Freezer on charalambous.uk

Arkatena

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Arkatena

overnight poolish, 50 min bake, 185°C (165°C fan), makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

Spiced water (night before)
water 350g
bay leaves 3
black peppercorns 3g
ginger 15g
sugar 4g

Poolish (night before)
chickpea flour 60g
strong white flour 90g
spiced water 200g
fast action yeast 1g

Dough
strong white flour 300g
spiced water 90g
salt 8g
olive oil 30g
ground mahlepi 1g
ground mastic 0.5g
nutmeg 0.5g
fast action yeast 1g

To top
white sesame seeds 20g
black sesame seeds 5g

Recipe

Night before

Baguette

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Baguette

recipe v2.1, 76% hydration, 25 min prep, 17 min bake

Banana Bread

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Banana Bread

60 min bake, 170°C fan, 2lb loaf tin, makes 1

Ingredients

ripe bananas 400g (3–4)
butter 115g
soft brown sugar 150g
eggs 2
plain yogurt 3 tbsp
vanilla 1 tsp
plain flour 250g
bicarbonate soda 1 tsp
salt 1/2 tsp
cinnamon 1 tsp

The blacker and softer the bananas, the sweeter the loaf. In a hurry, bake them unpeeled at 150°C for 15 min until the skins go black.
Brown the butter first for a nutty, caramel depth. The single biggest flavour upgrade.
Yogurt keeps it moist, sour cream works too. Cinnamon is optional.

Brioche Buns

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Brioche Buns

16 min bake, 180°C (160°C fan), makes 8

Ingredients

Tangzhong
strong white flour 20g
milk 100g

Dough
strong white flour 400g
caster sugar 40g
fast action yeast 7g
salt 8g
milk 140g
egg 1
unsalted butter 60g

To finish
egg 1
sesame seeds to top

The tangzhong, a cooked flour paste, is what keeps them soft for days.
Warm the milk to lukewarm, not hot.

Carrot Cake

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Carrot Cake

25 min bake, 180°C (160°C fan), three 24cm tins, serves 12

Cosmic Souvla Sauce

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cosmic Souvla Sauce

5 min, blend

Ingredients

parsley large bunch
green chilli 1 to 2
garlic 1 clove
lemon 1
sunflower oil to texture
salt to taste
msg (optional) 1/4 tsp

Green Tabasco in place of the green chilli. Keeps 5 days in the fridge.

Flour Tortillas

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Flour Tortillas

69% hydration, 35 min, pan sized, makes 8

Ingredients

Makes 8 large

plain flour 360g
lard/trex 120g
warm water 250g
salt 7g
spinach 100g, optional

No baking powder. The high hydration is what keeps them soft, it will feel sticky and firms up as it rests.
Lard, Trex or Stork block (1:1) for the best result. Olive oil works for a lighter, healthier wrap, and butter works too.

Gingerbread Men

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Gingerbread Men

chill 2 hr, 12 min bake, 190°C (170°C fan), makes 18

Ingredients

Dry
plain flour 375g
baking powder 12g
ground ginger 6g
ground cinnamon 4g
mixed spice 2g
ground cloves 0.5g

Wet
unsalted butter 85g
brown sugar 165g
egg 1
vanilla extract 10ml
black treacle 170g

Black treacle is the British name for molasses, use either. Golden syrup gives a milder, lighter gingerbread if you prefer.
Roll 4mm thick for soft biscuits, a little thinner for snappy. Roll between two sheets of baking paper and use barely any flour, so they do not bake with a white dusting.

Gnocchi Bake

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Gnocchi Bake

serves 2-3, 30 min, grill finish

Ingredients

shelf gnocchi 500g (1 pack)
butter 30g
olive oil 1 tbsp
garlic 3 cloves, sliced
chilli flakes 1/2 tsp
cherry tomatoes 400g (or 350g passata)
ricotta 125g
mozzarella 125g (1 ball), torn
parmesan 30g, grated
basil small handful
salt 1/2 tsp, plus to taste

Level up, pick one: brown 100g ’nduja or sausage in the pan before the garlic, or melt a 200g block of feta into the sauce, baked-feta style.

Lazy Boule

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Lazy Boule

65% hydration, stand mixer, makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

strong white flour 500g
water 325g
salt 10g
instant yeast 7g

Recipe

1. Put in the stand mixer bowl:

Milk Buns

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Milk Buns

16 min bake, 180°C (160°C fan), makes 6

Ingredients

Tangzhong
strong white flour 20g
milk 100g

Dough
strong white flour 350g
caster sugar 30g
fast action yeast 6g
salt 7g
milk 150g
egg 1
unsalted butter 30g

To finish
milk to brush

Softer and less sweet than brioche. Shape into logs for sub rolls, or rounds for burgers.
Brushed with milk, not egg, so the crust stays soft and pale.

Rye Loaf

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Rye Loaf

70% hydration, 2.5 hr, 2lb tin, makes 1

Ingredients

dark rye flour 250g
strong white flour 250g
warm water 350ml
mixed seeds 50g
honey 1 tbsp
caraway seeds 1 tbsp
instant yeast 7g
salt 10g

50/50 rye and white gives real rye flavour with enough lift to rise. Push the rye higher for a darker, denser loaf.
Caraway is the classic deli-rye note and pairs with the salmon and dill. Leave it out for a cleaner loaf, or swap a spoon of treacle for the honey to go darker.

Skillet Cookie

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Skillet Cookie

serves 8, 40 min, 180°C, 25cm skillet

Ingredients

unsalted butter 115g
light brown sugar 100g
caster sugar 50g
egg 1 large
plain flour 190g
bicarbonate of soda 1/2 tsp
fine salt 1/2 tsp
vanilla extract 2 tsp
chocolate chunks 175g

Brown the butter first for a nuttier, deeper flavour, optional.

Skillet Lasagna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Skillet Lasagna

serves 3-4, 50 min, one pan, no layering

Ingredients

olive oil 1 tbsp
beef mince 400g
onion 1 medium, chopped
garlic 2 cloves, crushed
tomato puree 1 tbsp
passata 500g
water 150ml
dried oregano 1 tsp
lasagne sheets 6-8 (approx 150g)
ricotta 250g
mozzarella 125g (1 ball), torn
parmesan 30g, grated
basil small handful
salt and pepper to taste

Italian sausage meat works instead of beef. Shortcut: skip the build and use 500-600g ready ragu loosened with 100-150ml water, then start at step 3.

Soda Bread

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Soda Bread

80% hydration, no yeast, 50 min, makes 1

Ingredients

wholemeal flour 250g
plain flour 250g
milk 400ml
lemon 1 tbsp
bicarbonate 1 tsp
salt 1 tsp

The lemon sours the milk, and the bicarb reacts with that acid to make it rise, no yeast needed. Vinegar works in place of lemon. Real buttermilk (a good use for the leftovers from making butter) or thinned yogurt are just as good if you have them.
All wholemeal for a heartier loaf, all plain for a lighter one.

Tomato Soup

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Tomato Soup

50 min, Dutch oven, serves 4

Ingredients

tinned tomatoes 1.6kg
butter 115g
onion 1
garlic 4 cloves
salt to taste

San Marzano if you can get them, otherwise good plum tomatoes. For a blended soup like this, 1 tin San Marzano and 3 of good plum is plenty.