Recipe: Caramelised Red Onion, Goats Cheese and Tomato Tagliatelle

The crumbly yet creamy texture of goats cheese, along with its delicious flavour, makes it one of my favourites, and a dinner where it features is always a treat!

The following recipe makes an ideal mid-week meal. Straight-forward to make and ready within half an hour, you can sit back and enjoy the rest of your evening with a smile on your face and a satisfied tum.

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Ingredients (serves 2):

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
• 1-2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons balsamic dressing
• 1 carton chopped tomatoes
• 60g goats cheese (30g for each plate)
• 200-250g tagliatelle (dried or fresh)
• Fresh parsley, finely chopped to garnish

Method:

1. Fry the onion in the oil for 2-3 minutes, until it starts to soften. Add the sugar, stir and allow to caramelise slightly. Then add the balsamic dressing, stir, and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.

2. When the sauce has reduced slightly, add the chopped tomatoes, mix through, and leave to simmer for 10 minutes, until reduced. Season to taste.

3. Meanwhile, cook the tagliatelle - if you are using fresh tagliatelle it can be done just minutes before serving.

4. When the tagliatelle is cooked, add it to the sauce and toss through until coated. Serve the pasta, crumble over the goats cheese, and finish with the finely chopped fresh parsley. Easy!

Caramelised Red Onion, Goats Cheese,
and Tomato Tagliatelle

Recipe: Ginger, Sweet Chilli & Lime Salmon with Noodles

Ginger is my ingredient of the moment. The warmth and flavour it offers adds another dimension to both sweet and savoury dishes, and I am thoroughly enjoying finding new foods to pair it with.

Ginger, Sweet Chilli & Lime Salmon with Noodles

With the sun FINALLY making an appearance this weekend, I decided to explore how I could incorporate ginger into a fresh tasting, light spring/summer dish, using another favourite of mine, salmon.

The following recipe is for a noodle based dish, using salmon that has been marinated in a sauce made from fresh limes, fresh root ginger, garlic and sweet chilli sauce (although you could use fresh red chilli – I just prefer a more subtle spice level). The different ingredients used add different levels of flavour, which come through in stages to offer a fresh and delicious taste experience. 

Please note, for optimum flavour, you will need to marinade the salmon for a couple of hours before cooking. Don’t let this put you off though – the prior preparation is definitely worthwhile, and when you are ready to eat/feeling hungry, the dish is quick and easy to cook! Additionally, if you are not a fan of salmon, the dish is likely to work well with chicken.

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Ingredients:

• 400g salmon fillets, skinned and cut into chunks
• 1 red onion
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 150g spinach
• 120g fine noodles
• 1 tablespoon oil

For the marinade:

• Zest and juice of 2 limes
• Thumb-sized piece of root ginger, peeled and finely grated
• 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1 ½ tablespoons sweet chilli sauce OR 1 fresh red chilli

Method:

1. For the marinade: Place the garlic, ginger, lime zest, lime juice, and sweet chilli sauce/chilli in a dish, and mix together. Add the salmon, and coat in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

2. Putting the dish together: Finely slice the onion, and fry in the oil until softened. Add the soy sauce and mix through.

3. Add the salmon and marinade to the pan, and cover with a lid. Cook for 5-10 minutes on a medium heat until the salmon is cooked and starting to flake.

4. Meanwhile, cook the noodles. Before draining, add the spinach to the water to allow it to cook quickly.

5. Drain the noodles and spinach, and add to the pan with the salmon. Mix everything together and then serve.

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If you like this, why not try Salmon & Ginger Fishcakes. Another light, refreshing and healthy dish!