Cooking with Paula McIntyre

Recipe 4 mackerel filleted, pin bones removed and trimmed ( ask your fishmonger) Oil for brushing Seasalt for seasoning Heat your barbecue or a hot pan ( if you’re worried the pan might stick, line the bottom with parchment paper). Brush the skin with oil and season with salt. Place skin side down and cook for about 3 minutes or until skin is crisp. Season the flesh with salt and flip over. Cook f...

Recipe Salsa verde Handful basil Handful parsley Handful mint leaves 2 cornichon chopped 4 capers 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon white balsamic or lemon juice 75ml olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Blend together 500g lamb leg steaks Oil for rubbing Seasalt 500g baby potatoes, boiled, cooled and cut in half 8 scallions, split in half lengthwise 75g feta cheese Rub the lamb leg steaks with...

Recipe Salsa verde: Handful basil Handful parsley Handful mint leaves 2 cornichon chopped 4 capers 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon white balsamic or lemon juice 75ml olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Blend together 500g lamb leg steaks Oil for rubbing Seasalt 500g baby potatoes, boiled, cooled and cut in half 8 scallions, split in half lengthwise 75g feta cheese Rub the lamb leg steaks with...

Recipe Custard Cream 225 ml milk 2 egg yolks 75 g caster sugar 10 g plain flour, sieved 10g cornflour 250ml double cream Simmer the milk. Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, cornflour and flour and then pour over milk. Whisk well and return to pan over low heat. Stir constantly until custard is thick. Pour into a bowl and cover surface with cling, cool and chill. Whip the cream to stiff peaks and fold in...

Recipe Peanut butter cake 100g soft butter 50g smooth peanut butter 100g soft brown sugar 2 eggs 75ml natural yoghurt 100g self raising flour Line a 25 x 20 cm tin with parchment paper and set oven to 180oc. Mix the butter, peanut butter and sugar with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and whisk well. Whisk in the yoghurt and flour to a smooth batter and spoon int...

Recipe Sobrasada buttered tomatoes 75g sobrassada 25g butter 1 red onion finely chopped 200g halved cherry tomatoes Handful parsley chopped 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar Salt and pepper to taste Heat the sobrasada in a pan until it melts and add the butter and onions. Cook until the onions are soft and add the tomatoes. Cook for a minute then add the parsley and vinegar. Check seasoning. Grilled co...

Jerk spiced pork with grilled pineapple salsa 750g pork belly slices 2 cloves garlic 1 onion, chopped 25g root ginger, chopped 1 green chilli 1 teaspoon all spice 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cloves ½ teaspoon nutmeg ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 bay leaf shredded 2 teaspoons thyme leaves 65g dark brown sugar Zest and juice 1 lime Blend the garlic, onion, ginger, chilli, allspice, cinnamon, c...

Recipe Meringues 3 egg whites 175g castor sugar 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon cornflour Set the oven to 120oc and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl to stiff peaks. Slowly add the sugar, whisking all the time. Whisk in the vinegar and cornflour. Spoon into a piping bag preferably with a star nozzle. Pipe onto the baking tray. Cook in the oven f...

Recipe: 3 egg yolks 160g castor sugar 190g soft butter 250g plain flour 1 heaped teaspoon baking powder Beat the butter with half the sugar until pale and fluffy. Whisk the egg yolks and remaining sugar for a minute. Mix the egg yolk mixture, flour and baking powder into the butter mixture to a smooth dough. Line 2 x 8 inch cake tins with parchment paper or 6 individual tins or ring moulds. Divide...

Grilled picanha steak, hash browns, café de Paris butter 4 x 175g picanha steaks Salt Remove steaks from fridge half an hour before cooking and season with seasalt. If cooking in a pan – place steaks fat side up over medium heat and cook until fat is rendered and golden. Flip and cook to your liking. Allow to rest. Keep the fat for the hash browns. Café de Paris butter 250g soft butter 1 teaspoon...

Wild garlic mole 1 tablespoon oil 1 shallot, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, minced Handful wild garlic leaves, shredded Handful coriander chopped 75g purple sprouting broccoli 2 green chillis, deseeded and chopped 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds Zest and juice 1 lime 50ml olive oil Shred the broccoli and cook in boiling salted water for a minute. Drain and cool. Cook the onion and garlic in the oil un...

Teasmoked brined chicken 8 boneless chicken thighs 500ml water 1 teaspoon mustard seeds 2 cloves garlic, smashed Few sprigs rosemary or thyme 20g seasalt 50g brown sugar 1 tablespoon cider vinegar Simmer the water with the mustard, garlic, herb, salt, sugar and vinegar until the sugar has dissolved. Cool completely and add the chicken. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. Remove from brine an...

Recipe Lemon shortcake 200g soft butter 150g castor sugar 2 egg yolks 150g plain flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 50g ground almonds Zest of 2 lemons 4 tablespoons lemon curd Beat the sugar and butter until pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks, flour, baking powder, almonds and lemon zest ( keep the lemon juice for the syllabub) Wrap in cling and chill for an hour. Set oven to 180oc. Line a baking...

