Sourdough bread

Doing some sourdough experimenting. It's a bit tricky but getting there. Will publish method and tips once I get a better grip on it

Chili oil

Happy New Year!
Long silence I know but went back to Malaysia for a break and now at  Luxe top floor so have been pretty busy. I made some Chili Oil, Chili Sauce and Chili Jam at Chrstimas time. I'll post the recipes soon

Dry Fried Beef

I am in Malaysia with friends and doing some food research. Thought I'd post this recipe from 54 to keep you going until I get back. Enjoy

Summer has arrived again and it's too hot to make much effort in the kitchen so I am re-publishing the easiest meal which is delicious either hot or cold

You'll need
4 dessertspoons of sweet chili sauce
some soy sauce
4 salmon steaks (1 per person) skin on or off doesn't matter
pre-hearted oven 200c

Brush both sides of salmon steaks with sweet chili sauce

Place in ovenproof dish and shake over a few dashes of soy sauce

Bake for about 10mins - Cook bit less for very pink and bit more for well done

Serve with salad either warm or cold.

Any leftovers can be flaked and mixed with some good mayonnaise for light snack

Now that's easy!

Chive and Garlic Dip

Friends Iskandar, Nicole and Shein came for dinner and I thought I'd treat them to English roast chicken,  stuffing and roast potaotes followed by lemon drizzle cake. For pre-dinner drinks I made some dips.

Here is the recipe for the chive and garlic dip.

Fast to make a much better than you will ever buy.

100gr cream cheese

50gr yogurt

1 to 2 cloves garlic

salt - about 1/2 teaspoon

white pepper - few twists
chives - about 1 handful finely chopped



METHOD

Peel and crush the garlic, mix with salt and leave for few mitues. The salt will macerate the garlic and instensify the flavour.

beat the cream chees and yogurt together
stir it into the garlic
stir in the chives
check seasoning

Tip - you can use full fat cheese and yogurt or low-fat if you are counting calories
Tip - this is a basic dip mixture to which you can almost anything

Smith of Smithfields Topfloor

Back with John Torode

 for a few weeks at Smiths Topfloor

before my next food pilgrimage to Malaysia!

Coriander Salad Dressing

I am republishing this recipe. It was a big success when I first posted it on 54's website. It is the easiest dressing to make and gives a great Asian flavour. It's a good dressing to use for rice salad too.

5 minute Coriander dressing

Takes less than 5 minutes to make

Make in a screw-top jar – an old jam jar is perfect

Ingredients

• 60mls (1/4 cup – about 2 large limes) fresh lime juice
• 4 to 8 tablespoons oil - you can use light olive oil if preferred
• chopped fresh coriander – to taste – probably about 2 tablespoons
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp sambal oelek * see below
• About ½ inch of fresh ginger peeled and grated (don’t use dry powder - you can get packs of frozen ginger cubes which are very handy otherwise leave it out)
• Pinch of sugar and pinch of salt to taste

Combine the lime juice, oil, coriander, sesame oil, *sambal oelek, ginger, sugar and salt in a screw-top jar. Shake until well combined.

*you can get sambal olek is some Asian supermarkets. If you really can’t find it then pound some chili sauce and a couple of anchovies together.

Tip – in Asia acidity is obtained from limes, not lemons or vinegar, so always use lime juice in your dressing. Fresh is best but bottled is fine too.

Tip – lime juice is like salt - it can be added but not removed so use less rather than more – taste – then add more if needed.