Showing posts with label smoked paprika. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smoked paprika. Show all posts

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Smoked Paprika Chicken

A bit of a spice theme happening here lately.. maybe it's what my tastebuds are fancying or maybe it's just by chance.. whichever I know that we are all enjoying the meals.

The house smells good that's for sure.  The aroma of a smokey tomato broth with the obvious hints of fresh garlic were delish.

One of the ingredients is saffron threads. I am very lucky as I was recently given a small plastic container of saffron threads from my in laws who recently travelled overseas.  To me it was a present worth millions I am sure others wouldn't agree.  But to know that I was thought of in a special way while they were overseas in the Spice Market makes me feel very treasured.

This dish was very easy to prepare and bring it all together in the one casserole dish.  The original recipe called for shop brought chargrilled capsicum (not in oil) but I grilled my own.



Smoked Paprika Chicken
(recipe adapted from WW Food You'll Love Cookbook)

Serves: 6
ProPoints per serve: 8

2 teaspoons olive oil
6 chicken chops, skin removed, fat trimmed
6 drum sticks, skin removed, fat trimmed
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads
2 tablespoons hot water
1 red onion, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1/4 cup dry sherry
400 gram can diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken stock
100 grams green Sicilian olives
2 red capsicums
cooking spray
2 teaspoons cornflour
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon honey

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

Heat half the oil in a large non stick frying pan over high heat.  Cook chicken, in batches, turning for 5 minutes or until browned.  Transfer chicken to a large ovenproof casserole dish.

Place saffron in a small bowl.  Add 2 tablespoons hot water and set aside to soak for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile heat remaining oil in the same pan over medium heat.  Add onion and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until softened.  Add garlic and paprika and cook, stirring, for a further 1 minute.  Add saffron liquid and sherry and cook for 2 minutes.  Add tomatoes, stock and olives and bring to the boil.

Pour onion mixture over chicken in the casserole dish,  Bake, covered, in the oven for 1 hour.

Meanwhile cut capsicum into thick strips and place on a foil lined oven tray.  Spray with cooking spray and place under a high grill for 5 minutes until black and blistered.  Remove and place into a sealable plastic bag to sweat for 10 minutes.  Remove outer layer of skin and slice into 2 cm strips.

Blend cornflour with water in a small bowl.  Stir cornflour mixture into casserole with the honey.  Add the capsicum strips.  Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened.  Stir sauce around chicken.  Serve immediately.

(click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Monday, June 25, 2012

Sweet Chilli and Rosemary Lamb

As you all know by now lamb is one of the favourite meats in the Murray household but it is just so damn expensive here at the moment.  Thankfully I managed to get some lamb sirloins on special, so I stocked up freezing for many more meals to come.

This recipe is one that I have often looked at but just couldn't imagine the sweetness of the chilli sauce with the lamb.  I decided to try it anyway and really glad I did.

To take away some of the sweetness I added fresh rosemary leaves and also added a little wine to thin the thickness of the marinade for the first part of the recipe, allowing it to cover all the lamb. 

The outcome - the flavour was brilliant and the cooked sauce, somewhat sticky, smothered over tender juicy lamb.


Sweet Chilli and Rosemary Lamb
(recipe adapted from WW Secrets of Our Success Cookbook 2008)

Serves: 4
ProPoints per serve: 13

cooking spray
8 baby chat potatoes
1/4 cup sweet chilli sauce
1 tablespoons soft brown sugar
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped roughly
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground smoked paprika
4 x 200 gram lamb sirloins
2 large carrots, peeled and cut into batons
1 bunch brocollini, trimmed
2 bunches baby bok choy, rinsed and cut into quarters

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

Cut potatoes into quarters.  Place on foil lined baking tray, spray with cooking spray and roast for 45 minutes or until cooked through and golden.

Meanwhile combine chilli sauce, sugar, rosemary, rind, juice, wine, garlic and paprika in a shallow dish.  Add lamb, toss to coat in marinade.  Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat a non stick frying pan over high heat, spray with cooking spray.  Remove lamb from marinade and reserve marinade.  Cook lamb for 6 - 8 minutes each side or until cooked to your liking. Remove from pan allowing to rest.

Meanwhile steam vegetables until just cooked.

Bring reserved marinade to the boil in the frying pan.  Simmer for 1 - 2 minutes or until thickened.

Serve lamb topped with chilli marinade along with potatoes and steamed vegetables.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)