All That I'm Eating

Recipe ideas for budget meals, everyday cooking and a little indulgence. Travel inspiration and restaurant reviews too.

Chicken Tikka Wraps with Cucumber and Onion Salsa

By 18 Comments

chicken tikka filling
I wanted to make something with meat for my next frugal recipe but I didn’t want to compromise on the quality of the chicken I decided to use. I bought two free range chicken breasts from my local farmers’ market as they are much more reasonable than buying them anywhere else. In order for this recipe for four to cost less than £6 the chicken needed to be bulked out with plenty of other bits. Enter the wrap; it looks like it’s not that filling but after just two of them I am stuffed! This recipe is fresh, vibrant and full of flavour and makes a light, quick and easy meal.

Ingredients

You will need (for four):
2 free range chicken breasts
£3.42
2 tbsp tikka paste
£0.20
150g organic natural yoghurt
£0.49
1/2 large lettuce
£0.25
1/2 cucumber
£0.33
1 small red onion
£0.10
Small handful fresh coriander
£0.15
8 wraps
£1.00
Salt and pepper
£0.02
Oil (for frying)
£0.02
Total
£5.98

Method

Start by slicing the chicken breasts into thin, inch sized pieces. Put these into a bowl with the tikka paste and 1 tbsp of yoghurt. Mix together and then cover and leave in the fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes.

While the chicken marinates prepare the rest of the meal.
Wash the lettuce and drain well before shredding it.
To make the salsa finely chop the cucumber and the onion. Put half of the onion and all of the cucumber into a bowl. Tear in the coriander and then mix it all together with some salt and pepper. Put this to one side.

When you are ready to cook the chicken get a large frying pan on a medium heat. Add a little oil and the other half of the chopped onion. Fry the onion for around five minutes to get a little colour then add the chicken and all the marinade.
Continue to fry it all together for around ten minutes or until the chicken is cooked and some of the edges of the chicken have started to catch. Leaving the chicken to catch really adds to the flavour. read more

Caribbean Spicy Bean Burgers with Pineapple Chilli Sauce

By 22 Comments

caribbean spicy bean burger
I have been thinking for a while about posting some ‘themed’ recipes on here. The food I eat at home is rarely expensive so I know that almost everything I cook is reasonably priced. This means I can then buy the organic or free range versions of ingredients without breaking the bank. Most of the reason I eat cheaply is because I mostly cook vegetable based meals. If I do have meat I use cheap cuts, or less of it, but I do very occasionally have a fillet steak blowout. A new outlook for me recently is that humble doesn’t have to be hum drum. Hence the first in a new series of blog posts which coincide with my new Saturday morning radio slot on BBC Radio Berkshire (very excited!) where I will create tasty, easy recipes to feed 4 people for £6 or less. First up, these Caribbean spicy bean burgers.

Ingredients

You will need (for four):

For the burgers –
2x 400g cans of mixed beans, drained £1.58
50g breadcrumbs £0.30
2 tsp ground allspice £0.10
Few sprigs thyme, leaves only £0.10
1 egg £0.35
3 spring onions, sliced £0.35
Salt and pepper £0.02
For the pinepple sauce –
1x 227g canned, chopped pineapple in juice £0.43
125g caster sugar £0.19
175ml water £0.00
4 tbsp white wine vinegar £0.18
2 garlic cloves, crushed £0.05
1/2 scotch bonnet chilli, roughly chopped £0.08
2 tsp cornflour £0.03
Salt and pepper £0.02
4 crusty white rolls £1.20
Total £4.98

Method

Put the drained beans into a large bowl and roughly crush them with a masher or the back of a spoon.
Add all the remaining burger ingredients, except the egg, and thoroughly mix together.
Taste the mixture to check the seasoning and when you are happy crack in the egg, mix well and then form into burger shapes.
Put to one side while you make the pineapple sauce.

Drain the pineapple and then put into a saucepan with all the remaining ingredients except the cornflour.
Bring the mixture to the boil, stirring occasionally, and boil for around five minutes.
Mix the cornflour with a little water to make a paste and then mix this into the sauce.
Bring the mixture back to the boil then remove from the heat.
Blend the pineapple sauce until mostly smooth but with some pineapple chunks still left.
Put to one side to cool down. read more

New Potato, Green Bean and Iberico Salad

By 13 Comments

new potato green bean and iberico ham salad
When I go out and there is a charcuterie board on offer I struggle to turn it down. I find cured meat fascinating and it’s one of my absolute favourite indulgences. One of my top five would have to be Iberico ham. I can’t get enough of it although my waist and bank balance would probably encourage me to eat a bit less. I like to make an expensive ingredient go as far as possible so this Spanish inspired potato salad is an attempt to do exactly that.

More and more I am cooking Spanish food and dishes. It’s a cuisine I have dabbled in while dining out but not one that I am terribly experienced in; I’ve made a few paellas and tapas in my time but I’d like to delve deeper and cook some more unusual meals in the future. This dinner was a bit of a hodge podge mix of ingredients but it worked wonderfully well.

