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Archive for the ‘Shellfish’ Category

Baked Crab and Lemon Gnocchi

Posted in Food, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , on 9 January 2026| Leave a Comment »

We buy big tubs of Lambay Island white crabmeat and freeze it in small portions so we can have weeknight dishes like this one. Really simple but tastes luxurious.

Wine Suggestion: This demands a richer white, but with a core of minerality, texture and acidity. Tonight we opened a La Clef du Recit Sancerre Le Chêne Fourchu … an uncommonly oaked Sauvignon Blanc which, when handled deftly like this, adds layers and structure. We love how this has hints of tropical fruits, lemon and mandarin.

Baked crab and lemon gnocchi – serves 2

  • 1 pack of pre-made gnocchi – about 400g – go for a good quality one
  • 150ml double cream
  • 30g Parmesan, finely grated, plus a bit extra
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • 100g white crabmeat
  • a handful of flatleaf parsley, chopped
  • dressed green salad, to serve

Cook the gnocchi in boiling salty water until if floats to the top, then scoop it out and set aside.

Heat the cream in a large pan, then add the Parmesan and lemon juice. Let it bubble up, then turn off the heat and add the crab, parsley and gnocchi. Sesson well with black pepper, then tip it all into a baking dish.

Sprinkle over some more Parmesan and place under a hot grill for a few minutes or until brown and bubbling.

(Original recipe by Janine Ratcliffe in Olive Magazine, August, 2016.)

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Crab Linguine

Posted in Food, Pasta, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on 5 January 2026| 2 Comments »

This is super simple which is just the treatment that you want to give delicious Lambay Island Crab.

Wine Suggestion: We’re planning a trip to Galicia so are getting in the mood and trying a few Albariños. Tonight somethin a little special, the Pazo Señorans Colección which is 5 years old and all the better for it. Bone dry, but with a depth of fruit and a saline minerality reflecting both sunshine and the Atlantic weather. A delightful match with crab.

Crab linguine – serves 4

  • 400g linguine
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
  • 100g brown crabmeat
  • 200g white crabmeat
  • about 5 tbsp white wine
  • small squeeze of lemon
  • a large handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves, very finely chopped

Bring a large pan of salty water to the boil and cook the linguine for 1 minutes less than it says on the packet.

Meanwhile, gently heat 3 tbsp of the olive oil with the chilli and garlic in a large pan. Cook very gently until they start to sizzle, then turn up the heat and add the white wine. Simmer until the wine and olive oil come together, then remove from the heat and add the brown crabmeat. Use a wooden spoon to mash it into the olive oil to make a thick sauce.

When the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat. Place the sauce over a very low heat and use tongs to lift the pasta from the water into the crab sauce.

Remove the sauce from the heat and add the white crabmeat and parsley to the pasta with a little sea salt. Stir really well, adding a drop of pasta water if needed. Taste for seasoning and add a small squeeze of lemon. Serve immediately drizzle with some more olive oil.

(Original recipe from BBC Good Food.)

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BBQ Prawns with Miso

Posted in Barbecue, Food, Prawns, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on 16 November 2025| Leave a Comment »

Smoky and savoury, these barbecue prawns with miso are the ultimate snack to kick off any gathering. A generous starter made for sharing that is perfect with cold drinks and good company.

Wine Suggestion: We’ve been exploring the wines of Quincy from the Loire Valley on our travels and discovering how universally well made and exciting they seem to be. Fortuitously the whites, made from Sauvignon Blanc, pair well with this dish. Anthony Girard’s La Clef du Recit is crisp, dry and pure fruited with a real depth and vibrant citrus fruits.

BBQ Prawns with Miso – makes 10

  • 750g large tiger prawns, peeled but with tails left on
  • 6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
  • 2.5cm piece of ginger, finely grated
  • 2 tbsp miso paste
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 80g butter
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • finely grated zest and juice of a lemon
  • 2 tsp tahini
  • 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
  • 2 scallions, green part only, finely shredded
  • 2 tbsp black sesame seeds
  • lemon wedges

Put the prawns into a large bowl and add the garlic, ginger, miso, soy sauce and honey. Mix well and leave to marinate in the fridge for an hour.

Get your barbecue going for direct cooking.

Meanwhile, put the butter into a small saucepan with the sesame oil. Put the pan over a medium heat and stir until the butter has melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon zest and juice, tahini and toasted sesame seeds. Stir well and set aside.

Thread the prawns onto kebab sticks, then cook on your hot barbecue for 2-3 minutes on each side.

