This was Karen’s choice, kindly hosted by Tracey, and brilliantly we were all there – even Philip and Andrew made an appearance as faces on spoons! A lovely meal, with the ingredients hanging together very well. We agreed we would certainly make many of these dishes again.
Starters
Chunky pumpkin pepper pot soup – Jus
The recipe asked for scotch bonnet chillies, but Jus swapped it for standard red chilli. It was also suggested to keep the soup chunky, but Jus blitzed some of it to make it less like a stew. Really tasty, felt very nourishing.
https://www.ainsley-harriott.com/recipe/chunky-pumpkin-pepperpot-soup/
Baked prawn and chilli ginger cake – Sue
This was a softer version of the traditional Thai fish cake, with the addition of bread changing the texture. Strong on ginger, but not as powerful with prawn. Lots of orange in the very tasty relish. Janet and Tracey decided it didn’t break their no bread for Lent rule….
https://www.ainsley-harriott.com/recipe/baked-prawn-chilli-ginger-cakes/
Mains
Dutchie pot peanut butter chicken stew – Julie
A lovely tasty, fragrant stew. Julie also swapped in normal chillies for the Scotch bonnet ones, but it was still spicy.
https://www.ainsley-harriott.com/recipe/dutchie-pot-peanut-butter-chicken-stew/
Chicken calypso – Tracey
Another chicken stew, but very different flavours. This is a classic dish of Dominica, and tasted warming and comforting. The chicken was marinated in lots of spices overnight. The recipe asked for guava jelly, but apricot jam served as a good substitute.
https://www.ainsley-harriott.com/recipe/dutchie-pot-peanut-butter-chicken-stew/
Sides
Asparagus and pea side – Debrah
This was a big success, fresh and lemony and could easily stand on its own as a main. He suggests wild garlic in the recipe, could be a way of making the most of the bounty in Hodgemoor in the Spring!
https://www.ainsley-harriott.com/recipe/asparagus-pea-mint-wild-garlic-couscous-salad/
Loaded sweet potatoes – Karen
The recipe asked for Ainsley’s own brand couscous, but Karen subbed that for normal, which was fine. The dish had a lovely mixture of sweetness against the tartness of the Greek yogurt.
https://www.ainsley-harriott.com/recipe/loaded-sweet-potato-jackets-with-caribbean-grains/
Puddings
Iced caffe latte cups – Jane
This was by far the easiest pudding I’d ever made, but extremely successful nonetheless. It possibly took me two minutes. It was very tasty, icy in the same way as a granita. I swapped in full fat cream and evaporated milk for the low fat versions he suggests, which possibly made it creamier.
https://www.ainsley-harriott.com/recipe/iced-caffe-latte-cups/
Mango and passion fruit traybake with lime and passion fruit yogurt – Janet
The sharpness of the yogurt was a lovely contrast to the sweet moist cake. It was a good job Janet checked the use by date on her desiccated coconut!
Plates with Mates 