Cooking With Paula Mcintyre

Recipe 500g carrots, scrubbed well and cut in half lengthwise, ends trimmed 4 tablespoons good local rapeseed oil or cooking oil 2 medium onions, finely sliced 25g chopped root ginger 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 litre vegetable or chicken stock 1 red chilli, finely sliced 4 small shallots, peeled and finely sliced 50g pumpkin seeds coarsely chopped Set oven to 190oc. Take a large sheet of parchment paper and place carrots on one side. Drizzle over a tablespoon of the oil and season with salt. Fold over the paper and twist the edges to seal in the carrots. Bake in the oven for about an hour or until soft. Cook the onions, ginger and garlic in another tablespoon of the oil until soft and golden over low heat – about 10 minutes. Add the carrots and stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Blend to a smooth soup and check seasoning. Heat the remaining oil over low heat and add the shallots and chilli. Cook gently until the shallots are golden. Add the pumpkin seeds and cook until they pop. Remove from heat and seaso

Pear and blueberry buckle 2 pears 50g castor sugar 1 tablespoon honey 150g frozen blueberries Peel, core and dice the pears and cook with the sugar and honey until soft. Add the blueberries. Cool. Cake batter 60g soft butter 150g castor sugar 1 egg 125ml buttermilk 250g plain flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Butter and line a 23cm cake tin with parchment paper and set the oven to 180oc. Beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Mix in the egg. Mix the flour and baking powder and add half of this mixture to the butter mixture with half the buttermilk. Mix until incorporated then add the remaining flour and buttermilk and mix to a smooth batter. Fold in half the pear and blueberry mixture. Spoon half the batter into the bottom of the cake tin and smooth off. Add the remaining pear mixture and then top with the rest of the cake batter. Topping 50g castor sugar 25g oats 50g plain flour 60g diced butter Rub together to coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the topping over the cake and bake for about 45 minut

Breton Chicken 8 chicken thighs, skin on bones removed ( see below for chicken stock recipe) 1 tablespoon oil 25g butter 1large leek, split, washed and chopped 200ml dry local cider 1 bay leaf 200ml chicken stock 75ml double cream 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard Handful chopped parsley Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Season the chicken with salt and add skin side down in the pan and cook until the skin is crisp and golden. Flip over and cook for a couple of minutes on the other side. Remove from pan and set aside. Add the butter to the pan and add the leeks. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Add the cider and bay leaf. Boil to reduce by half. Add the stock and boil for 5 minutes. Return the chicken thighs to the pan and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the cream, mustard and parsley and mix well. Cook for another 5 minutes then check seasoning, remove bay leaf and serve. Chicken Stock Bones from chicken thighs 1 tablespoon oil 1 stick celery, chopped roughly 1 onion, chopped ½ carrot choppe

500g shin of beef 2 tablespoons oil 2 large carrots peeled and roughly chopped 1 onion, roughly chopped 2 sticks celery chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon tomato puree 750ml beef stock 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons balsamic 350g pasta - I used pacheri 75g grated parmesan or hard cheeseHeat a tablespoon of the oil in a casserole until smoking hot. Season the beef with salt and sear on both sides for a couple of minutes. Remove from pan and add the onion, celery and carrots and the remaining tablespoon of oil. Cook for 5 minutes to colour then add the tomato puree and stir well. Cook for a minute and add the stock, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to boil and return beef to pan. Cover and bake in a 140oc oven for about 2 hours or until fork tender. Cook the pasta according to the pack. Remove carrots and add 150ml of liquor and blend well. Take the remaining liquor and boil to reduce by half. Blend and check seasoning. Shred the beef and add to the meat liquor. Drain the pasta

Paula shows John how to make chocolate peppermint traybakes.

