Prawn & avocado pasta salad

400g bag penne pasta 400g bag raw peeled tiger prawns defrosted 4 tbsp olive oil juice and zest of 1 large lemon 1 small garlic clove finely chopped 1 large avocado peeled, stoned, cut into cubes 250g cherry tomato halved 2 spring onions thinly sliced 100g bag rocket small bunch basil leaves, torn Method step …

Cherry swirl cheesecake

Ingredients For the base 50g butter plus extra for greasing 140g shortbread biscuits 1 tbsp golden syrup For the filling 350g cherry 200g of them stoned 225g caster sugar 500g medium-fat soft cheese 1 tbsp cornflour 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract zest 1 orange 200ml tub crème fraîche icing sugar for dusting Method step …

Bacon, pea & basil macaroni

Ingredients 6 rashers streaky bacon chopped 2 leeks finely sliced into rings 1 tbsp vegetable oil 140g frozen pea 400g macaroni 200g pack soft cheese 85g mature cheddar grated 1 tbsp English mustard small bunch basil shredded Method step 1 Fry the bacon and leeks in the oil for 10 mins until the bacon is …

Chana masala (chickpea curry) with spinach

Ingredients 400g can chickpeas drained 1 tsp cumin seed 1 medium onion finely chopped 1 garlic clove finely chopped 1cm piece ginger peeled and finely chopped or grated 1 tsp garam masala ½ red chilli deseeded and finely chopped 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp paprika 400g can …

Tangy trout

Ingredients 4 trout fillets 50g breadcrumbs 1 tbsp butter softened 1 small bunch parsley chopped zest and juice of 1 lemon plus lemon wedges to serve 25g pine nuts toasted and half roughly chopped 1 tbsp olive oil Method step 1 Heat the grill to high. Lay the fillets, skin side down, on an oiled …

Summery soup with pesto

Ingredients 1 courgette halved and thinly sliced 200g frozen peas defrosted 1 vegetable or chicken stock cube or concentrate 250g bag of ready-cooked basmati rice (or left-over cooked, cooled rice) 100g bag baby spinach 4 tbsp pesto (fresh from the chiller cabinet has the best flavour and colour) olive oil for drizzling (optional) grated parmesan …

Tomato tart with cheddar crust

Ingredients 175g plain flour 85g butter 85g strong cheddar grated 1 egg lightly beaten 2 tbsp Dijon mustard 4 tbsp crème fraîche 600g cherry tomato sprig thyme Method step 1 Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 3. Blitz the flour, butter and cheddar in a food processor until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs, then add the egg …

Courgette & tomato soup

Ingredients 1 tbsp butter 2 onions chopped 1kg courgette sliced 1kg tomato chopped 2 tbsp plain flour ½ tsp turmeric 2l low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock from cubes crusty bread to serve (optional) Method step 1 Melt the butter in a large pan, add the onions and courgettes, and cook for 5 mins on a …

Cinnamon blueberry tart

Ingredients 2 tsp ground cinnamon 6 tbsp golden caster sugar 375g pack ready-made shortcrust pastry 200g tub soft cheese zest and juice of 1 orange 2 tbsp icing sugar plus extra for dusting 2 x 150g punnets blueberries Method step 1 Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Mix …

Ouzo

Ouzo is one of the best-known Greek specialties whose large-scale production started in 1830. It is distilled from neutral alcohol that is diluted with water and flavored with a combination of aniseed and various botanicals, such as fennel seeds, coriander, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, or angelica.   The choice and the blend of herbs determines the …

Graviera Naxou

This cheese has been produced on the island of Naxos in the Cyclades for at least a century. Graviera Naxou is made from pasteurised cow milk or a mixture of sheep milk and a maximum of 20% goat milk. It has a thin rind and a light yellow, compact interior filled with small holes. Graviera Naxou is a …

Graviera Kritis

This cheese has a long history, and it is the best-known Greek graviera cheese. It is produced using traditional methods and ripened in facilities in Hania, Rethymnos, Iraklion, and Lasithio prefectures on the island of Crete.   It is traditionally produced from sheep milk or from a mixture of sheep milk and a maximum of …

