Tag Archive: dinner party

  1. Lemongrass and Ginger Steamed Stonebass, Orange and Kaffir Butter Sauce, Pak Choi, Coriander and Bean Sprout Salad by Paul Welburn

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    Bursting with flavour, the fabulous Paul Welburn (Chef Patron at The Swan Inn, Islip) has concocted a wonderful seafood recipe of Lemongrass and Ginger Steamed Stonebass, Orange and Kaffir Butter Sauce, Pak Choi, Coriander and Bean Sprout Salad to showcase our Stainless Steel Multi Steamer.

    Equipment

    Copper Tri-Ply 20cm Saucepan

    Copper Tri-Ply 18cm Saucepan

    Copper Tri-Ply 24cm Non-Stick Frying Pan

    Ingredients

    Serves 4 as a main

    For the Brine:

    • 500g cold water
    • 75g light soy sauce
    • 25ml mirin

    For the Stone Bass:

    • 4 x 150g stone bass fillets
    • 2 x sticks lemon grass – split in half
    • 80g ginger – sliced
    • Maldon sea salt
    • 2 tsp rapeseed oil
    •  2 tsp chopped chives – sprinkle over when serving

    For the Orange and Kaffir Butter Sauce:

    • 2 x shallots, finely sliced.
    • 150ml fresh orange juice
    • 4 tbsp of white wine
    • 3 x kaffir lime leaves
    • 40ml double cream
    • 200g of salted butter, cut into small cubes.

    For the Pak Choi:

    • 2 x pak choi – split lengthways.
    • 1 tsp rapeseed oil
    • Maldon sea salt

    For the Salad of Bean Sprouts and Coriander & Dressing

    • 100g bean sprouts
    • 1 x bunch coriander or micro coriander cress
    • 2 tsp rapeseed oil
    • 2 tsp sesame oil
    • 2 tsp mirin
    • Juice of ½ lime
    • 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds

    Method

    Stone Bass:

    1. Mix the brine ingredients together.
    2. Place the bass portions in and leave for 20 minutes
    3. Remove, wash off in cold water and dry with kitchen paper.
    4. Place the portions onto squares of parchment paper until cooking.
    5. Place the pro ware steamer on top of the pan half filled with water.
    6. Bring it to the boil and turn down to a simmer
    7. Place the ginger and lemongrass onto the base of the steamer top, place the stone bass portions with the parchment on top and close the lid , cook on a medium heat for 6 minutes (steamer should not be rapid boiling )
    8. Once cooked remove from the steamer.
    9. Allow the fish to rest for 2 minutes.

    Orange and Kaffir Butter Sauce:

    1. Place the shallots, orange juice , white wine and lime leaves in a pan and reduce until almost dry
    2. Add the cream and bring to the boil.
    3. Remove the pan and add the butter whist whisking until the sauce thickens and your left with a smooth sauce
    4. Pass the sauce through a fine sieve and keep until required.

    Pak Choi:

    1. In a hot frying pan (or bbq)
    2. Place the oiled pak choi cut side down and cook on a medium heat on one side only
    3. Cook until the pak choi is golden but retains a crunch
    4. Season with salt and serve

    Bean Sprout and Coriander Salad:

    1. Whisk the dressing ingredients together
    2. Mix the bean sprouts and the coriander and just before serving toss in the dressing and serve

    To Serve:

    1. Peel back and Remove the skin from the bass
    2. Sprinkle over the chopped chives
    3. Place onto a serving plate
    4. Add the pak choi
    5. Spoon over the butter sauce over and around
    6. Lastly place the dressed salad of bean sprouts and coriander

    Wow… what a wonderful recipe! Thanks to this amazing Great British Chef!

  2. Vanilla rice pudding, pistachio honeycomb & glazed summer fruits by Josh Angus

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    Looking for a summery pud for your next date night dinner, sunday lunch, or dinner party? Look no further! Michelin Starred Hide Restaurant‘s Head Chef Josh Angus has created a super light and completely delicious dessert for you.