Coconut cheesecake cream 250g cream cheese 250g mascarpone 50g castor sugar 250ml double cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 50g desiccated coconut 25g icing sugar Take 125g of the cream and add the vanilla and sugar. Bring to a simmer until sugar has dissolve and add the coconut. Turn off the heat and cool for 30 minutes. Whisk the cream cheese, mascarpone, remaining cream together and add the coconut cream mixture and icing sugar. Orange Crumble 100g plain flour 80g soft butter 100g castor sugar Zest 1 orange. Rub the flour and butter to coarse crumb texture. Add the sugar and orange zest Spread over a tray lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes at 180oc or until golden and crisp. Cool and break up into a crumble.Poached Rhubarb 4 stalks rhubarb, cut into 2cm pieces 500ml local apple juice 250ml water 50g castor sugar 2 tablespoons grenadine Place the water and sugar in a large saucepan and simmer until sugar has dissolved. Add the apple juice and bring to a simmer. Add the grenadine

1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry 60g soft butter 60g castor sugar 1 egg 50g ground almonds 15g plain flour 15g cocoa powder 1 egg yolk 10g melted butter 1 tablespoon Demerara sugar 1 tablespoon maple syrup 175g cherries, stone removed Place the pastry on a lightly greased baking tray. Beat the castor sugar and butter until pale and fluffy. Add the egg and mix well. Mix in the almonds, cocoa and flour to a smooth paste. Score a border of 1cm thick around the pastry, prick the middle with a fork and brush all over with the egg yolk. Spread the frangipane into the centre rectangle within the border. Press the cherry halves into the frangipane. Brush all over with the melted butter and sprinkle the Demerara sugar over evenly. Bake in a 180oc preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until frangipane is cooked through. Brush with the maple syrup and cool slightly before serving.

Spiced Courgette fritters with yoghurt dressing 125g mashed potatoes 250g coarsely grated courgettes ½ teaspoon salt 4 scallions, finely chopped 45g rice flour 1 teaspoon garam masala ½ teaspoon cumin seeds ½ teaspoon nigella seeds Oil for shallow frying Mix the courgettes with the salt and leave for 10 minutes. Squeeze through a sieve to get rid of as much water as possible and place in a bowl with the potatoes, scallions, rice flour, and spices. Mix well. Form into small golf ball size pieces – roll and then flatten. Heat a quarter of thumb nail depth of oil in a frying pan and add the fritters. Cook until golden on both sides – about 2 minutes each side. Drain on kitchen paper and serve with the yoghurt dressing.Yoghurt Dressing 250ml Greek style yoghurt ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons oil 2 teaspoons cumin seeds 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons curry leaves ½ teaspoon turmeric ½ teaspoon Kashmiri chilli powderSeason the yoghurt with salt in a bowl. Heat the oil in a pan and add the cumin see

Braised local beans with parma ham and spaghetti 1 stick celery, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 25g butter 4 slices parma ham, shredded 1 tablespoon tomato puree 250g mixed beans ( runner beans and green beans) topped tail and cut into 2cm pieces 250g local tomatoes cut the same size or whole if cherry tomatoes 250ml stock 300g dried spaghetti 75g hard cheese like parmesan/ Cais na Tire/ pecorino Handful fresh basil, parsley or lovage, chopped 1 tablespoon of good olive oilCook the onion, garlic and celery in the butter in a pan over low heat – keep a lid on and give it a stir occasionally, for 15 minutes or until soft. Add the ham and cook for a couple of minutes. Mix in the tomato puree and add the beans, tomatoes and stock. Place the lid on and simmer for 10 minutes. Cook the spaghetti for 10 minutes and then drain and add to the braised beans. Mix in the cheese and herbs. Check seasoning and serve in bowls with a drizzle of the good oil.

RecipeFlorentines 50g butter 50g soft brown sugar 50g golden syrup 50g plain flour 100g chopped mixed nuts ( pistachio, hazelnuts, almonds) 75g mixed dried fruit ( apricot, cranberry, raisins etc) Set oven to 180oc and line 2 trays with parchment paper. Melt the butter, sugar and syrup in a pan. Remove from heat and beat in the flour to a smooth paste. Mix in the buts and fruit. Take a tablespoon of the mixture and place on the baking tray and flatten slightly. Repeat with remaining mixture, leaving space in between as they spread when cooking. Bake for about 10 minutes and cool to set.Blackcurrant icecream 150g blackcurrants 1 tablespoon Brandy or fruit liqueur 1 tablespoon liquid glucose Juice ½ lemon 250g sugar 4 egg yolks 500ml double creamPlace the blackcurrants with the brandy, glucose, lemon juice and 50g of the sugar in a pan and simmer for 10 minutes. Blend and cool Whisk the remaining sugar with the egg yolks in a heat proof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Whisk for 2 minutes then whisk with a