Put the prawns skewers on a serving platter and brush with the sesame butter. Pour the rest of the butter into a bowl and serve it alongside.

Scatter over the scallions and black sesame seeds and serve with lemon wedges.

(Original recipe from The BBQ Book by Tom Kerridge, Bloomsbury: Absolute, 2025.)

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Barbecued Prawns with Harissa Mayonnaise

Posted in Barbecue, Food, Gluten-free, Prawns, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on 11 October 2025| Leave a Comment »

We couldn’t get enough of these smoky, juicy barbecued prawns — a real highlight from one of the many clever ideas in Tom Kerridge’s excellent new barbecue book (which we highly recommend). This recipe is quick, full of flavour, and seriously satisfying.

We’ve thrown in a little tip to make peeling the prawns less of a faff — but if you can find shell-on, deveined prawns, with that handy slit down the back, you’re golden.

Wine Suggestion: A fun starter deserves a wine to match — enter the Umani Ronchi Centovie Rosato. Fresh, dry, and deliciously savoury, the kind of rosé that knows how to keep up with smoky prawns and spicy harissa.

Barbecued prawns with harissa mayonnaise – serves 6

  • 1kg raw prawns in shells (we buy frozen prawns which already have the heads removed and are slit down the back for easy peeling when cooked)
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds, lightly crushed
  • 2 tbsp rose harissa paste
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • finely grated zest of 2 limes
  • lime wedges, to serve

FOR THE HARISSA MAYONNAISE:

  • 150g mayonnaise
  • 2 tsp rose harissa paste
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped dill

Get your barbecue ready for direct cooking.

Twist the heads off the prawns if needed. Then use a pair of scissors to make a shallow cut along the belly of each prawn, leaving the tail shell intact. This will make them easier to peel.

Put the prawns into a large bowl and add the crushed cumin, harissa paste, extra virgin olive oil and lime zest. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. Set aside for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix the mayonnaise ingredients together and season with salt and pepper. Spoon into a serving bowl and set aside.

Place the prawns in a single layer on a very hot part of the barbecue and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. You want them to be lightly charred.

Transfer the prawns to a serving platter with the bowl of harissa mayonnaise and serve lime wedges alongside.

(Original recipe from The BBQ Book by Tom Kerridge, Bloomsbury:Absolute, 2025.)

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Saganaki-style Orzo with Prawns

Posted in Food, Greek, Pasta, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on 21 September 2025| Leave a Comment »

Inspired by the classic Greek saganaki this dish bring together juicy king prawns, bright cherry tomatoes, orzo simmered in wine and stock, a drizzle of lemon and a scatter of feta and parsley. Perfect when you want something that’s quick, feels indulgent, but still very satisfying.

Wine Suggestion: We followed the time-honoured rule of “what grows together, goes together” and opened a bottle of Tetramythos Roditis from the Peloponnese. This dry Greek white is crisp and appley, with a soft, rounded texture through the mid-palate and a clean, saline finish. It worked perfectly with the prawns and the tomato base, echoing the citrusy notes of the lemon while balancing the heat from the chilli. No, we weren’t eating this by the sea in Greece but it certainly felt like we could have been.

Saganaki-style orzo with prawns – serves 4

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 5 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp chilli flakes
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tbsp tomato purée
  • 200ml white wine
  • 2 x 400g tin cherry tomatoes
  • 300g orzo
  • 500ml hot chicken stock
  • 350g raw king prawns
  • a small handful of parsley, finely chopped
  • 50g feta, crumbled
  • half a lemon, cut into wedges
  • toasted ciabatta, to serve

Heat the oil in a wide frying pan over a medium heat, then fry the onion with a pinch of salt for a few minutes or until slightly softened.

Add the garlic, chilli, oregano and tomato purée and cook for another couple of minutes.

Turn the heat up high, then add the wine and leave until reduced by half, about 3-5 minutes.

Stir in the cherry tomatoes, orzo and stock, bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally for 5-7 minutes or until the orzo is almost tender.

Stir in the prawns and cook for 2-3 minutes or until cooked through. Season and scatter over the parsley and feta. Serve with lemon wedges for squeezing over.

(Original recipe from BBC Good Food)

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Brazilian Seafood Moqueca

Posted in Fish, Food, Gluten-free, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on 11 August 2025| Leave a Comment »

We don’t cook many Brazilian dishes but perhaps we should make more as this one was delicious! Serve with rice or crusty bread.

Wine Suggestion: we had to guess a bit with what to open with this, so chose a warmer climate white with some white flower amd stonefruit characters; dry but with softer fruitiness. So tonight the charming Dominio de Tares Godello La Sonrisa and it was a very pleasant match indeed.

