Peas and Onions – Yorkshire (?) soul-food

Yotam Ottolenghi’s right – peas and onions go together. But … (with apologies), most folks with cans of mushy peas in their larder knew that!

Caramelised Onion and Apple Chutney

Thanks to next door neighbour’s apple tree and the glut of fruit overhanging into my garden 🙂

Savoury Bread Pudding

The original comfort-food recipe, as made by my brother, and remembered fondly by my family. The only recipe I know which specifies going for the cheapest, most basic ingredients available.

Koshari

Cairo street food. Gut-splittingly satisfying. And simple.

On the street in Egypt, the vendor will have three enormous trays, with cooked macaroni, cooked rice, and cooked brown lentils; and three pots/dishes of a tomato-based sauce, golden brown onions (“dried and fried” to crisp perfection), and a flavoursome fiery hot chilli sauce to add if the customer wishes.

It’s a wonderful culinary ballet; watching the Mu’allim (Boss) juggling his staff, to ensure all the component pots are constantly replenished, while tossing together the main ingredients in a bowl for each customer.  All in the fragilely good-natured frenzy of a Cairo fast-food lunch stop.

CRISP Fried Onions

One of those desperately simple things that can be so disappointing. Soggy fried onions on Koshari or Ful Medammes? Yeeeuk!