    Equipment

    Copper Tri-Ply 18cm Saucepan (with lid)

    Copper Tri-Ply 12cm Mini Frying Pan (to serve)

    Ingredients (Serves 5)

    (For the Rice Pudding)

    • 1 vanilla pod
    • 35g sugar (to taste)
    • 150g pudding rice
    • 900g milk
    • 165 double cream
    • 4 figs halved
    • 2 peaches quartered
    • Red wine
    • 75g sugar
    • 75g water

    (For the Honeycomb)

    • butter, for the tin
    • 200g caster sugar
    • 5 tbsp golden syrup
    • 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
    • 50g chopped pistachios
    • 20g chopped pistachios for serving

    Method

    Make the Honeycomb first so it can rest…

    1. Butter a 20cm square tin. Stir the caster sugar and golden syrup together in a deep saucepan over a gentle heat until the sugar has melted. Try not to let the mixture bubble until the sugar grains have disappeared.
    2. Once completely melted, turn up the heat a little and simmer until you have an amber coloured caramel (this won’t take long) add your pistachios at this point, then as quickly as you can, turn off the heat, tip in the bicarbonate of soda and beat in with a wooden spoon until it has all disappeared and the mixture is foaming. Scrape into the tin immediately – be careful, the mixture will be very hot.
    3. The mixture will continue bubbling in the tin, simply leave it and in about 1 hr-1 hr 30 mins the honeycomb will be hard and ready to crumble or snap into chunks.

    For the Rice Pudding…

    1. Place the milk in a medium saucepan and add the rice and sugar. Split the vanilla pod lengthways with a sharp knife, scrape out the seeds and add both the pod and the seeds to the pan. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook gently with a lid on, stirring frequently, for 25-30 minutes or until the rice has absorbed most of the milk & cooked through. Remove the vanilla pod but save for presentation and stir in the cream. The rice  should be glossy now & fall off a spoon; leave to cool.
    2. Cut the figs in half & ripe peaches in to quarters, bring to boil the sugar & water in a frying pan to make stock syrup, once the sugar has dissolved add the peaches on a medium heat & cook for 1 minute either side just to soften the peach & glaze them up with stock syrup remove from pan.
    3. Add the figs & do the same but this time add two splashes of red wine & reduce to a syrup consistency. The figs & peaches should be slightly soft but hold their shape & not messy!
    4. To serve have the cooled  rice pudding on the bottom with the glazed fruit on top, sprinkle with chunks of honeycomb & chopped pistachios. Then drizzle with the red wine syrup.

     

    What a treat! We can’t thank Josh enough for this summer sensation. Check out his other recipes for us here.

  3. Grilled Octopus, rosemary new potatoes & chickpea feta salad recipe by Josh Angus

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    One of our favourite pieces, our Stainless Steel Tri-Ply 35cm Roasting Pan was put to the test by Hide‘s Head Chef Josh Angus recently and look what a culinary masterpiece he concocted! If you thought cooking octopus at home might be inaccessible, then think again with Josh’s recipe…

    Equipment

    Stainless Steel Tri-Ply 35cm Roasting Pan

    Copper Tri-Ply 10cm Mini Casserole Pans

    Ingredients

    Serves 4

    • 1 x Spanish frozen octopus 3-4kg (defrosted)
    • 1 carrot (roughly chopped)
    • 1 leek (roughly chopped)
    • 1 bulb garlic (roughly chopped)
    • 1 tin chickpeas
    • 200g feta
    • 150g cherry tomatoes quartered
    • 150g edamme beans or broad beans popped & blanched if needed
    • 1 cucumber sliced at angle
    • Green or black olives (optional)
    • 4 tbsp Red wine vinegar
    • ½ Lemon juice
    • 5 tbsp good olive oil
    • Salt to taste
    • 500g new potatoes
    • 5 cloves garlic finely chopped
    • 15g Rosemary chopped
    • Salt to taste

    Method

    1. Turn the oven on 170c full fan, once the octopus is fully defrosted. Give the octopus a rinse under the sink. Then cut the octopus in half having 4 tentacles either side, place in the cast iron dish with the roughly chopped vegetables & a splash of white wine. (optional)
    2. Cover with greaseproof & foil, then put in the oven & cook for 2 to 3 hours until the octopus is completely cooked through & not chewy! A knife should easily go through the octopus.
    3. The meantime chop the new potatoes in half or quarters if large, mix in a bowl with olive oil, salt, chopped rosemary & chopped garlic.
    4. Roast potatoes in the oven for 35mins same temperature as octopus until really crispy & cooked through. Mix time to time in the oven so they become really crispy.
    5. For the salad wash the chickpeas under cold running water & mix with chopped feta, tomatoes, broad beans & cucumber. Dress the salad with olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice & salt to taste.
    6. Once the octopus is cooked & rested for 20 minutes, take each tentacle & detach them from the head individually, then grill them in hot pan with splash of olive oil to get crispy on the outside, 2 minutes on each side will be enough.
    7. Serve immediately with the hot crispy potatoes & cold Greek salad. Also could serve with aioli or romesco sauce as a dip.

    We can’t get enough of this recipe, perfect for a summer dinner party with friends who love seafood. Thanks Josh!

