Cooking with Paula McIntyre

Grilled bacon chop on toast with fermented red cabbage, beetroot and apple, mustard and dill, gherkin sourcream Fermented red cabbage with beetroot and apple 500g red cabbage, roots removed and finely shredded 1 large beetroot, peeled and coarsely grated 2 eating apples, coarsely grated 1 red onion, finely sliced 10g seasalt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon chilli paste ( chipotle...

Festive date and Irish coffee crispies 125g butter 100g soft brown sugar 225g finely chopped dates 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon mixed spice 100g puffed rice Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place the butter and sugar in a large pan and cook until the butter has melted. Add the dates and cook until foamy and starting to caramelize. Mix in the puffed rice and spices and press into the baki...

Sausage pancakes with cranberry sauce, chipotle cream and chestnut crumb Sausage Pancakes 150g plain flour ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 egg 175ml buttermilk ½ teaspoon salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 shallots, finely chopped 1 tablespoon oil plus more for cooking pancakes 4 finely chopped scallions 150g cooked sausage chopped Cook the shallots in the oil until golden and co...

Recipe Pastry: 150g butter 225g plain flour Pinch salt Cold water to bind Wrap the butter in parchment and freeze for 45 minutes. Place the flour into a bowl and mix in the salt. Coarsely grate the butter into the flour then rub until the mixture is fine and sandy. Add cold water to bind to a dough, wrap in cling and chill. Roast Celeriac: 1 medium celeriac, scrubbed under cold water 1 tablespoon...

Recipe Biscuit base 250g gingersnap biscuits, crushed 150g melted butter Grease an 8 inch cake tin. Mix the biscuits with the melted butter and press into the cake tin. Chill. Filling 250g mascarpone cheese 400g full fat cream cheese 75g icing sugar 250ml double cream 1 teaspoon vanilla paste 35g crystallized ginger, finely chopped Whisk the cheeses, sugar and cream until thick. Fold in the ginger...

Recipe 4 duck breasts, trimmed 350ml water 2 crushed juniper berries 1 teaspoon crushed black pepper corns 1 teaspoon mustard seeds Few sprigs thyme 10g seasalt 15g brown sugar 50g dried fruit – cranberry, cherry and golden raisin mix 1 finely chopped shallot 125ml dry cider 200ml chicken stock 15g butter Soak the fruit in the sherry overnight. Heat a saucepan and add the juniper, pepper and musta...

Apple, Fig and Walnut Cake 1 large Bramley apple, peeled, cored and chopped 100ml vegetable oil 1 teaspoon baking powder 100g chopped dried figs 150g soft brown sugar 2 eggs 75ml buttermilk 140g plain flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon mixed spice 30g wholemeal flour 75g chopped walnuts Set the oven to 180oc and butter a cake tin. Cook the apples with 25g of the sugar until soft then blen...

Recipe Parsnip Chowder 100g diced streaky bacon or pancetta 25g butter 1 stick celery diced 2 medium onions, finely chopped 1 clove garlic minced 1 heaped tablespoon plain flour 750g parsnips, peeled and cut into 2cm dice 1 litre chicken stock 50ml double cream Handful chopped parsley Cook the bacon in a dry saucepan until crisp. Add the butter, celery, onions and garlic and cook gently with a lid...

Recipe 1kg mussels, scrubbed 250ml dry cider 100g pancetta or streaky bacon, chopped 1 tablespoon oil 25g butter 1 leek, split, washed and chopped 150g orzo 250ml chicken stock Handful chopped parsley Heat a large saucepan with a lid until smoking hot. Add half the cider and then the mussels. Place the lid on top and steamed for 2 minutes. Check and remove any that are open. Return lid and steam f...

Recipe 6 chicken thighs, skin and bone removed 1 tablespoon oil 175g chopped leeks 2 carrots, peeled and finely sliced 1 onion finely chopped 25g butter 2 tablespoons oil 100ml white wine or dry cider 350ml chicken stock 75ml double cream 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 2 stalks soup celery shredded Handful chopped parsley Heat the oil in a large frying pan until smoking hot. Season the chicken with sal...

Recipe 1 onion, finely chopped 1 stick celery, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 50g butter 1 medium potato, peeled and diced 1 litre chicken or vegetable stock 1 head broccoli Heat the butter in a saucepan and add the onion, celery and garlic. Add a lid and cook on gentle heat for 15 minutes stirring occasionally. Add the stock and potato and simmer until the potato is soft. Separate the flor...

Recipe Apple sponge puddings with clotted cream 125g soft butter + extra for greasing 50g castor sugar 1 large egg 125g self raising flour 100ml apple juice 2 red eating apples 2 dessertspoons Demerara sugar Butter 4 individual pudding moulds or ramekins and line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper and set oven to 190oc. Beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy – will take about 5 m...

