Moroccan Chicken with Raisins, Almonds and Honey

Preparation 5 Minutes

Cook 2.5 Hours

Serves 4

Method

Pat chicken dry with paper towel, and sprinkle both sides of meat with salt and pepper. Drizzle the olive oil into a large heavy-based pot over medium-high heat.

When oil is shimmering, add half the chicken pieces and cook 5 – 7 mins per side, until golden brown. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining chicken pieces.

Reduce heat to medium, and add onion, garlic, ras el hanout, cinnamon stick, and ginger to the hot oil. Stir well, then cook for 5 mins, until onions have started to soften.

Return chicken and any resting juices to the pot. Add stock, bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1.5 hrs, until the chicken is tender.

Remove cinnamon stick and add raisins and honey to the pot. Gently stir to combine and increase heat to medium. Simmer uncovered, for a further 30 – 45 min, until the sauce has reduced and the raisins are plump. Stir through lemon juice.

Garnish with almonds and parsley. Serve with crusty bread, rice, or couscous.

Ingredients

1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil, divided

2 kg chicken thighs, bone-in and skin on (or chicken Marylands)

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 large brown onion, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, crushed

2 tsp ras el hanout spice blend (alternatively use baharat, or garam masala)

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 tsp ground ginger

2 cups chicken or vegetable stock, salt reduced

180 g Sunbeam Raisins

1/4 cup honey

2 Tbsp lemon juice

TO GARNISH

60 g Sunbeam Slivered Almonds, toasted

1/2 cup loosely packed parsley leaves, chopped

Recipe Collection

Traditional Christmas Pudding

  1. Combine the fruit, brandy, rind and apple in a microwave safe bowl and mix well. Cover then microwave on 100% power for 2-3 minutes or until plumped. Allow to cool.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add the egg, beating well between each addition. Fold in the sifted flour and spices, fruit mixture, breadcrumbs and almonds, mix well.
  3. Spoon the mixture into a greased and base paper lined 2 litre capacity pudding basin. Cover with a tight-fitting lid. Place on an upturned saucer in the base of a large saucepan or boiler. Pour boiling water into the saucepan so that is comes halfway up the sides of the basin. Cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid and steam for 4 hours, topping up water every 20-30 minutes or as required.
  4. Remove from the basin onto a serving plate, flambé with a little brandy if desired then slice and serve with custard or ice-cream.

NB: If you do not have a lid for your basin: Cover with a greased double layer of foil and baking paper, create a deep pleat in the centre for expansion. Place over the basin and secure tightly with string. Trim the cover if necessary.

If you do not intend on using the pudding immediately, keep the cover intact and store in the fridge until required. Re- steam for 1 1/2 hours when required.

Fruit & Nut Slice

  1. Preheat oven 150°C (fan-forced).
  2. Line a loaf tin (20cm x 10cm) with
    baking paper.
  3. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and
    stir until well combined.
  4. Spoon mixture into prepared tin and
    bake for 40mins. Allow to cool. Dust with icing sugar and slice thinly.

Candied Walnut & Beetroot Salad

  1. In a pan on medium heat combine Sunbeam walnuts, butter and honey until candied, set aside to cool.
  2. Preheat oven to 220c and cut the beetroot into quarters. Cover beetroot in olive oil, season with salt and bake for 30 mins.
  3. Remove skin of orange and slice into segments, crumble goats cheese.
  4. Once beetroot is cool combine salad ingredients with candied walnuts, dress with olive oil.

Smoked Eggplant Dip

Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced).

  1.  Prick eggplant all over with a fork. Place both eggplants over a low gas flame on your cooktop, turning often until skin is charred all over. Remove to a lined baking tray and continue cooking in the oven for 30 minutes or until completely tender and cooked through. 
  2. When cool, peel skin away from eggplants, discarding stems and juices.
  3. Roughly chop the flesh and combine with yoghurt, lemon juice, tahini, garlic and seasonings. 
  4. Combine currants with sherry vinegar and set aside for 10 minutes.
  5. For serving, toss together the drained currants, pine nuts, parsley and seasonings. Spoon eggplant dip into a serving dish and sprinkle with pine nut mixture. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and serve with warmed turkish bread.

Carrot & Walnut Cake Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius 

Whisk together your plain flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon 

In a separate bowl, mix your wet ingredients, milk, white vinegar, vegetable oil, eggs and brown sugar 

Once your wet ingredients are well combined, stir in your carrots, shredded coconut, pineapple, walnuts and raisins. 

Pour your wet ingredients into your dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not over mix. 

Fill your muffin tins with your patty pans and then with a spoon or a lever ice cream scoop, fill them to the top. 

Bake in the oven for approximately 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.  

Let cool completely before decorating with meringue. 

Once your muffins are cool you can start on your meringue. Mix your egg whites and caster sugar together in a bowl over a pot of water on the stove. Once the heat from the pot has dissolved the sugar in your egg whites, put your bowl on your electric mixer and whisk until stiff peaks. 

Using a piping bag or a large ziplock bag with the corner cut off, pipe the top of your muffins in any shape you like. If you have a blow torch, give them some colour, or leave them natural and decorate with your favourite easter eggs.  

Muesli Bar Slice

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line a 28cm x 18cm x 3cm tin

  1. In a large bowl mix together the oats, oat bran, bran, sunflower kernels, flour, apricots and sultanas.
  2. Melt the butter, honey and brown sugar in the microwave for 1 minute and add to the dry ingredients. Stir in the egg and milk until well combined.
  3. Press into greased and lined tin and bake for 15 minutes. Cut into slices when cooled.

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