buy so follow them accordingly.

N.B.

If using a different type of fish, the cooking time will have to be amended accordingly. For example, whiting will cook quicker than haddock while cod is likely to take slightly longer.

Wednesday 1 April 2009

Roast Chicken Legs with Coriander Mash and Garlic Mushrooms

I love roast chicken but so often it is prepared ins such a way as to be incredibly unhealthy. This recipe is not only healthy but extremely simple, meaning that if you fancy having it for dinner tonight, there is not a lot of preparation time or work involved.

Ingredients (Per person)

3 raw chicken legs (skin on)
2 large maris piper potatoes (peeled and chopped)
2 tsp of freshly chopped coriander leaves (cilantro in US)
3 small closed cup mushrooms (halved downwards)
2 cloves of garlic (crushed or very finely chopped)
Pinch of dried sage
Salt
Knob of butter
Olive oil

Method

Preheat your oven and a metal baking tray or sheet to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6. Add a little olive oil to a large bowl or basin and season with salt. Add the chicken legs and stir well to ensure even coating in the oil. Place the chicken legs on the hot baking sheet and in to the oven for 35/40 minutes, turning half way through the alloted time. Remove from the oven and set aside to rest/cool.

Boil the potatoes in salted water for 25/30 minutes or until soft. Drain well, add the knob of butter and the coriander leaf and stir thoroughly.

Heat a little olive oil in a small saucepan and add the garlic, mushrooms and pinch of sage. Stir for a couple of minutes until heated through then plate up, serve and enjoy your meal.

N.B. If you are unable to obtain the Huntigout, three-legged breed of chicken common only to Scotland, two or four legged varieties may of course be used instead.