Vegetarian on charalambous.uk

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.

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

Cheese Potato Bread

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

Cheese Potato Bread

45 min incl. chill, frying pan with a lid

Ingredients

Dough
strong flour 120g
butter 14g, melted
milk 60g, room temp
salt pinch

Filling
potato 1 medium (~160g)
mayonnaise 2 tbsp
mozzarella 150g, grated
salt and pepper to season

No yeast, no oven, no egg. Season the potato well, and add garlic, chilli or herbs to the mash if you like.

Egg Mayo

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

Egg Mayo

15 min, makes 2 sandwiches

Ingredients

eggs 3
mayonnaise 2 tbsp
dijon mustard 1/2 tsp
cress small handful
salt and pepper to taste

Cress is optional, chives or spring onion work 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.

Matilda Chocolate Cake

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

Matilda Chocolate Cake

1 hr plus chilling, 180°C, three 20cm tins

Ingredients

Cake
plain flour 260g
baking powder 1.5 tsp
bicarbonate of soda 1.5 tsp
caster sugar 200g
light brown sugar 135g
salt 1 tsp
eggs 3
vegetable oil 135g
buttermilk 80g
soured cream 240g
Dutch cocoa 75g
instant coffee 2 tsp
boiling water 180g

Fudge frosting
dark chocolate 300g, 70%
golden syrup 3 tbsp
cream cheese 225g
cocoa powder 33g
icing sugar 100g
salt 1/4 tsp
double cream 300ml, chilled

Weigh the flour, too much makes it dry. Dutch cocoa and 70% dark chocolate (bars, not chips) give the deepest colour and the glossy fudge shine.

Quesadilla

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

Quesadilla

serves 1-2, 10 min, dry cast iron skillet

Ingredients

flour tortilla 1 large (25cm)
mature cheddar 40g, grated
mozzarella 40g, grated
spring onion 1, finely sliced
pickled jalapeno 1 tbsp, sliced

Spring onion and jalapeno are optional, swap in whatever’s in the fridge. Grate from a block, pre-grated cheese is coated in starch and melts poorly.

Saganaki

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

Saganaki

serves 2 as a starter, 10 min

Ingredients

frying cheese 200g, one slab
plain flour 50g, to dredge
olive oil 3 tbsp, to fry
lemon 1/2
ouzo 1 tbsp, optional

Use a firm frying cheese: kefalotyri, graviera or kefalograviera. Halloumi works too.

Shakshuka

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

Shakshuka

serves 2, 30 min, one pan

Ingredients

onion 1, sliced
red pepper 1, sliced
garlic 2 cloves, sliced
olive oil 2 tbsp
cumin 1 tsp
paprika 1 tsp
chilli flakes pinch
chopped tomatoes 400g tin
eggs 4
feta 50g, optional
parsley handful
salt and pepper to season

Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Good with warm pita or crusty bread to mop the sauce.

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.

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.