Cheats Chicken Tikka Kebabs

Ingredients
500g Chicken Diced
150g Natural Yogurt
1 Red and 1 Green Pepper (de seeded and diced)
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
2 Tablespoons Tikka Spice Mix
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Mint
1 Tablespoon Sunflower Oil
Naan Bread, Mango Chutney and Natural Yogurt to Serve

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Griddle Pan
Bamboo Skewers (soaked in water for at least 20 minutes before hand)

The Good Bit

1. Mix the yogurt with the tikka, mint, lemon juice and the oil now add the chicken, stir well, cover and leave for at least an hour in the fridge.
2. Thread the chicken chunks onto the skewers alternating with pepper, griddle for approximately 15 minutes, turning occasionally to brown all sides.
3. Serve with naan bread, mango chutney and extra yogurt.

Serves 4

Bombay Potatoes

Ingredients
450g Potatoes (peeled and diced)
4 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
7 Curry leaves
2 Onions (finely chopped)
2 Green Chillies (finely chopped)
2 dried Red Chillies
50g Fresh Coriander (chopped)
1 Teaspoon Turmeric
1/2 Teaspoon Each Cumin, Mustard, Fennel, Salt and Garam Masala
1 Lemon (juiced)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Lemon Juicer
1 Large Pan
1 Wok

The Good Bit

1. Cook the potatoes in boiling slightly salted water with 1/2 turmeric in for about 10-15 minutes until they are just tender, then drain and set aside.
2. Heat your oil in the wok and add the dried chillies and curry leaves, cook until they are almost burnt, then add in the onion green chillies, coriander leaves, the rest of the turmeric and spices seeds until the onion is soft.
3. Drop in the potatoes and a splash of water then mix well and cook for a further 10 minutes until all the spices are well mixed and the potato well coated, add lemon juice to taste and serve.

Serves 4

Lahore Lamb

Ingredients
450g Cubed Lamb
4 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 Cloves
1 Bay Leaf
4 Black Pepper Corns
1 Onions (thinly sliced)
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric
1 1/2 Teaspoons Chilli powder
1 Teaspoon Coriander Seeds (crushed)
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Glove Garlic (crushed)
1 1/2 Teaspoons Salt
1 1/2 Liters Water
50g Split Peas (yellow ones are best)
2 tomatoes (quartered)
2 Green Chillies (finely sliced)
Fresh Coriander to Garnish (chopped)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Frying Pan/Wok
1 Large Pan
1 Garlic Press
1 Spatula

The Good Bit

1. Heat the oil in your wok first until it smokes then lower the heat and drop in the onion, bay leave, cloves and pepper corns, fry for about 5 minutes until the onion is golden brown, then add the lamb, turmeric, chilli powder, coriander seeds, cinnamon, garlic and salt and stir fry for 5 minutes over a medium heat.
2. Pour in 900ml of water, cover and simmer for 35-40 minutes, in the mean time, put the split peas in to your other pan with the remaining water and simmer for 15 minutes until all the water is gone, if the peas are not soft enough to be mashed add a little more water.
3. Take the lid off the lamb and stir fry for a few minutes until il start to show at the side of your pan then add the split peas, tomatoes, sliced green chillies and the fresh coriander and serve.

Serves 4

Rogan Josh

Ingredients
900g Lamb Fillet (cubed)
250ml Natural Yoghurt
400g Chopped Tomatoes
150ml Water
1 Onion (finely chopped)
2 Cloves Garlic (finely chopped)
1 Inch Fresh Ginger (grated)
1 Teaspoon Salt
3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
2 Tablespoons Tomato Purée
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
2 Bay Leaves
4 Cardamom Pods
2 Teaspoons Each Ground Coriander, Ground Cumin
1 Teaspoon Chilli Powder
A Splash of Oil
Rice to Serve

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Metal Spoon
1 Wok/Large Frying Pan
1 Large Pan (for the rice, see home page for instructions on how to cook perfect rice every time)
1 Garlic Press

The Good Bit

1. Mix together the lemon juice, yoghurt, salt, half the crushed garlic and ginger then add the lamb and leave to marinate over night.
2. Heat a splash of oil in your wok and fry the cumin seeds for 2 minutes, then add the bay leaves and cardamom pods and fry for another 2, next add the onion and the remainder of the garlic and fry for a further 5 minutes.
3. Now add the coriander, ground cumin, and chilli and fry for 2 minutes before adding the lamb and marinade, cook this for 5 minutes, stirring all the time to prevent it burning to the bottom of the pan.
4. Add in the tomatoes, water and tomato purée, bring to a gentle simmer, cover and cook for 1 hour 15 minutes. Serve with rice (start preparing the rice after the meat has been simmering for an hour)
   