RecipeScones 225g soda bread flour ½ teaspoon baking powder 50g butter 35g castor sugar 1 egg 125ml buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg yolkSift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Add the butter and rub until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. ( For best results chill at this stage for an hour) Add the sugar and mix well. Set oven to 190°C and lightly butter 2 baking trays.Whisk the egg, buttermilk and vanilla together and add to the flour mixture Mix to a soft dough and place on a floured surface. Knead gently. Roll to 2cm thick and cut into desired shapes and place on baking trays.Brush the top with egg yolk and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden, risen and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped.Strawberry and elderflower jam 500g strawberries 500g jam sugar or granulated sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 elderflower heads If the strawberries are large, cut them in half. Put the strawberries and lemon juice into a large pan. Heat for a few minutes to soften, add the sugar and stir ove

Recipe Southern Fried Chicken8 boneless skinless chicken thighs 150ml buttermilk 1 teaspoon fresh chopped thyme 1 clove garlic, crushed 150g plain flour Half a teaspoon mustard powder 2 teaspoons onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder Half a teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprka Half a teaspoon of salt Oil for cooking Mix the buttermilk with the minced garlic and thyme. Add the chicken and marinate in the fridge for a few hours Mix the flour with the mustard, onion, garlic powders, pepper, salt and paprika. Remove chicken from buttermilk and dredge in the flour mixture. Set oven to 180oc.Heat half a thumb nail depth of oil in a pan until a little flour added sizzles. Add 4 of the thighs and cook for 2 minutes each side. Transfer to a baking tray. Repeat with remaining chicken and cook in oven for 10 minutes or until crisp and cooked through.Waldorf Salad75g walnuts 35g castor sugar 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 4 sticks celery, finely chopped plus leaves 2 red apples, quartered, core

Recipe4 mackerel filleted, pin bones removed and trimmed ( ask your fishmonger) Oil for brushing Seasalt for seasoning Heat your barbecue or a hot pan ( if you’re worried the pan might stick, line the bottom with parchment paper). Brush the skin with oil and season with salt. Place skin side down and cook for about 3 minutes or until skin is crisp. Season the flesh with salt and flip over. Cook for another minute and rest. Elderflower Yoghurt 200ml Greek Style yoghurt 1 teaspoon black onion seeds 1 teaspoon hot honey 1 dessertspoon elderflowers chopped ½ teaspoon seasalt Toast the onion seeds in a dry pan until they pop then mix into the yoghurt with the hot honey, elderflowers and salt and mix well.Beetroot Salad 2 medium beetroots, peeled and coarsely grated 1 red onion, finely sliced 1 tablespoon oil 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar Salt and pepper to tasteFry the onion in the oil until soft and mix into the beetroot with the vinegar and season well. Allow to marinate for an hour, tossing occasion

Recipe Salsa verde Handful basil Handful parsley Handful mint leaves 2 cornichon chopped 4 capers 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon white balsamic or lemon juice 75ml olive oil Salt and pepper to tasteBlend together500g lamb leg steaks Oil for rubbing Seasalt 500g baby potatoes, boiled, cooled and cut in half 8 scallions, split in half lengthwise 75g feta cheese Rub the lamb leg steaks with oil and season with seasalt. Place on grill and cook for 3 minutes each side. Allow to rest. Toss the potatoes in a tablespoon of oil and place on the grill cut side down. Cook until marked and flip over, scatter with salt. When cooked toss a dollop of the salsa verde in and mix well. Place the scallions on the grill to wilt and toss into the potatoes. Place on a platter. Slice the lamb and arrange over the potatoes. Drizzle over the remaining salsa and crumble over the feta.

RecipeSalsa verde:Handful basil Handful parsley Handful mint leaves 2 cornichon chopped 4 capers 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon white balsamic or lemon juice 75ml olive oil Salt and pepper to tasteBlend together500g lamb leg steaks Oil for rubbing Seasalt 500g baby potatoes, boiled, cooled and cut in half 8 scallions, split in half lengthwise 75g feta cheese Rub the lamb leg steaks with oil and season with seasalt. Place on grill and cook for 3 minutes each side. Allow to rest. Toss the potatoes in a tablespoon of oil and place on the grill cut side down. Cook until marked and flip over, scatter with salt. When cooked toss a dollop of the salsa verde in and mix well. Place the scallions on the grill to wilt and toss into the potatoes. Place on a platter. Slice the lamb and arrange over the potatoes. Drizzle over the remaining salsa and crumble over the feta.

