Cooking with Paula McIntyre

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....

Recipe 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sliced in 4 1 teaspoon smoked paprika ½ teaspoon English mustard powder ½ teaspoon garlic powder 2 teaspoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon onion granules ¼ teaspoon salt Few grinds pepper Oil for brushing Place the chicken in a bowl. Mix the smoked paprika, mustard, garlic, sugar, onion granules salt and pepper together. Take a teaspoon of the mixture out for t...

Recipe Pineapple semifreddo with candied white chocolate and coconut crumb Pineapple semifreddo 2 egg yolks 100g castor sugar 150ml pineapple juice Zest and juice 1 lime 25g cornflour 200g pineapple flesh, blended 350ml double cream Place the egg yolks, sugar, pineapple juice, lime juice and zest and cornflour in a saucepan and whisk until smooth. Place over heat and whisk constantly until thick ....

Recipe 4 x 200g pork shoulder chops 200ml dry cider 500ml water 15g seasalt 30g brown sugar 1 teaspoon mustard seeds 1 clove garlic, smashed 2 sprigs fresh rosemary Place the cider, water, salt, sugar, mustard seeds, garlic and rosemary in a pan and simmer until sugar and salt have dissolved. Cool completely. Place the chops in a container and cover with the brine. Cover and chill overnight. Remov...

Tonnato 125g tinned or jarred tuna, drained weight 1 garlic clove, peeled Juice of half a lemon 1 egg yolk 1 small handful parsley leaves 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 150ml good quality local rapeseed oil or olive oil Salt and pepper, to season Put all the ingredients, except the oil and seasoning, into a food processor or a bowl suitable for an immersion blender, and pulse until smooth. While pulsing...

Crème Caramel with orange, date and sherry Crème Caramel 500ml whole milk 225g castor sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla paste 4 eggs + 1 yolk Take 4 x approximately 200ml ramekins or 4 metal pudding bowls and place on a folded towel or blue cloth in a roasting tin. Set the oven to 130oc. Heat 100g of the sugar in a pan and cook until a golden amber colour. Divide among the bottom of the ramekins and allow...

4 x 175g fillets hake, scaled and pinboned 200ml water 15g seasalt 2 tablespoons oil 25g butter Place the water and salt in a pan and bring to a simmer until salt has dissolved. Cool completely then submerge the hake in the brine and leave for an hour. Remove and pat dry on kitchen paper. Heat the oil in a large non stick frying pan ( or line a frying pan with parchment paper to ensure no sticking...

Chocolate buttermilk slab cake 275g castor sugar 125g chopped dark chocolate 90g butter 175ml water 225g plain flour ¾ teaspoon baking soda 100ml buttermilk 2 eggs Set the oven to 170c. Line a brownie tin with parchment paper. Place the sugar, chocolate, butter and water in a saucepan and cook gently until the chocolate and butter have melted. Cool Whisk in the buttermilk and eggs. Sift the flour...

400g haloumi, cut into 12 slices ½ small onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, chopped ½ teaspoon smoked paprika Zest and juice 1 lemon 1 teaspoon fresh oregano or ¼ teaspoon dried 25ml olive oil Blend the onion,garlic, paprika, lemon, oregano and oil to a smooth paste. Rub all over the haloumi and marinate in the fridge for a few hours, 8 slices sourdough bread Soft butter to spread 75g finely grated ha...

4 pork chops about 150g each 2 eggs 100g plain flour seasoned with salt and pepper 100g panko breadcrumbs (crispy Japanese crumbs available in most supermarkets) or regular breadcrumbs 50g finely grated parmesan oil for frying Set the oven to low heat – about 80°c. Beat the eggs in a dish. Place the seasoned flour in another and mix the crumbs and parmesan in another. Place a chop on a sheet of pa...

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 and pipe circles onto the tray and then pipe up on each to make a nest. Bake for ab...

150g chopped dark chocolate 300ml double cream 25g soft brown sugar 4 egg yolks 2 tablespoons plain flour 25ml whiskey or rum ( optional) Butter 4 ramekins and set oven to 200°c. Place chocolate, cream and sugar in a pan and heat gently, stirring until the chocolate melts. Whisk the yolks with the flour and rum in a bowl until smooth. Mix in the chocolate mixture well and pour into ramekins. Place...