Family Mess Hall - whole food meals dinners recipes

Yellow chicken curry - Malaysian style This most basic yellow chicken curry is mildly spiced but packed with flavour. Any yellow curry blend can be used but I love this combination of turmeric, fenugreek, coriander, chilli celery and black pepper. It's a quick and easy one-pot curry that's great for weeknight dinners and includes a good serve of low cost vegetables.  Ingredients: 1 tbsp vegetable oil 2 medium onions ((roughly chopped)) 2 tsp garlic ((minced)) 2 tsp fresh ginger ((minced)) 1/4 tsp belanchan ((optional)) 2 kg bone-in thighs or drumsticks 2 tbsp Keen's curry powder ((or your own favourite yellow curry blend)) 3 medium carrots ((sliced 0.5cm thick, skin on)) 5 medium potatoes ((4cm / 1 1/2 inch dice, skin on)) 2 stalks lemon grass ((left whole)) 1 cinnamon stick 1 cup reduced fat coconut milk 2 tbsp tamarind paste ((optional)) 1 cup stock 1 tsp salt 1 tsp sugar 1/2 cup roasted peanuts ((optional garnish)) 1 cup fresh coriander leaves ((optional ...

Festive stuffed pumpkin with rice, bacon, dried fruit and spice This stuffed pumpkin with rice, bacon, dried fruit and spice is absolutely delicious and luscious.  It's an amazing addition to your festive spread and can be served either warm as a salad or hot from the oven.    Ingredients: Roasted pumpkin 1/2 large pumpkin (approx 4kg) ((ie. use 2kg of pumpkin) ) 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp dried thyme 1/2 tsp allspice 1/2 tsp ground coriander Rice stuffing 1 cup rice 1 rasher fatty bacon ((chopped) (optional)) 2 tbsp butter 1 tbsp honey 1 onion ((finely diced)) 1/4 cup mixed dried fruit ((raisins, currants, sultanas, citrus peel)) 1/4 cup chopped nuts ((almonds, pecans, walnuts)) 1 cup water / stock 1 cup plain greek yoghurt ((for dressing)) 1 cup fresh coriander leaves ((for garnish)) Method: Preheat oven to 180C / 350F Slice your 4kg pumpkin in half horizontally and scoop out the seeds to create a bowl shaped cavity.  Driz...

Garlic mushroom and almond quinoa pilaf This garlic mushroom and almond quinoa pilaf make a delicious quick, vegetarian lunch or fabulous side dish.  It's a great substitute to stuffing and can be served with roast meats during the festive season.  It's extremely versatile and can be served hot or cold.   Ingredients: 1 cup dried quinoa ((prepared as per packet instructions)) 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 lemon ((zested and juiced)) 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley ((finely chopped)) 1/4 cup silvered almonds ((toasted in dry pan until golden)) 2 tbsp butter 2 tsp garlic ((finely chopped)) 400 grams mushrooms ((roughly chopped)) 1/4 cup parmesan cheese ((grated)) Method: Prepare quinoa as instructed on the package.  1 cup yields approximately 3 cups of cooked quinoa.  Fluff the quinoa and dress with lemon juice, zest, olive oil and parsley. In a hot frypan, melt and brown butter then add garlic and mushrooms.  Saute until the mushrooms are softened and golde...

Vegetarian Indian spiced cauliflower, potato and pea pastie These tasty potato, cauliflower and pea pasties are flavoured with Indian spices and a little tomato for a sweet and sour kick. They're conveniently portable and great addition to a lunchbox or picnic spread.  Make the curried cauliflower and potato filling Ingredients: 1/2 head cauliflower ((cut into small florets)) 4 potatoes ((1cm dice)) 1 tbsp oil / ghee 1 onion ((chopped)) 3/4 cup peas 1 tsp mustard seeds 1 tsp nigella seeds 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp Keen's curry powder 1/2 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp fennel powder 1/2 cup tomato passata 1/2 cup fresh coriander ((chopped)) Method: Place chopped cauliflower and potato in a microwave safe dish and add a 1/4 cup of water.  Cover and microwave on high for 6 minutes.  Drain well. In a frypan on medium high heat, saute onions and spices in 1 tbsp oil for five minutes. Add drained potato, cauliflower and peas.  Continue to stir fry until fragrant (approximately ...