Recipe Grilled leg of lamb with wild garlic and almond pesto 4 x 175g lamb leg steaks 1teaspoon fennel seeds ¼ teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon castor sugar 1 teaspoon seasalt 1 tablespoon oil Grind the fennel seeds as finely as possible and mix in with the oregano, sugar and oil. Rub all over the lamb and refrigerate for a couple of hours. Remove from fridge half an hour before cooking. Wild gar...

Recipe Biscuit base 200g chocolate oaty biscuits, crushed 65g melted butter Mix together and press into a pie tin up the sides a bit and chill. 100g chopped dates 50ml PX sherry Mix, cover and leave overnight. 150g chopped dark chocolate 150g chopped milk chocolate 150ml double cream 25ml banoffee toffee 25g butter Place the chocolates in a heat proof bowl. Heat the cream, butter and toffee in a p...

Recipe Coconut Rice Pudding 100g pudding rice 450ml coconut milk – 1 tin 150ml whipping cream 25g honey 25g castor sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Rinse the rice pudding for a minute in a sieve under cold running water. Place the pudding rice in a pan with the coconut milk, cream, honey, sugar and vanilla and gently simmer for about half an hour or until rice is cooked through. Poached and carame...

Recipe Lemon Crunch Pie with blueberries Base 200g oaty or digestive biscuits 75g butter Crush the biscuits to a fine crumb either in a food processor or place in a bag and bash with a rolling pin. Melt the butter and mix with the crumbs. Line a 20cm springform cake tin or 6 individual tins, with parchment paper. Press the biscuit mixture into the tin and press down. Chill in the fridge. Filling Z...

Shepherd Pie Jackets with fennel and feta salad Shepherd Pie Jackets 4 large baker potatoes, scrubbed 250g lamb mince 1 tablespoon oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic 1 stick celery, finely chopped 1 small tin chopped tomatoes 1 tablespoon tomato puree 250ml beef stock 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 50ml milk 125g finely grated cheddar Bake the potatoes in a 180oc oven for about 45 minu...

Pastry 225g plain flour 100g chopped cold butter Pinch salt 1 egg Rub the flour and butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Mix in the salt. Mix in the egg to dough, wrap in cling and chill. Filling 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs Oil for brushing 25g butter 1 large leek, split, washed and chopped 25g plain flour 150ml chicken stock 1 tablespoon cream 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard Brush the...

Buttermilk breadrolls 450g bread flour 7g dried yeast 190ml buttermilk 60ml local rapeseed oil 1 heaped tablespoon castor sugar 1/4 teaspoon baking powder Egg yolk for brushing Stir yeast and 35ml of lukewarm water in a large bowl and leave for 10 minutes. Warm the buttermilk to blood temperature gently and add to the yeast mixture with the oil and sugar. Mix in the flour and baking powder to a so...

Caramel pecan pancakes 3 large eggs 1 dessertspoon golden syrup 200ml buttermilk 300g plain flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 50ml bannoffee toffee 75g chopped pecans Oil for cooking Whisk the eggs, syrup and buttermilk in a bowl. Sift in the flour and baking soda. Whisk to a thick batter. Allow to rest for 10 minutes. Wipe a medium hot pan with oil and add a tablespoon of batter – don’t over crowd the...

Rhubarb compote 100g castor sugar 250g rhubarb, chopped into 1cm pieces Zest and juice of 1 orange Splash of gin ( optional) Cook the sugar and orange zest and juice until the sugar has dissolved over medium heat. Add the rhubarb, cover with parchment and simmer gently until just cooked – really only a couple of minutes. Turn off and cool. Pastry 225g plain flour 100g butter 60g icing sugar 1 egg...

Recipe Pickled mustard seeds 1 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds 2 tablespoons cider vinegar Place the seeds in a small bowl and cover with vinegar. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature for 2 days before using 4 x 175g boneless shoulder chops 1 tablespoon oil ½ teaspoon smoked seasalt ( or regular seasalt) 2 teaspoons maple syrup 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 15g butter 1 shallot, finely chopped...

Recipe Flapjacks 175g golden syrup 135g butter 175g porridge oats Line an 8inch square tin with parchment paper and set oven to 180oc. Melt the syrup and butter in a pan and then mix in the oats. Press into the tin and bake for 25 minutes. Cool for a couple of minutes and cut into squares. Cool in the tin and then remove. Honeycomb 150g castor sugar 2 tablespoons water 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablesp...

Recipe 500g shin of beef, bone in 1 tablespoon oil 35g root ginger sliced finely 2 onions, peeled and chopped roughly 3 cloves garlic, peeled 500ml beef stock – you can buy ready made stock or use 2 cubes 2 tablespoons soy sauce 4 scallions 1 red chilli 2 tablespoons crispy onions ( available in supermarkets and delis) 100g basmati rice Heat the oil in a pan or casserole until smoking hot and add...