Brazilian seafood moqueca – serves 4 to 6

  • 650g firm white fish fillets (we used hake)
  • 400g whole shell-on prawns (about 12)
  • 3 limes, zested to make 1 tsp, juiced to make 6 tbsp, plus a little extra lime zest to serve
  • 2 tsp sweet paprika
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 medium onions, diced
  • 4 fat garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 large red pepper, cut into strips
  • 1 large yellow pepper, cut into strips
  • 2 tsp coriander seeds, crushed
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 4 tbsp tomato purée
  • 400ml coconut milk
  • coriander, chopped, to garnish
  • red chilli, sliced, to garnish
  • white rice or crusty bread, to serve

Cut the fish fillets into chunky pieces and de-vein the prawns but leave the shells on (either use a very sharp knife or pointy scissors).

Mix the lime zest, 4 tbsp of the lime juice, 1 tsp of the paprika, 1 tsp of the cumin and 1 tsp of fine salt in a large bowl. Add the fish and prawns and toss gently to coat, then cover and leave aside for 15 minutes.

Heat the oil in a large deep pan and cook the onions for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, peppers and crushed coriander seeds and cook for another 5 minutes.

Add the turmeric, 1 tsp of paprika, 1 tsp of cumin, the tomato purée and a splash of water, then mix well to coat the onions. Add the coconut milk with 200ml of water, then simmer over a medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Add 1 tsp of fine salt.

Gently add the fish and prawns to the sauce along with any marinade. The seafood needs to be completely covered so add a little more water if needed. Cover with a lid and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until the seafood is cooked through.

Check the seasoning and add more salt if needed. Stir throught the rest of the lime juice and serve garnished with coriander and chilli.

(Original recipe by Gurdeep Loyal in Olive Magazine, May 2025.)

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Scallop Risotto with Brown Butter

Posted in Food, Italian, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , on 2 August 2025| Leave a Comment »

You get a much more generous helping of scallops when you cook them for yourself at home and they make a super fancy risotto.

Wine Suggestion: Keeping it Italian we went for the Murgo Etna Bianco, a blend of Carricante and Catarrato which had body, loads of salty, minerality and bags of freshness.

Scallop risotto with brown butter – serves 2

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 200g risotto rice
  • 175ml white wine
  • 500ml hot fish stock
  • 30g Parmesan, finely grated
  • 75g butter
  • 6 large or 12 small scallops (we had a few more than this)
  • a handful of chives, chopped
  • juice of half a lemon
  • a grating of nutmeg

Heat the oil in a deep frying pan and fry the shallot for 6 to 8 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic and fry for another minute, then stir in the rice. Toast for a few minutes and stir to coat the rice in the oil. Add the wine and let it bubble until almost all absorbed.

Add a ladle of the hot fish stock to the rice and stir until it has been absorbed. Keep going like this, adding a ladleful at a time until all the stock is used and the rice is creamy and tender. Season, then stir in the Parmesan and 25g of the butter. Remove from the heat and cover with a lid. It will rest while you cook the scallops.

Heat a frying pan over a high heat. Pat the scallops dry with kitchen pepper, then season and brush lightly with oil. Add the scallops to the hot frying pan and sear for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, depending on the size of your scallops. Remove the scallops to a plate and take the pan off the heat. Add the rest of the butter and stir until it is foaming and browned – it should smell nutty. Season with black pepper, the chives, lemon juice and nutmeg. Return the scallops to the pan and spoon the butter over them.

Give the rice a stir and divide between warm bowls. Place the scallops on top and pour over the brown butter.

(Original recipe by Anna Glover in Olive Magazine, July 2024.)

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Spanish Rice with Clams

Posted in Food, Shellfish, Spanish, tagged , , , , , , , , on 27 July 2025| Leave a Comment »

A summery seafood dish with deliciously sweet Irish clams.

Wine Suggestion: A Spanish dish with rice and clams … we just had to open an Albariño! Perrenially reliable, but especially good the last few years is Bodegas Castro Martin; vibrant, salty, and with a great balance of depth, weight and flavour.

Spanish rice and clams – serves 4

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 banana shallot, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tsp tomato purée
  • 300g Bomba rice or other short-grain rice
  • 750ml fresh fish stock
  • a handful of marjoram leaves
  • 500g clams, cleaned

Heat the oil in a shallow casserole or paella pan over a low heat. Add the shallot and cook for 5 minutes to soften. Add the garlic, bay and tomato purée and cook for a further minute.