  4. Chocolate Fondue

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    Looking for a fun and easy chocolate dessert recipe? Look no further than this Chocolate Fondue! Perfect for an evening soiree or fun family gathering!  Dip marshmallows, biscuits or fresh fruit into the hot, melted creamy chocolate goodness. The best part – it only takes 10 minutes to make!

    Recipe by Chef Leslie Buddington from Brocco on the Park, Sheffield

     

    Makes:  Approx 1 litre
    Prep time: 1 minute
    Cooking time: 10 minutes


    Equipment


    Ingredients

    • 400g dark chocolate
    • 290ml double cream
    • 300ml whole milk
    • 80g unsalted butter

    Cooking Method

    1. Break the chocolate into smaller pieces and put it along with all the other ingredients in a pan. 
    2. Melt on a medium heat stirring constantly until all melted and glossy.
    3. Enjoy with marshmallow or seasonal fruits.
  5. Dinner’s Served! Hints and Tips for a Great Soiree

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    Is it your turn to host your friends and family this month? While dinner parties certainly require some preparation, the run up to your soiree doesn’t have to be stressful. To help you, we’ve compiled some top tips – direct from our kitchen to yours – that will ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible:

    Be Realistic

    The first thing to consider when throwing a dinner party is this: do you have enough free time in your diary to adequately prepare for it? It’s all well and good agreeing to host 12 guests but be realistic about when they can come – and how much you can get done before they do. At the very least, give yourself a couple of weekends prior to your party. By doing so, you’ll have more than enough time to check if any guests have any dietary requirements, plan the menu, consider entertainment and discover the perfect wine pairing. If you’re interested in more about wine pairing, we’ve compiled some simple Wine Pairing Rules to get you started.

    ProWare Wine Pairing

    Pro tip: think carefully, not just about the dishes you’re serving, but about how well they complement one another. For instance, your guests might not want to eat a pastry starter, followed by a heavier, pastry main. You may also decide to opt for a theme for the evening – Italian or Indian, for example –which will help you pull together your menu, the canapés and the wine.

    It’s the Little Things

    Found yourself with a little extra time just prior to your evening do? Consider the little things which may make all the difference, like making your own bread for the soup, or even whipping up a few homemade canapés. If the idea of adding a tiny bit of work to your schedule (for maximum pay-off) doesn’t scare you, dive right in. If you are in need of a little canapé inspiration take a look at Luke French’s recipe for Wild Sea Trout and Linseed Cracker, which will be sure to delight your guests.

    ProWare Christmas Recipes Joro Red Cabbage

    Ask for Help and Prep in Advance

    When it comes to the preparation, it isn’t a failing on your part if you have to rope in a few people to help. Whether it’s your partner, your kids, even your neighbour, many hands make light work. If you can, choose dishes that you can do a majority of the cooking before your guests arrive. The last thing you want to do is be stuck in the kitchen all evening leaving your guests to entertain themselves.

    Here are a few of our favourite cook in advance side dishes:

    Macaroni and Cheese 

    ProWare's Macaroni Cheese

    Potato Dauphinois

    ProWare's Potato Dauphinois

     

    Think ‘Presentation’

    You’d be surprised at how a small addition to your meal – homemade, rustic-looking croutons or cheese straws to accompany the soup, perhaps? – can make a huge difference to how it looks on the table. So, why not choose simple dishes which can be improved easily with a few, clever little touches? Also, in terms of presentation, what you serve your food on can really make a big impact. A roast potatoes brought to the table in a beautiful roasting tray or individual side dishes served in mini pans to each guest are really eye catching and impressive.

    ProWares Cast Iron Mini Casseroles 2

    ProWare's Irish Shepard's Pie Recipe

    Be ambitious – Show stopping Recipes

    If you’re keen to impress, choose a recipe that will really ‘wow’ your guests. These Hasselback Roasted Potatoes are a nice twist on the usual roast potato and they can be prepared the night before, just leave them to soak in the fridge overnight. Or try this recipe for Sea Truffle Salt Baked Chicken by Michelin Star Chef Brad Carter is not only a delicious recipe, but Brad also includes instructions on how to serve it so beautifully too.

    Proware Recipe Sea Truffle Baked Chicken by Carter's

    Say ‘Yes’ to Seasonal

    If you’ve yet to decide on a theme, go seasonal! Autumn and winter are the perfect time for game, for instance – and here on the blog we’ll soon be sharing some recipes you can try out easily at home. Impress your guests with your cooking prowess and try something different in the process.

    And another thing…

    Don’t forget to decant your wine; it’s about the little things, after all. The Wine Spectator has some top tips for storing your favourite tipple or two, with decanting offering two key benefits. One is the fact that it separates wine from any sediment which may have formed. The second? It aerates a wine to release its flavours and aromas – yum!

    What are your top dinner party tips? Let us know by commenting below.