Serves 4

Lamb and Apricot

Ingredients
600g Lamb (stewing lamb cubed if you can)
1 Inch Cinnamon Stick
1 Onion (finely chopped)
2 Teaspoons Curry Paste
1 Teaspoon Cumin
1 Teaspoon Coriander
A Pinch of Salt
120g Dried Apricots (ready to eat)
240ml Lamb Stock
A Splash of Oil
Fresh Coriander (chopped to garnish)
Rice and Mango Chutney to Serve

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Frying Pan/Wok

The Good Bit

1. Heat the oil in the wok and add in the cinnamon stick and cardamoms, heat gently for 2 minutes before adding the onion, now heat for a further 5 minutes until the onion is soft but not coloured.
2. Add in the curry paste and cook for 2 minutes before adding the cumin, ground coriander and salt, cook this mixture for 3 minutes, finally add the meat, stock and apricots, bring to a gentle simmer, cover and cook for 1 hour 15 minutes.
3. Serve on a bed of rice (yellow rice looks good for this, add a teaspoon of cumin and 1 of turmeric to the rice pan whilst cooking to achieve this, or if your posh do it with saffron instead of cumin and turmeric). Add a spoonful of mango chutney at the side or in a separate bowl.
   

Serves 4

Lamb and Mint with an Indian Twist

Ingredients
225g Lamb (cut into strips)
150ml Water
120ml Natural Yoghurt
50ml Coconut Milk
2 Onions (thinly chopped)
1 Tablespoon Each Ground Almonds, Fresh Mint (chopped)
1 Teaspoon Each Fresh Ginger (grated) Garam Masala, Salt, Garlic (crushed)
Pinch of Each Ground Cardamom, Ground Cinnamon
4 Black Peppercorns
2 Chillies (finely sliced)
1 Bay Leaf
Oil
Fresh Mint (roughly torn to garnish)

Equipment
1 Mixing Bowl
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Spoon
1 Wok/Large Frying Pan
1 Balloon Whisk

The Good Bit

1. Whisk the yoghurt with the coconut milk, adding one at a time the following, chillies, almonds, salt, garlic, cinnamon, mint, ginger, garam masala and cardamom, then set aside.
2. Heat a splash of oil in your wok and fry the onion along with the bay leaf and peppercorns slowly for 5 minutes until the onion is soft and golden, then add the lamb and stir fry for 2 minutes before adding in your sauce.
3. Add in the water, bring to a gentle simmer and cover, leave to cook for 15 minutes stirring only once or twice, then take the lid off, turn up the heat a little, and stir fry for a further 2 minutes, keeping it moving at all times.
4. Serve garnished with chopped mint leaves.
   

Serves 4

Spicey Roast Lamb

Ingredients
1.5Kg Leg of Lamb
1 Teaspoon Each Chilli Powder, Garlic (crushed), Coriander, Cumin, Salt
1 Tablespoon Breadcrumbs
2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
2 Tablespoons Sultanas
3 Tablespoons Natural Yoghurt
Oil
Salad Leaves, Cherry Tomatoes, Lemon Wedges, Chopped Fresh Coriander and Grated Carrot to serve

Equipment
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Blender
Tin Foil
1 SHARP Knife

The Good Bit

1. Pre heat your oven too 180c 350f gas mark 4, trim any fat that you can from the leg of lamb, rinse it, then pat dry and set on a sheet of tin foil that will be large enough to cover it.
2. Mix all the teaspoons of spices together in the mixing bowl, the rest of the ingredients (breadcrumbs, yoghurt, lemon juice, sultanas and a splash of oil) should be blended until you have a smooth paste, combine this then with the spice mixture and mix well.
3. Pour your spice mixture over your lamb and rub it in well then cover with the tin foil, cook in the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes, remove and with the juices in the tin foil baste the leg again, you may need to use a spoon here, this time whack the lamb in the oven uncovered to brown off for 45 minutes.
4. Serve on a bed of salad leaves, chopped cherry tomatoes and fresh coriander and maybe some grated carrot and lemon wedges.
   

