My Favourite Recipes

 As much as we would like to eat out all the time, it isn’t exactly the most healthy or cost friendly option. In this blog, I am going to share with you some of my favourite meals to cook at home during the week as a university student.  

 

Chicken Satay Salad 

 

Ingredients 

1 tbsp soy sauce 

1 tsp medium curry powder 

¼ tsp ground cumin 

1 garlic clove, finely grated 

1 tsp clear honey 

2 skinless chicken breast fillets 

1 tbsp crunchy peanut butter  

1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 

1 tbsp lime juice 

sunflower oil, for wiping the pan 

2 Little Gem lettuce hearts 

¼ cucumber 

1 banana shallot 

coriander 

 

Method 

1. Pour the tamari into a large dish and stir in the curry powder, cumin, garlic and honey. Mix well. Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to make 4 fillets in total, then add to the marinade and mix well to coat. Set aside in the fridge for at least 1 hr, or overnight, to allow the flavours to penetrate the chicken. 

2. Meanwhile, mix the peanut butter with the chilli sauce, lime juice, and 1 tbsp water to make a spoonable sauce. When ready to cook the chicken, wipe a large non-stick frying pan with a little oil. Add the chicken and cook, covered with a lid, for 5-6 mins on a medium heat, turning the fillets over for the last min, until cooked but still moist. Set aside, covered, to rest for a few mins. 

3. While the chicken rests, toss the lettuce wedges with the cucumber, shallot, coriander and pomegranate, and pile onto plates. Spoon over a little sauce. Slice the chicken, pile on top of the salad and spoon over the remaining sauce. Eat while the chicken is still warm. 

 

Chicken Pesto  

 

Ingredients: 

3 chicken breasts 

1 Onion 

1 red pepper 

cherry tomatoes 

400ml of fresh cream 

1/2 jar of pesto  

3 cloves garlic 

Brocolli 

1/2 ts salt  

pepper 

 
 

Method: 

1. Fry diced chicken on a medium heat for 1-2 mins. 

2. Add finely chopped onion and garlic. Cook for another 2 mins. 

3. Add the cream, pesto and salt. Take to the boil and simmer. 

4. Once at a simmer add the brocolli and cherry tomatoes. 

5. Cook for another 10-12mins until sauce is nicely thickened. 

6. Season with black pepper. 

 

Carbonara  

 

Ingredients: 

250g Spaghetti 

2 medium eggs 

60g Parmesan Cheese 

4 slices of bacon  

Black Pepper 

Salt 

Parsley. 

 
 

Method: 

1. Crack eggs into a cup and mix with parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.  

2. Boil pasta in a pot of salted water. 

3. While the pasta is boiling, fry your bacon and chop it up once cooked. 

4. Fry off your garlic till golden. 

5. Place bacon and garlic into a large bowl. 

6. Once pasta is cooked, put the pasta into the large bowl using tongs and allowing the water to drip in. 

7. Quickly add your egg and cheese mixture and fold together until all is combined. (you can add extra pasta water if it is too dry) 

8. Garnish with Parsley and more pepper. 

 

Spicy Singapore Rice 

 

Ingredients: 

1 cup rice 

1 ts turmeric  

1 ts madras powder  

1 ts corriandor  

1/2 salt 

Peppers 

Peas 

Onion 

2 cloves garlic 

1 ts ginger 

 

Method: 

1. Fry finely chopped meat of choice for 5 mins.  

2. Add chopped vegetables and fry for 2 minutes  

3. Add the spice mix and fry on low heat for 1 minute.  

4. Finally, add the cooked rice and fold all together.  

 

Perfect Pancake 

 

Ingredients: 

100g plain flour 

2 eggs 

300ml semi-skimmed milk 

1 tbsp sunflower oil or vegetable, plus extra for frying 

pinch salt 

 
 

Method: 

1. Put 100g plain flour and a pinch of salt into a large mixing bowl 

2. Make a well in the centre and crack 2 eggs into the middle. 

3. Pour in about 50ml from the 300ml of semi-skimmed milk and 1 tbsp sunflower oil then start whisking from the centre, gradually drawing the flour into the eggs, milk and oil.  

4. Once all the flour is incorporated, beat until you have a smooth, thick paste. Add a little more milk if it is too stiff to beat. 

5. Add a good splash of milk and whisk to loosen the thick batter. While still whisking, pour in a steady stream of the remaining milk. Continue pouring and whisking until you have a batter that is the consistency of slightly thick single cream. 

 

You can find photos of all these delicious meals on my instagram @belfastfoods