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...