Stir in the rice and increase the heat to medium-high. Toast the rice for a minute before adding the fish stock, marjoram and plenty of seasoning. Stir and cover, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 12 minutes until the rice is almost cooked and still soupy.

Add the clams, cover and cook for another 4 minute until the clams have opened (chuck any that stay closed), then serve.

(Original recipe from The Spanish Home Kitchen by José Pizarro, Hardie Grant, 2022.)

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Crab Canelones

Posted in Food, Pasta, Shellfish, Spanish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on 20 July 2025| Leave a Comment »

A beautiful Spanish pasta dish made with fantastic Lambay crab. The crab is a bit pricy but it’s worth it for this luxurious dish. Our fishmonger fortunately sells both prepared brown and white crab meat and also shellfish stock which makes this a tad easier.

Wine Suggestion: The richness of this dish demands a fuller-richer white and while this means that Chardonnay was our original thought, we wanted to keep it Spanish given the origin of the dish. Initially we thought a good white Rioja, like the Urbina Blanco Crianza (currently 2016 and 9 years old) which would have been excellent. Instead we stepped sideways and opened the Dominio de Tares Cepas Viejas Godello, an old-vine gem that is fermented in cask and aged on it’s lees to give richness and depth over a lemon, grapefruit and apple fruit flavours, a creamy texture and refined fresh structure.

Crab Canelones – serves 6

  • 45ml olive oil
  • 45g plain flour
  • 500ml fresh shellfish stock (or you could use chicken stock)
  • 300ml double cream
  • a good grating of nutmeg
  • 80g finely grated Manchego, plus extra for the top

FOR THE FILLING:

  • 60ml olive oil
  • 1 small shallot, finely chopped
  • 2 red chillies, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely sliced
  • 50g brown crab meat
  • 500g ripe tomatoes, diced
  • 150ml shellfish stock (or chicken stock)
  • 500g white crab meat
  • 15g tarragon, finely chopped
  • 250g dried cannelloni tubes

Make the bechamel first. Heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for a minute, then gradually add the stock, stirring continuously, until you have a smooth, thick sauce. Add the cream, nutmeg and cheese and season, then set aside.

Heat the olive oil for the filling in a separate saucepan over a very low heat. Add the shallot, chillies and garlic and cook over a very low heat for 15 minutes.

Increase the heat to medium high and add the brown crab meat and fry for 1 minute, then add the tomatoes and the stock. Season and cook for 15 minutes, then take off the heat and stir in the white crab meat and chopped tarragon.

Blanch the pasta tubes in boiling water for 3 minutes, then gently drain and cool under cold running water.

Fill each pasta tube with the crab mixture and fit them snugly into an ovenproof dish, then pour over the bechamel. Scatter over a little more grated cheese, then bake for about 30 minutes or until golden and bubbling. Serve with a green salad.

(Original recipe from The Spanish Home Kitchen by José Pizarro, Hardie Grant, 2022.)

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Prawns and Mangetout on the Barbecue

Posted in Barbecue, Food, Gluten-free, Prawns, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , on 26 June 2025| Leave a Comment »

This is an excellent barbecue starter. We have a number of Genevieve Taylor’s barbecue books and they are superb!

Wine Suggestion: You need a wine that loves shellfish, barbecues and salty cured meats which is a bit of a conundrum. The key is both a good amount of fruitiness alongside a minerally freshness; complimetary and contrasting characters. For tonight Pazo Señorans Albariño from Rias Baixas in north western Spain, you almost smell the salty sea air alongside crisp white peaches in the glass and so well structured on the palate. This wine ages superbly and luckily the winery also releases aged bottles so if you get the opportunity do try these too.

Prawns and mangetout on the barbecue – serves 4

  • 300g raw peeled prawns
  • 10 slices of prosciutto
  • 150g mangetout
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

FOR THE LEMONY MAYO:

  • 125g mayonnaise
  • zest of 1 lemon, and juice to taste
  • 10g chives

Pat the prawns dry with kitchen paper.

Cut each slice of prosciutto into 4 pieces. Wrap each prawn in a piece of prosciutto.

Thread a prawn onto a skewer, followed by a piece of mangetout, then another prawn. Keep going until everything is used up, then brush a little oil over each skewer and season with salt and pepper. Leave them in the fridge until ready to cook.

For the lemony mayo, spoon the mayonnaise into a small bowl and stir through the lemon zest and chives. Add lemon juice to taste (start with half the lemon) and season with salt and pepper. Chill until needed.

Get the barbecue going for hot direct grilling.