Ingredients

You will need (for two):
  • 500g small new potatoes (I used Jersey Royals), scrubbed
  • Small handful green beans, sliced in inch sized pieces
  • As much Iberico ham as you can spare
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Sherry vinegar
  • 1 small garlic clove
  • Salt and pepper

Method

This is a throw it together really simple recipe. Put the potatoes into cold salted water and bring the potatoes to the boil. When the potatoes are almost cooked, add the beans into the same water for the last 2 or 3 minutes of cooking. In the meantime mix together three parts oil to one part vinegar (make extra if you have some spare bread to dip in afterwards) then crush the garlic clove in and add the salt and pepper. When the potatoes and beans are cooked, drain them and pour the dressing over to warm through. Serve up and top with the Iberico ham.

It’s such a simple meal but it delivers so much flavour. Earthy potatoes, sweet beans, sharp dressing and creamy Iberico ham make each mouthful different in flavour and texture. It took around fifteen minutes from start to finish and with a nice glass of wine makes a delicious, quick Friday night dinner. Well with a bit of imagination you could be on the Andalucian coast. read more

Paprika Topside of Beef with Roasted Garlic Mash and Peas and Onions

By 22 Comments

fried topside of beef with roasted garlic mashed potatoes peas and onions allthatimeating (3 of 4)
I wrote on my blog a little while back that humble doesn’t have to be hum drum and it got me thinking. Can I make what might be considered a luxury into a cheap, and hopefully humble, meal. Steak, for me at least, is considered an expensive luxury; it’s not something I buy on a regular basis. It is however something I enjoy and it was about time I tried a cheaper cut to see if it could cut the mustard.

Enter my knowledgeable butcher. I had heard that hanger (or onglet) steak was a cheap alternative that is normally used for slow cooking. Unfortunately there was no hanger available as it was all frozen, but not to worry, as I was assured that a few slices of topside would be a good substitute. My butcher took off a few thick steaks from the topside and butterflied them for me, I couldn’t wait to give it a try. The topside came in at £12.95 per kg whereas sirloin would have been £24.50 per kg. read more

Broad Beans and Goat’s Cheese on Toast

By 24 Comments

broad beans on toast
Things on toast, no matter whether they are cheese, beans or mushrooms make a fantastic, easy and fast dinner. I think something on toast has a humble feel about it; it’s simple and satisfying. However, humble doesn’t have to be hum drum. I had a pile of broad beans and had bought some soft goat’s cheese for another meal, but, after a hectic day I wanted something quick and filling: beans on toast. Well, sort of.

Ingredients

You will need (for two slices):

  • 2 large handfuls of broad beans in the pod
  • 2 spring onions
  • A few sprigs of basil
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Soft goat’s cheese
  • 2 slices of good quality white bread

Method

Start by removing the beans from their pods. When you have a pile of pale green beans, put them into some lightly salted boiling water for around four minutes.
Drain the beans when cooked and then run them under cold water to stop them cooking. When they have cooled down, remove the grey skins from each bean. It sounds like effort but it’s honestly just a quick insertion of a finger nail on one side and a gentle squeeze on the other. They just pop right out.

Finely chop the spring onions and roughly chop the basil. In a bowl mix together the beans, spring onions, basil, olive oil and a little salt and pepper.
Toast the bread and then spread the goat’s cheese thickly onto each slice and top with the bean mixture. read more

Steak, Chips and Mushrooms with Maille Pepper Sauce

By 23 Comments

Is it just me that is prone to insatiable food cravings? When I get one I am unsatisfied (and sometimes unapproachable) until I have devoured my wanted meal. It could be cheesecake, fizzy cola bottles or pizza but most recently I had a desire for steak and I wasn’t going to stop until I’d eaten one. It can be a little awkward in some situations to try and explain to those near you that the reason you are frowning, grumpy and on edge is because you desperately need some smoky bacon crisps. I had my mind set on a juicy steak with peppercorn sauce and thank goodness that I only had to wait a few days to fulfil this particular culinary requirement. Any longer and I’d have probably alienated all my friends. read more

Hot Cucumbers with Wet Garlic and Chilli

By 30 Comments

hot cucumbers with garlic and chilli
I don’t like to be rude but sometimes a cucumber can be a pain in the backside. What do you DO with it? Yes it’s very nice quartered and added to a salad; occasionally I go somewhat exotic and fork the edges of the cucumber before adding it, it’s terribly exciting. I have wanted to try a chilled cucumber soup and also thin slices with a little salt, sugar and sherry vinegar but every so often I find myself simply wanting to use the cucumber for jousting. You may wonder why, if I have so many qualms with the cucumber, I keep on finding them in my fridge. When you get a vegetable box delivered it is inevitable that you will end up with things you always prepare the same way. Not anymore, my culinary cucumber monotony needed to be broken.

Ingredients

You will need (for two as a side):

  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 wet garlic stalk
  • 2 red chillies
  • A few fresh chives
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Butter (or use olive oil to make it vegan)

Method

Peel the cucumber and then cut into sticks; I got 12 sticks from mine. Melt a big knob of butter in a pan on a medium heat and add the cucumber. While the cucumber softens slice the wet garlic thinly and then add this to the pan with the cucumber.