Classic Spaghetti Bolognese Ragu (rich pasta sauce) There's nothing fancy about this spaghetti Bolognese ragu recipe but it's oh so good! This classic Italian recipe includes all your pantry favourites; tomato passata, white wine, dried oregano. Also add the holy trinity of flavour bases - onion, carrot and celery.  Nutritional analysis is for sauce only.  It does not include parmesan cheese. Ingredients: 4 tbsp olive oil 1 large onion ((finely diced)) 1 stick celery ((finely diced)) 1 large carrot ((finely diced)) 1 tsp garlic ((minced)) 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley ((finely chopped)) 2 bay leaves 250 grams ground veal mince 250 grams ground pork mince 1 cup dry white wine 700 grams tomato passata (or 2 tins crushed tomatoes) 1 tsp oregano 1 cup water 1 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 cup milk 1/2 bunch fresh basil (for garnish) 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (for garnish) 1/4 cup pine nuts (for garnish - optional) Method: In a large chef's pan, heat olive oil and saute on...

Ricotta, cinnamon and apple muffins It's always a challenge to find tasty lunchbox recipes that pack nutritional punch.  These apple, ricotta and almond muffins are delicious to eat and are packed with fresh fruit, protein, dairy and superfood (almonds).  They're gently spiced with cinnamon and fragrant with lemon zest.   Ingredients: 2 cups all purpose flour 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt 1 egg 150 mL milk 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/3 cup honey 2 cups ricotta 1 tsp lemon zest 1 cup diced apple ((0.5cm cubes with skin on)) 1/2 cup flaked almonds Method: Preheat oven to 180 C / 350 F Place dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and then add wet ingredients excluding apples and almonds. Mix to combine. Gently fold through apples and almonds.   Bake muffins for 25 minutes or until golden and inserted skewer comes out clean.  

This simple creamy roasted tomato soup and caramelised onion grilled cheese toastie offers the ultimate comfort after a long day. You'll spend fifteen minutes in the kitchen and the rest of the time with your feet up! Creamy roasted tomato soup and caramelised onion grilled cheese toastie This simple creamy roasted tomato soup and caramelised onion grilled cheese toaastie offers the ultimate comfort after a long day. You'll spend fifteen minutes in the kitchen and the rest of the time with your feet up!  I recommend putting potato chips onto your grilled cheese sandwich once it has been toasted for additional salty crunch. 1 kg fresh tomatoes ((halved)) 1 large carrot ((chopped and microwave steamed for 5 minutes)) 1 large onion ((quartered)) 4 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp garlic ((minced)) 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tbsp tomato paste 3 cups stock 1/4 cup cream Caramelised onion grilled cheese toastie 1-2 onion ((thinly sliced - approx 2 cups)) 1 tbsp butter 1/2 tsp caraway seeds ((optional...

Caesar Salad with asparagus This epic chicken caesar salad has a light but extremely tasty Caesar dressing  1- 2 heads baby cos (romaine) lettuce ((roughly shredded)) 4 slices sourdough bread ((cut into strips)) 1 large skinless chicken breast ((poached or rotisserie)) 10 spears asparagus ((halved and blanched)) 1 handful bean sprouts 3 rashers bacon 4 eggs ((poached, boiled or fried)) 2 tbsp Vietnamese fried shallots ((optional)) Dressing 1/2 cup greek yoghurt 3 tbsp whole egg mayonnaise 4 tbsp parmesan cheese ((finely grated)) 1 tbsp lemon (juice and zest) 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce 1- 2 tsp minced garlic 1 anchovy ((optional - substitute for more cheese)) 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper Preheat oven grill (broiler) to 200 C / 390 F Poach a large skinless chicken breast in simmering water for 15 minutes with a lid on.  Transfer chicken to a bowl and cool.  Shred and set aside.   Place sourdough fingers and bacon rashers on a large tray....