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
Hot Cross Bun Waffles
Cut Hot cross bun in half
Heat your waffle iron and place both halves on the waffle iron to toast
Scoop vanilla ice-cream and place between the toasted bun
Drizzle with chocolate sauce and serve.
Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding
- Place raisins, sultanas and rum in a bowl and set to one side.
- Cream butter and brown sugar, until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
- Sift flour, mixed spice and cinnamon. Add breadcrumbs, hazelnuts, chocolate, buttermilk, rum soaked fruit and butter mixture and mix well to combine.
- Spray 1.7L pudding bowl with oil and line base with baking paper. Spoon mixture into bowl and top with baking paper round and lid. Place a wire rack onto the base of a large saucepan, fill with water and bring to the boil. Carefully place pudding onto rack making sure the water comes about halfway up the basin. Cover and simmer for 3 hours, topping up water when needed.
- Remove from saucepan; stand for 10 minutes, before turning out.
Tip: This pudding can also be cooked in the microwave. Ensure your pudding bowl is microwave safe, cook in microwave on defrost setting for 30 minutes, check if a skewer inserted into pudding comes out clean. If not cooked, microwave at 5 minute intervals, until skewer comes out clean. Stand for 10 minutes before turning out.
Christmas Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced).
Line a 12-hole muffin pan with paper patty cases. In a bowl, using an electric mixer, cream butter, mixed spice and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Fold in flour alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Fold in Sunbeam sultanas.
Spoon mixture into paper cases until two-thirds full.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer.
Cool in pan for 5 minutes, before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the icing: beat cream cheese with icing mixture. Slowly fold melted and cooled chocolate.
Ice the cupcakes and decorate with mini gingerbread houses.
Fig, pistachio & sultana tarte tatin
Preheat the oven to 180. Heat a 12” cast-iron skillet or oven safe pan over medium heat. Add the butter and let melt. Add the figs and saute for a minute or two until beginning to soften. Add the brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Stir until the sugar has melted. Simmer the mixture for another minute or so to thicken.
Unfold the puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface. Trim the edges to create roughly a 10″ circle. Lay the dough on top of the figs to complete cover them, tucking the sides in around the edges. Place the skillet into the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until puffed and golden.
When the tarte tatin is almost finished baking, heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and pistachios. Toast the pistachios for a few seconds. Add the honey and a good pinch of salt. Stir to combine. After another 30 seconds or so, turn off the heat.
Transfer the skillet out of the oven. Place a large plate over the skillet and carefully invert the tarte tatin onto the plate. Spoon the honeyed pistachios over top. Sprinkle with a little flaky sea salt. Cut into slices and serve warm, with a little extra honey drizzled over each slice.
Spinach & Ricotta Tart
- Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line an oven tray with baking paper.
- Steam or microwave spinach leaves until just wilted. Squeeze any excess liquid when cool enough to handle and then finely chop.
- Heat oil in a large frying pan over low heat, add spring onions and garlic, cooking for several minutes until just tender. Add spinach and cook a further minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Meanwhile, lightly whisk the egg white with a splash of water, set aside.
- Combine spinach mixture in a large mixing bowl with the ricotta, egg yolk, parmesan, pinenuts, mint and lemon rind. Mix until well combined and season well.
- Lay one pastry sheet onto oven tray and spoon spinach mixture over the top, leaving a 2cm border around each edge. Lightly brush the edges with some of the egg white mixture.
- Using the tip of a knife, lightly score the other sheet of pastry without cutting all the way through. Place on top of spinach mixture and seal the edges with a fork. Brush top sheet with some more of the egg white mixture and sprinkle with the seeds. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden.
Traditional Christmas Pudding
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
