Cooking with Paula McIntyre

Pot roast bacon 1 kg bacon loin joint 2 onions, roughly chopped 1 bay leaf Few sprigs thyme Place the bacon in pot that fits in the oven and add the onions, bay, thyme and cover with water. Add a lid and cook at 180°c for about an hour and half. Remove bacon and allow to rest. When ready to serve – place in a pan fat side down and cook until golden. Slice and serve with the accompaniments. Grilled...

200g medium egg noodles 4 scallions finely chopped 1 tablespoon finely chopped kimchi 2 eggs whisked with a fork 1 teaspoon sesame oil 25ml soy sauce Oil for cooking Cook the noodles according to the pack and drain well. Toss in the sesame and cut them up roughly with knife and allow to cool. Mix in the eggs, scallions, kimchi and soy very well. Take a small pan or one big one and cover the bottom...

200g plain flour 100g cold butter 35g icing sugar 1 egg Rub the flour and butter together until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and mix well. Make a well in the centre and add the Mix to a dough Wrap in cling and chill for 20 minutes. Apple and blueberry filling 3 medium cooking apples 3 red eating apples 250g frozen blueberries 25g butter 75g castor sugar Pinch allspice ½ te...

150g wholemeal flour 100g plain flour Pinch salt 50ml vegetable oil 150ml water Mix the flours, salt and oil in a bowl and add a little water a time to combine to a soft dough. Knead and then place in a bowl for 20 minutes to rest. 200g potatoes, peeled and diced 1 onion, finely chopped 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger 1 teaspoon finely chopped chilli 1 teaspoon garam masala ½ teaspoon chilli pow...

Gingerbread 75g butter + extra for buttering 100g dark muscovado sugar 100g golden syrup 35g crystallized ginger roughly chopped 50ml whole milk 1 egg 2 teaspoons ground ginger 150g self raising flour Icing sugar to dust Lightly butter a cake tin and dust with flour, shaking off the excess. Set oven to 180°c. Place butter, sugar and syrup in a pan and gently cook until the sugar has dissolved. Coo...

200g fine noodles 25g grated root ginger 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 6 scallions finely chopped 1 aubergine cut into 2cm dice 100g of either cooked bacon or ham chopped 1 tablespoon tomato puree 1 teaspoon gochujang or chilli paste 1 teaspoon sesame seeds 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds 100ml oyster sauce Oil for cooking Cook the noodles as per pack instructions, drain and to...

Paula's "Burns Night" Supper Haggis stuffed chicken thighs 6 chicken thighs, skin on, bone removed 75g crumbled haggis 75g sausage meat 25g breadcrumbs 1 onion, finely chopped Mix the haggis, sausage, crumbs and onion well. Place chicken on a board, skin side down and divide the stuffing among the thighs. Roll up the thighs to enclose the stuffing. Take a square of foil, place chicken on top, wrap...

Flaky pastry 225g plain flour 150g butter Pinch salt Cold water to bind Wrap the butter cling and place in freezer for 45 minutes. Mix the salt and flour together and then grate the butter from frozen into the bowl. Mix together then rub to breadcrumb consistency. Add cold water to bind, mix to a smooth dough, roll into a sausage shape and chill for an hour. Roll into a rectangle about 50cm x 30cm...

Mulled fruit 250g frozen mixed berries 100g castor sugar 200ml water 2 cloves 1 cinnamon stick, split in half 150ml red wine 4 large pears 4 plums Place the berries, sugar, cloves, wine, cinnamon stick and water in a pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the cloves and cinnamon and blend to a smooth sauce and pass through a sieve into another pan. Peel the pears and cut in half through the root. Re...

2 pears, cored and chopped finely 2 sprigs rosemary, chopped 2 small onions, peeled and finely chopped 25g butter 500g sausage meat 35g chopped chestnut 75g breadcrumbs Handful chopped parsley Cook the onions gently in the butter until soft and golden and add the rosemary, cook for a minute and then cool. Mix into the sausage meat with the breadcrumbs, pears, chestnuts and parsley. Press into a bu...

Braised carrots with leeks and sprouts 500g carrots, peeled and sliced thinly 2 onions, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, ground 25g butter 500ml vegetable stock 375g leeks, split, washed and chopped 500g sprouts, trimmed and cut in half through the root Heat the butter in a large casserole pan and the onions and garlic. Cook until soft and add the carrots. Cook with...

Mince Pies with Streusel Topping and Orange Cream Homemade Mincemeat 100g ice cold butter, coarsely grated 200g dark brown sugar 2 Armagh Bramley apples, peeled, cored and coarsely grated zest and juice 1 lemon zest and juice 1 orange 50ml rum or orange liqueur 150ml Port 100ml Brandy 600g dried mixed fruit – I like a mixture of dried cranberries, cherries,figs, sultanas, pear and raisins 2 teaspo...