Recipe Chocolate cracknell 150g golden syrup 75g butter chopped 30g cocoa powder 100g chopped dark chocolate 150g cornflakes Line a cake tin with parchment paper. Place the syrup, butter and cocoa in a saucepan over medium heat and cook until butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Add the chocolate and turn off the heat. Stir until the chocolate is melted and mix in the cornflakes until compl...

Damson Cheesecake Cream Damson Puree 500g damsons 200g granulated sugar Place the damsons and sugar in a pan and allow to gently simmer until the fruit is pulpy and any fruit removed from the stone. Scoop out the stones with a peascoop or a slotted spoon. Blend the pulp and then pass through a sieve. Store in sterilized jam jars. 250g mascarpone 150ml double cream 1 teaspoon vanilla paste 2 tables...

Roast Apricots 8 apricots 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon light brown sugar Cut the apricots in half and place cut side up in a baking dish. Mix the honey with the sugar and drizzle over the top of the fruit. Place in a 180oc oven for 15 minutes. Coffee Cream 50ml espresso 275ml double cream 75g chopped white chocolate 250g mascarpone 2 tablespoons icing sugar Warm 75ml of the cream with the espre...

Flatbread dough 200g plain flour 200g spelt flour or medium wholemeal 7g instant dried yeast ½ teaspoon salt 25ml good local rapeseed oil or olive oil 75ml buttermilk 150ml lukewarm water Mix the flours with the yeast and the salt and make a well in the middle. Add the oil, buttermilk and water and mix to a dough – add a little more water if necessary. Turn onto a floured surface and knead for 5 m...

Oat shells 75g rolled oats 50g plain flour 75g soft brown sugar 50g cold butter diced 1 teaspoon honey 1 egg yolk Rub the oats, flour and butter together until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Add the sugar, honey and egg yolk and mix to a dough. Lightly butter a 12 hole tartlet tray and set oven to 180oc. Divide the mixture into 12 pieces – you can eyeball this or weigh the mixture and divide b...

275g coarsely grated courgette 1 onion finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 egg 75g plain flour 75g chickpea flour 1 teaspoon chipotle chilli paste ½ teaspoon seasalt Oil for cooking Mix the courgette, onion and garlic with salt. Add the egg, flours and chilli and mix to a batter. Cover the bottom of a frying pan with oil and when medium hot add tablespoons of the batter. Cook for about 2 minu...

Recipe Homemade mayonnaise 1 egg yolk 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon white wine or cider vinegar 200ml light vegetable oil or good local rapeseed oil Juice of 1 lemon ( keep the zest for the crab) Salt to taste Blend the egg yolk, mustard and vinegar together for a minute then slowly trickle in the oil,blending as you do. When fully incorporated add the lemon juice and check seasoning. This...

Recipe Almond crumble 25g soft butter 30g plain flour 25g finely chopped almonds nuts 30g castor sugar Rub the butter and flour together to coarse crumbs. Rub in the sugar and nuts. Raspberry Clafouti 300g raspberries, tossed in 25g castor sugar and 3 tablespoons brandy or whiskey 30g melted butter plus more for greasing 2 tablespoons Demerara sugar 3 eggs 40g castor sugar 250ml whole milk 75g pla...

Recipe 4 x 175g lamb leg steaks Oil for brushing Salt and freshly ground pepper Brush the lamb leg steaks lightly with oil and season with salt. Place on hot barbecue and cook for a few minutes to your liking on each side. Remove from grill, season with pepper and allow to rest for a few minutes before slicing. Barbecued broadbeans 1kg broadbeans in the pod Place on a hot barbecue and cook for abo...

Recipe 2 duck breasts Salt to season 2 teaspoons honey 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar ¼ large watermelon 1 cucumber 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon soy sauce Juice and zest 1 lime 2 tablespoons mint leaves 4 scallions, chopped Handful coriander 50ml light oil Score the fat on the duck and season with salt. Place fat side down in a cold pan over low heat and gently...

Blackcurrant compote 350g blackcurrants, stems removed 100g castor sugar Simmer in a pan for 5 minutes then cool. Lemon sabayon cream 3 egg yolks 75g castor sugar 50ml Limoncelllo or zest and juice 1 lemon 250g mascarpone 100ml double cream Place in a heat proof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Whisk continuously until the mixture thickens and is pale. Remove from heat and continue to whisk for...

Fennel butter 1 shallot, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 200ml dry white wine 250g soft butter Large handful fennel herb chopped ( substitute any soft herb like basil, chives, parsley etc) Cook the shallot and garlic in the oil until golden. Add the wine and reduce until none of the liquid remains. Blend with the butter and fennel to a smooth paste. Roll in cling in t...

Recipe 150ml double cream 150ml whole milk 1 teaspoon vanilla paste 3 leaves gelatine 125g castor sugar 350g Greek style yoghurt Soak the gelatine in cold water for 10 minutes. Place the cream, milk, vanilla and sugar in a pan and simmer until the sugar has dissolved. Squeeze the water from the gelatine and add to the mixture and remove from heat. Cool to room temperature and fold in the yoghurt....