Archive for the ‘Mexican’ Category

123 Fajita!

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Fresh Fennel BulbFresh Bell Peppers

I’ve just been given a fennel by a friend who ‘didn’t want it’!  I still have some peppers waiting to make their trip from fridge to plate so tonight we are having this.  The spice mix for these is a bit of a hassle to buy/make, but if you up the quantities and make a jar of it, you’ll never have to buy a packet of Old El Paso again!  Works well with chicken, pork or turkey fillets instead of the fennel.  Downplay the chilli if you have little ones.  A great, quick and healthy supper which is fun to eat!

olive oil to fry
1 Fennel
2 Onions
3 mixed Peppers
1 garlic
2 tsp tomato puree
3 tsp spice mix

To serve: bowls of crushed avocado, shredded iceberg or cos, grated cheese, thick yoghurt, warm wraps, chilli sauce and lime wedges

Prepare spice mix.  Chop onions, fennel and peppers into strips.  Peel and crush garlic.  Heat oil and fry vegetables and garlic in a pan or wok.  Add the spices and tomato. Add some water if its a bit too dry.  Cook for 5 to 10 minutes until they are soft (make sure the meat is cooked through if you are using some).  Season to taste.  I usually just put the pan on the table with some tongs and let eveyone help themselves.

Warm a wrap (roll them all in foil and pop in a hot oven for 5 mins), spread on some avocado and yoghurt in a thick line up from an inch about the bottom to 12 o’clock.  Place some of the fried mixture on top, then add cheese, lettuce, chilli and a squeeze of lime to taste.  Fold up the bottom of the wrap over the mixture, then roll from left to right.

spice mix
2 tsp smoked sweet paprika
1 tsp each: paprika flakes, cumin, sugar, salt
1/4 tsp each: oregano, cinnamon, chilli

Mix well and store in a sealed jar.

Chilli Con Carne with Cheesy Nachos

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

raw tomatoRaw Mushrooms

tbsp olive oil
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
2 fresh chilli peppers
300g minced beef
8 ripe tomatoes
8 mushrooms
1 yellow or red pepper
1 mug beef stock (from cube)
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tin kidney beans, drained
2 tbsp dark soy
1 tbsp ketchup or 2 tsp sugar
1 pack nachos
2 cups grated cheddar

Chop onion, mince garlic.  Chop mushrooms, tomatoes and pepper into cubes.  Chop the chilli peppers (put one chopped chilli aside for serving with the nachos).  Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and garlic and stir for a minute or two, then add the mince and make sure it separates and mixes with the onion.

When meat is brown, add the stock, cumin, chilli, veg and beans.  Leave to simmer, stirring occasionally until you can see orange bubbles on top and the tomatoes start to come apart.  Add the soy and stir, then taste.  If the tomatoes are really sweet, you won’t need the ketchup/sugar.  Generally you will, so add it now.  Leave to cook for another 10 minutes or so.  Then stir and taste again, season as necessary.

When you are ready to serve, heat the grill.  Spread the nachos out on a baking tray and sprinkle them with the leftover chilli pepper, then the grated cheese.  Grill until the chips start to brown and the cheese melts (really quick, about 2 mins so don’t wander off!).  Serve in bowls, with the nachos in the middle of the table.  It is nice to have some bowls of thick yoghurt or sour cream with it too (and salsa and guacamole if you are really going to town).  A bonfire night treat come early.