Serves 6

Mini Lamb Kebabs and Baby Onions

Ingredients
450g Lamb (minced)
1 Onion (thinly chopped)
1 Teaspoon Each Garam Masala, Garlic (crushed) Salt
4 Tablespoons Fresh Coriander (chopped)
6 Green Chillies (sliced, de seeded for a cooler kebab)
1 Tablespoon Flour
12 Baby Onions (de-skinned but left whole)
12 Cherry Tomatoes
Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Wok
1 Blender
1 Spatula
1 Mixing Bowl
Wooden Skewers (soaked in water for 20 minutes before hand)
1 Pastry Brush

The Good Bit

1. Ok, in the mixing bowl along with the minced lamb, add the chopped onion, garam masala, 1/3 of your chillies, 1/2 the coriander, salt and flour, get your hands in there and give it a good mix, then transfer to your blender and give it a blast for about 1 minute.
2. Now take out clumps of the mixture about the size of a lime and form around the skewers, you should be able to get 2 clumps on each skewer, continue until all the mixture is used up.
3. You now want to brush the kebabs with a little oil then stick them under a very hot grill, turning and re basting occasionally for 12-15 minutes, until the meat is evenly brown all over.
4. Now heat a good splash of oil in your wok and drop in the onions, when they start to brown you can add the tomatoes and the rest of your chillies, now slide the kebabs carefully from the skewers into the wok and cook, stirring slowly for 3 minutes.
5. Serve and garnish with a sprinkling of coriander which you should have left.
   

Serves 4

Lamb in Yoghurt and Masala Sauce

Ingredients
225g Lamb (boneless, cut into strips)
1 Tablespoon Tomato Purée
175ml Natural Yoghurt
1 Teaspoon Each Garam Masala, Salt, Fresh Ginger (grated), Garlic (crushed),Chilli Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
2 Medium Onions (thinly chopped)
25g Butter (unsalted is best)
1 Inch Cinnamon Stick
2 Cardamom Pods
5 Dried Apricots (quartered)
Oil
Parsley/Coriander Leaves to Garnish

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Blender/Pestle and Mortar
1 Wok/Large Frying Pan
1 Spatula
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Metal Spoon
1 Slotted Spoon

The Good Bit

1. Mix the yoghurt and all the spices (apart from the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods) and salt in your bowl, add in the lamb, stir well, cover and set aside for at least an hour.
2. Fry the onion of gently in a little oil until it becomes golden and crispy, then remove with the slotted spoon and either blend or crush with pestle and mortar.
3. Add a splash more oil to the wok and drop the onions back in, now add the lamb and its sauce and stir fry for 2 minutes, then cover and cook for 15 minutes (you may need to add a little water if thing start to look dry, 150ml should do)
   
4. Empty the lamb into a serving dish with the sauce, add a splash of oil to the wok and then melt the butter in it, drop in the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods, then add the apricots and stir fry for 2 minutes over a low heat, pour over the lamb and garnish with parsley or coriander leaves.
   

Serves 4

Lamb Balti withPeas and Potatoes

Ingredients
225g Lamb (boneless, cut into strips)
120ml Natural Yoghurt
1 Cinnamon Stick
2 Cardamom Pods
3 Peppercorns
1 Teaspoon Each Garlic (crushed), Ginger (grated), Chilli Powder, Garam Masala, Salt
2 Onions (sliced)
2 Tablespoons Fresh Mint (roughly chopped)
300ml Water
1 Large Potato (diced)
115g Frozen Peas
1 Tomato (peeled and de seeded, then diced)
Rice to Serve (optional, check the tips section on the home page)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Wok
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Wooden Spoon
1 Pan (2/3rds full with boiling salted water for the potato)

The Good Bit

1. Mix the yoghurt, cinnamon, cardamom, peppercorns, chilli powder, ginger, garlic, garam masala and salt together, add in half the mint stir well then drop in the lamb, stir well again making sure the lamb is well coated then set aside for 2 hours.
2. Heat a splash of oil in your wok then cook the onion slowly until it is soft and brown, then pour in the lamb mixture and cook for 3 minutes, add the water and bring to the boil and lower the temperature, simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile cook the potato, should only take about 10 minutes, you want it cooked but not ready to turn to mash. Add the peas to the wok, drain the potato and then add that too, stir gently to get a good mix then stir in the tomato and remaining mint.
4. Cook for 5 more minutes before serving, you may want rice with this, check my tips section on the home page on how to do perfect rice every time.
   

Serves 4