Manouri

Manouri is a silky smooth fresh whey cheese made exclusively in the areas of Central and Western Macedonia and in Thessalia. It is a particular type of unsalted myzithra cheese known from the Byzantine period. Manouri produced in the province of Mplatsi in Macedonia is considered to be one of the best and it is made by adding …

Frappé coffee

Although the word frappe first appeared in the 19th century, this Greek coffee variety was invented in 1957. It is made by combining instant coffee with water and ice. The combination is usually prepared in a shaker or a hand mixer, so when the drink is poured in a glass, a frothy foam should appear …

Kefalograviera

This is one of the most famous Greek cheeses. It has been made in Western Macedonia, Epirus, Aitoloakarnanina, Evrytania, and in western mainland Greece since the 1960s, which makes it one of the newest cheeses on the Greek market. It is a hard table cheese usually made from sheep’s milk or a mixture of sheep’s and goat’s …

Kefalotyri

Kefalotyri is a traditional Greek-Cypriot cheese made from goat’s or sheep’s milk. It has a firm and flaky texture with irregular eyes and a strong, rich aroma, while the flavors can best be described as salty, strong, tangy, sharp, and spicy.   It is believed that kefalotyri is the predecessor of most hard Greek cheeses, since …

Tutmaç çorbası

This almost forgotten Turkish dish was described in an 11th-century lexicon as a soup made with noodles, lentils, and yogurt—a common combination in both Türkiye and Kazakhstan, a Turkish-speaking Asian country where this soup is called kespe. Today, tutmaç çorbası is typically made using homemade, square-cut egg noodles and it is most often prepared with the …

Mini blackberry bakewells

Ingredients 375g pack shortcrust pastry 1 tbsp plain flour plus extra for dusting 100g butter at room temperature 100g caster sugar 1 large egg 100g ground almond 150g punnet blackberry 25g toasted flaked almond clotted cream to serve (optional) Method step 1 Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll out the pastry on a lightly …

Homemade hummus with pitta chips

Ingredients 3 pitta breads 5 tbsp olive oil 400g can chickpeas rinsed and drained ½ tsp ground cumin 1 garlic clove crushed juice 1 lemon Method step 1 Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Slice each pitta in half so it separates into two really thin pieces of bread, then cut into strips or wedges. …

Veggie meatballs with tomato courgetti

Ingredients 3 garlic cloves For the veggie meatballs 2 tsp rapeseed oil plus extra for greasing 1 small onion very finely chopped 2 tsp balsamic vinegar 100g canned red kidney beans 1 tbsp beaten egg 1 tsp tomato purée 1 heaped tsp chilli powder ½ tsp ground coriander 15g ground almonds 40g cooked sweetcorn 2 …

Stuffed peppers on the barbie

Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 50g pine nuts 140g long grain rice 2 garlic cloves chopped 350g vegetable stock 1 bunch spring onions sliced thinly 140g cherry tomatoes halved 150g ball mozzarella chopped 140g gorgonzola handful each of parsley and basil chopped 3 red and 3 yellow peppers string for tying Method step 1 Make …

Lemon & honey chicken

Ingredients 6-8 skinless boneless chicken breasts, (about 1kg/2lb 4oz in total) 2 tbsp clear honey grated zest of 2 lemons and the juice of 1 2 tbsp olive oil 1 curly lettuce such as Batavia or Webb’s Method step 1 Preheat the oven to 190C/gas 5/fan 170. Arrange the chicken in a shallow ovenproof dish. …

Lemon cheesecake tartlets

Ingredients 4 tbsp lemon curd 2 x 200g tubs Philadelphia lite cheese 6 tbsp summer fruit sauce from a bottle 8 sweet dessert tartlet cases (from a pack) 100g blueberries 100g raspberry 1 tbsp cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) icing sugar for dusting fresh mint sprigs Method step 1 Be a clever cheat and save huge amounts …