Keep stirring everything in the pan until the cucumber and garlic are starting to brown; the cucumber is surprisingly strong and doesn’t break down.

While you’re waiting slice the chillies and chop up the chives. For the final minute or so of cooking add a few of the chillies, the chives and some salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and serve with the remaining raw chillies. read more

Beetroot Gratin with Roasted Garlic and Goat’s Cheese Giant Crostini

By 22 Comments

beetroot gratin
I was first introduced to beetroot in its pickled form. This was many years ago and I still enjoy a well vinegared beetroot very much. The first time I tried fresh beetroot I didn’t like it; it was too earthy and nowhere near as acidic enough as I was used to. However my feelings towards this most purple of roots have changed over time and now it’s one of my favourite vegetables. I like to think of this beetroot gratin as a celebration of beetroot; an impressive purple plate of pleasure.

Ingredients

You will need (for two):

  • 500g beetroot
  • Butter, for greasing
  • 150ml double cream
  • 150ml milk
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 head garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Ciabatta
  • 150g soft goat’s cheese
  • Salt and pepper

Method

Start by peeling and thinly slicing the beetroot. In my experience it’s not a good idea to wear anything that you don’t want turning pink. Preheat an oven to 180C.

Lightly grease an ovenproof dish and layer up the beetroot adding a little chopped garlic, salt and pepper between each layer. Finish with a layer of beetroot. 

Mix together the cream and the milk, pour this over the beetroot then place in the oven for 45-50 minutes.

While the gratin is cooking take the head of garlic and slice off about the top fifth so that the inside cloves are exposed. Peel off any excess papery skin but leave enough to hold the head together. Place the head on some foil and drizzle over a little olive oil and some salt and pepper. Wrap the head up in the foil and roast for around 30 minutes in the oven. Check that the garlic is cooked by trying to squeeze the cloves out of their skins; they should pop out easily. Wait for the garlic to cool down a little before squeezing out all of the cloves and mashing with some more olive oil and salt and pepper to form a paste. read more

Feta and Mint Potato Croquettes

By 16 Comments

feta and mint potato croquettes
A few days ago it really felt like spring had arrived. I got a bit excited and even opened a window to let some fresh spring air in. It was still pretty chilly but I didn’t care; there were daffodils, bumblebees and the smell of blossom in the air. When this seasonal change happens I find myself craving ripe tomato salads, ratatouille and barbecues. Sadly none of these were on offer but not to worry as I had some mint and feta cheese. There’s something about mint which makes me feel instantly happy.

Ingredients

You will need (for 4-6 croquettes):

  • 6 medium potatoes
  • Small knob of butter
  • 120g feta cheese
  • A few sprigs of mint
  • Salt and pepper
  • Seasoned flour
  • 1 egg
  • Breadcrumbs

Method

Start by peeling the potatoes and chopping them up to roughly same sized pieces. Put these on to boil in salted water until they are soft. Drain and then mash the potatoes with the butter and some salt and pepper. Crumble the feta and chop the mint then stir them both into the potato.

Roll the potato mixture into tubes, balls, squares or whatever takes your fancy. Put the seasoned flour in a bowl, the egg in another bowl (beaten) and the breadcrumbs in a different bowl. Put each croquette into the flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. When they are all well coated fry them in a little oil in a pan on a medium/high heat until golden brown all over then drain on some kitchen paper. read more

Creamy Mushrooms and Wild Garlic on Brioche Toast

By 27 Comments

wild garlic
Foraging for food is something I have started to do over the last few years. Hunting down blackberry bushes in the autumn is something I’ve always done but I’ve never considered it to be ‘foraging’. To me, proper foraging involves a wicker basket, curiously shaped knives and an innate ability to avoid thorns and nettles. Since I started to appreciate the other things that can be found outdoors I have added other wild foods to my repertoire: rosehips, sloes, plums, strawberries, elderflower and now, at last, wild garlic. Somehow this most pungent of wild foods has eluded me until a few days ago when I finally found an abundance of it not a ten minute walk from my house. Creamy mushrooms and wild garlic sounded just perfect for lunch and even better on brioche toast.

Ingredients

You will need (for two):

  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 250g mushrooms
  • 150ml single cream
  • 16 small leaves wild garlic, roughly chopped
  • Salt and pepper
  • Butter
  • Brioche, two slices

Method

Melt a knob of butter in a frying pan on a medium heat and fry the onion for at least 15 minutes or until starting to turn golden at the edges. Increase the heat, you may need to add some extra butter, then add the mushrooms.

Fry the mushrooms until they are golden and sticky before turning down the heat to low and stirring in the cream. Simmer the cream, stirring occasionally, until it’s reduced then add the wild garlic and some salt and pepper.

Turn the heat off and let the garlic infuse with the cream while you slice and toast the brioche. Serve the mushrooms atop the brioche. read more

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