Recipe Custard Cream 225 ml milk 2 egg yolks 75 g caster sugar 10 g plain flour, sieved 10g cornflour 250ml double cream Simmer the milk. Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, cornflour and flour and then pour over milk. Whisk well and return to pan over low heat. Stir constantly until custard is thick. Pour into a bowl and cover surface with cling, cool and chill. Whip the cream to stiff peaks and fold in the custard.Poached rhubarb 4 thin sticks rhubarb, cut into 2cm pieces 75g castor sugar 150ml water Place the sugar and water in a saucepan and simmer until sugar has dissolved. Add the rhubarb and grenadine and gently simmer until just done – keep an eye to make sure it doesn’t over cook. Cool. Pastry Crisp 1 pack ready rolled puff pastry Icing sugar for dusting Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set oven to 180oc. Dust over the top with icing sugar evenly with a sieve. Place another sheet of parchment on top and then top with a baking tray. Bake for about 15 minutes or until pastry is crisp and golde

RecipePeanut butter cake 100g soft butter 50g smooth peanut butter 100g soft brown sugar 2 eggs 75ml natural yoghurt 100g self raising flour Line a 25 x 20 cm tin with parchment paper and set oven to 180oc. Mix the butter, peanut butter and sugar with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and whisk well. Whisk in the yoghurt and flour to a smooth batter and spoon into the tin. Bake for about 20 minutes or until an inserted skewer. Allow to cool. Turn out onto a tray and remove parchment.Vanilla Cream 350ml double cream 1 teaspoon vanilla paste 20g icing sugar Whisk the cream to peaks and fold in the vanilla and sugar. Place in a piping bag and pipe over the cool cake.Flamed strawberries 400g strawberries, hulled and cut in half 1 tablespoon icing sugarPlace the strawberries cut side up on a metal tray and dust over the icing sugar. Flame with a blow torch until sugar has melted, Cool and place on cake.

RecipeSobrasada buttered tomatoes 75g sobrassada 25g butter 1 red onion finely chopped 200g halved cherry tomatoes Handful parsley chopped 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar Salt and pepper to taste Heat the sobrasada in a pan until it melts and add the butter and onions. Cook until the onions are soft and add the tomatoes. Cook for a minute then add the parsley and vinegar. Check seasoning. Grilled corn 2 ears corn Oil for brushing Boil the corn in salted water for 2 minutes then drain and pat dry. Brush with oil and cook on the grill to scorch all over. Remove the niblets and season with salt. Grilled monkfish 500g monkfish tail 1 tablespoon oil Seasalt Trim any skin from the monkfish. Rub the oil over the monkfish and season with salt. Place on grill and cook for a couple of minutes each side – depending on thickness. Monkfish should feel firm but with a little give. Allow to rest and slice Serve on the tomatoes with the corn mixed in.

Jerk spiced pork with grilled pineapple salsa 750g pork belly slices 2 cloves garlic 1 onion, chopped 25g root ginger, chopped 1 green chilli 1 teaspoon all spice 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cloves ½ teaspoon nutmeg ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 bay leaf shredded 2 teaspoons thyme leaves 65g dark brown sugar Zest and juice 1 limeBlend the garlic, onion, ginger, chilli, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, black pepper, bay and thyme to a smooth paste. Mix in the sugar and lime and then rub in all over the pork. Marinate for a few hours. Rub off the marinade and place the pork on a grill. Heat the marinade up in a pan and when the pork is cooked add to the marinade.Grilled pineapple salsa 1 pineapple 1 red onion 1 teaspoon finely chopped red chilli 2 limes 25ml olive oil 1 teaspoon sugar Peel the pineapple and cut in quarters through the root. Remove stalk from middle and cut each quarter in half. Place on a hot grill to mark and then chop into 1cm dice. Finely chop the chilli and add with the l

Recipe 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 preferably with a star nozzle. Pipe onto the baking tray. Cook in the oven for about an hour or until firm to touch and allow the meringues to cool in the oven when you turn it off. 500ml double cream 500g strawberries Half of the meringues above Lightly oil a loaf tin and line with cling film. Remove the green from the strawberries and set 8 aside. Finely chop the rest. Whip the cream. Crush the meringues with your hand coarsely and add to the cream with the chopped strawberries. Spoon the mixture into the tin, cover with cling and freeze for a few hours. Remove from freezer half an hour before you want to serve. Remove from tin and take off cling. Half the remaining strawberries and t