Crostini with triple crème cheese, roasted grapes and walnut 1 ciabatta loaf 200g red seedless grapes, removed from stem 1 tablespoon oil 1 teaspoon seasalt 1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary 2 rounds triple crème cheese 4 walnut halves Slice the bread as thinly as you can with a serrated knife and place on a couple of baking trays. Bake in a 180°c oven until crisp and golden – about 10 minutes. C...

Chicken and leek minestrone soup with walnut and parsley pesto toasts Chicken and leek minestrone soup 1 small chicken, about 1kg 2 onions, peeled and quartered 1 stick celery, roughly chopped 2 cloves garlic, peeled 1 bay leaf 1 large leek, split, washed and chopped 25g butter 75g macaroni pasta 1 tin borlotti beans Large handful parsley, chopped Salt and pepper to taste Place the chicken in a po...

Chicken with leeks and mustard 8 boneless chicken thighs, skin on 1 tablespoon oil 15g butter 2 shallots, chopped 1 medium leek, split, washed and chopped 100ml dry white wine or dry cider 250ml chicken stock 2 tablespoons double cream 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard Heat the oil in a large frying pan until hot and add the chicken skin side down. Cook for about 5 minutes or until skin is golden and cris...

Beef sausage stroganoff with parsnip mash 500g beef sausages 1 tablespoon oil 2 onions, finely sliced 1 clove garlic, minced 25g butter 250g sliced mushrooms 1 tablespoon tomato puree 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 150ml beef stock 75ml double cream 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard Heat the oil in a large pan and add the sausages. Cook to seal on both sides and then add...

6 red eating apples 80g blackcurrant jam 100g self-raising flour 50g butter, coarsely chopped 175g caster sugar 250 ml dry apple cider Preheat oven to 200C. Butter a baking dish or skillet. Peel, quarter and core the apples. Slice each quarter in half. Spread the jam over the base of the baking dish. Place the apples on top. Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles fine crumbs. Add the sug...

Coffee Cake 250g soft butter 125g castor sugar 125g soft brown sugar 3 eggs 50g chopped walnuts 225g self raising flour 50g chopped dates 1 vanilla extract Set oven to 180°c and line a loaf tin or baking tin with parchment paper. Beat the butter and sugars together until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then fold in flour, walnuts, dates and vanilla extract. Spoon into the tin and bake for...

250ml double cream 50g soft brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 100g dark chocolate chopped Simmer the cream, sugar and vanilla until the sugar has dissolved. Pour over the dark chocolate and stir until melted. Cool for 5 minutes and whisk in the egg. Pour into 4 ramekins or glasses and chill until set – about 6 hours. Poached plums 4 plums, halved and stoned 50g castor sugar 100ml water Pinch ci...

Brown sugar toasted fruit loaf 4 thick slices fruit loaf or barmbrack 75g soft butter 50g soft brown sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon mixed spice Set oven to 180°c and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Mix the butter, sugar, vanilla and spice to a smooth paste. Spread over both sides of the loaf and place in oven for 20 minutes, turning over half way. Blackberry cream 150g blackb...

Pork belly salad with radishes, hot and sour plum sauce 750g pork belly slices 1 tablespoon honey 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons cider vinegar Mix the honey, soy and vinegar together and add the pork. Mix well and marinate for a few hours in the fridge. Set oven to 200oc and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place the belly on top and cook for about half an hour, turning once. 12 rad...

250g bite size pasta like macaroni, orzo 1 ham hock or 250g ham trimmings ( ask your butcher) 2 onions, coarsely chopped 1 stick celery, chopped 2 tablespoons oil 1 medium, leek, split washed and chopped 1 large courgette Bunch basil Bunch parsley 50g finely grated parmesan Pour boiling water over the ham hock or ham trimmings and place in a pot. Add the onion and celery and cover with cold water....

Harissa 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped 1 clove garlic, chopped 2 shallots, chopped 1 tablespoon cooking oil Zest and juice 1 orange 50ml sherry vinegar Pinch cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground coriander seeds 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 50ml good olive oil or good local rapeseed oil Cook the chillis, garlic and shallot in the cooking oil until soft and golden. Add the spices and c...

Caramelized cherries 250g cherries, stoned and halved 75g castor sugar 125ml boiling water 1 teaspoon vanilla paste or extract Cook the sugar in a non stick pan until it forms an amber liquid. Carefully add the water as it will spit and cook until thick and syrupy. Add the cherries and vanilla and toss for a couple of minutes to glaze. Chocolate granita 450ml water 2 teaspoons glucose 75g castor s...

Brined pork chops 4 x 200g pork chops 500ml water 20g seasalt 1 teaspoon mustard seeds 25g light brown sugar Few sprigs thyme or rosemary 1 clove garlic, smashed Place water, salt , mustard seeds, sugar, rosemary and garlic in a pan and simmer until sugar and salt have dissolved. Cool completely. Place pork chops in a container and cover with brine. Leave for 24 hours then pat dry and brush with a...