tasty – style dispenser

3 simple steps to a healthy breakfast

Published on August 13, 2017August 13, 2017 by wojtekvanportekLeave a comment

It is as simple as this: soak 20 grams of chia seeds in a 300ml oat milk and leave in the fridge overnight. The following morning serve with berries/banana/cocoa nibs or anything you like most. It is so surprising how such quick and easy meal can be so filling and keep you going until lunch time without any craving for a sweet snack! Well, one thing is clear – scrambled eggs are going to be on hold for quite some time now.

PS. You can obviously use any other milk as an alternative, however oat milk is way more neutral by flavour than lets say coconut milk.

Easter. Rabbit. Casserole.

Published on March 26, 2016March 26, 2016 by wojtekvanportekLeave a comment

Whilst clearing out the freezer I found a portion of rabbit given to me by a friend from countryside; which inspired me to create a seasonal dish for the Easter weekend!
Although I am a huge fan of traditional meals enjoyed with family during this period, I think that preparing something slightly different is always a bonus. Rabbit has been popular with my family since I can remember. My granddad had his own farm with muscovy ducks, guinea fowls, and rabbits. There was nothing better than a kitchen full of steam emanating from cast iron dishes mixed with the aromas of fresh herbs and braising rabbit. So my goal was to recover from memory a particular favourite dish prepared by the lady who looked after the kitchen at my grandparents household. However, as usual, thats only the starting point, and the end result is something quite personal.

I have roasted the ingredients gradually and then braised all together in a heat resistant dish, to keep the meat and veg soft and tender.
A perfect solution for a family Easter lunch!

And this is how it goes:
4-5 of rabbit fillets ( you can also use chicken if you like)
2-3 medium carrots
1 medium parsnip
2 medium red onions
3-4 garlic cloves
fresh herbs (thyme and oregano are best)
handful of dried tomatoes ( I used the sun-dried variety preserved in sunflower oil)
a bag of kale
a few tsp of a good quality fig chutney
a handful of onions marinated in balsamic vinegar

Marinate rabbit in olive oil, sliced garlic, coarse pepper, salt flakes and herbs, for a couple of hours. In the large non-stick frying pan, roast chopped vegetables with a generous splash of olive oil. While the vegetables are sautéing, place the marinated meat on another pan, and fry gently but do not cook throughly. Place them into a heat resistant glass dish (e.g. Pyrex). At this stage add kale, sliced tomatoes and marinated onions on top of the veggies and rabbit. Cover by lid and sweat for another 10 mins or so on low heat, in the meantime add the fig chutney until all soft and moist from the juices and the meat is cooked through.

As I am a barley lover I found the barley groats as a great compliment for this casserole. Rice seemed a bit too plain. And above all, this is the original meal we’re cooking, right?

One more thing, this dish goes so well with a glass of grenache red wine!

Cavolo Nero!

Published on February 20, 2016 by wojtekvanportekLeave a comment

Not cabbage nor lettuce. Actually Cavolo Nero is a cousin of kale.
It has an interesting, slightly earthy and peppery flavour and is a great alternative if you are tired of the greens that regularly appear on your plate.
Until recently, I didn’t have a clue what Cavolo Nero was and what I could make with it.
I bought it from my local grocer attracted by its beautiful colour and interesting structure (AKA Dinosaur skin!) He said I’d like it and he wasn’t wrong. These unusual leaves were in my fridge for two days before I decided to cook it, and it was still fresh and firm.
I created this new meal out of what I had left in the fridge and cupboard, a bit of a stir fry idea with an Italian twist. And the result was rather flavoursome.

It consists of:

2 bunches of cavolo nero
2 tbsp of grated ginger
1/2 of unwaxed lemon
1 large spanish onion
4 garlic cloves
1 chilli pepper
a pinch of crunchy salt and coarse pepper

Heat up a glug of olive oil in a heavy bottomed pan, add chopped onion and stir until soft. Add sliced garlic, chilli, rosemary (optional) and grated ginger. Cover with lid and sweat for a few minutes. Add the cavolo nero, stir with vegetables on very low heat until wilted. Season with crunchy salt and pepper. Mix with freshy cooked linguine pasta and serve immediately sprinkled with lemon juice.
I didn’t have any parmigiano in the fridge last night but I think it would be a perfect ingredient to grate on top of this meal before serving.

#yum!