Cook the skewers for 1-2 minutes on each side until the ham is crispy and the prawns pink. Serve with the mayo.

(Original recipe from Scorched by Genevieve Taylor, Hardie Grant: Quadrille, 2024.)

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Summer Rolls

Posted in Food, Gluten-free, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on 23 June 2025| Leave a Comment »

Summer rolls – so simple but they look so impressive. Serve for lunch.

Summer rolls – makes 8

  • 35g rice vermicelli noodles
  • 16 chives
  • 8 sprigs of coriander
  • 1 carrot, cut into matchsticks
  • ¼ cucumber, deseeded and cut into matchsticks
  • 50g bean sprouts
  • ½ little gem lettuce, finely shredded
  • 125g cooked, peeled prawns, halved lengthways
  • 1-2 tbsp roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
  • 16 mint leaves
  • 8 rice paper wrappers

FOR THE CHILLI DIPPING SAUCE:

  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp freshly grated root ginger
  • 1 red bird’s eye chilli, thinly sliced
  • 1 clove of garlic, grated

Cook the noodles by bringing a pan of water to the boil. Drop in the noodles and take the pan off the heat. Leave the noodles to soak for 2 minutes, then drain and rinse under cold water. Drain well and set aside.

Mix all the chilli dipping sauce ingredients together with 2 tbsp of cold water and set aside.

Make sure you have all the filling ingredients prepped and to hand.

Dip a rice paper wrapper in a bowl of cold water and leave to soak for up to a minute, then transfer to a damp tea towel.

Add the filling ingredients as follows (making sure to leave a border around the edge so you can seal the roll): arrange two chives in a X in the middle, add a sprig of coriander, then some noodles, carrot, cucumber, bean sprouts, lettuce, prawns and peanuts (careful not to overfill). Top with a couple of mint leaves.

Fold the edge closest to you over the filling, tuck the sides over to enclose then ends, then roll away from you to seal. Set aside under a folded damp tea towel to stop them drying out while you make the rest. Repeat with the remaining rice papers. Serve with the dipping sauce.

(Original recipe from Rick Stein’s Food Stories, BBC Books, Penguin: Random House, 2024.)

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Linguine Vongole

Posted in Food, Italian, Pasta, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on 7 May 2025| Leave a Comment »

Linguine vongole – possibly the most perfect pasta dish. Lots of garlic and fresh salty clams – delicious!

Wine suggestion: working well with this dish is the under-rated grape from the south of Italy: Fiano. We’d highly recommend seeking it out as it has the beguiling fresh, almost crisp stonefruit character and some sort of citrus twist depending on where it comes from. While most is grown in Campagnia and the south of Italy it’s now being found successfully in Argentina and Australia, like Pikes “Luccio” from the Clare Valley … where the citrus twist is lime and delicious at that.

Linguine Vongole – serves 4

  • 1kg fresh clams
  • 400g linguine
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 6 cloves of garlic, sliced very thinly
  • 1 large red chilli, finely chopped
  • 100ml white wine
  • 30g unsalted butter
  • 20g flatleaf parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 large lemon

Put the clams in a sinkful of water with a decent handful of salt, then discard any that don’t close.

Bring a large pan of salty water to the boil and cook the pasta according to the timings on the pack.

Meanwhile, put the olive oil, garlic and chilli into another large pan, then turn on the heat and allow them to cook gently for a few minutes but without taking on any colour. When it smells really good, add the wine and cover the pan. Turn the heat up high and when the wine is steaming, add the clams. Clamp the lid back on and give the pan a shake, then leave for a few minutes.

Reserve a large mug of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and add it to the pot of cooked clams. Add a good splash of pasta water, the butter and parsley. Mix and toss well to make a sauce that coats the pasta. Squeeze in the juice from half the lemon and grate in some lemon zest. Mix again, then season if needed. Serve with a drizzle of your best olive oil.

(Original recipe from The Farm Table by Julius Roberts, Ebury Press, 2023.)

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Thai Spiced Mussels

Posted in Food, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , on 27 April 2025| Leave a Comment »

Mussels are a regular Friday night treat for us and this sauce with Thai spices and coconut milk is really delicious. As ever, you will need lots of crusty bread.

Wine Suggestion: We really like matching Thai curries with Riesling, especially if there’s a touch of residual sugar. Unusually for the Clare Valley (which is typically bone dry) Pikes Hills & Valleys Riesling has about 9 grams of residual sugar which makes this fruity, rather than sweet. We had a bottle a few years old which accentuated the lime and lifted aromas and made a wonderful match.

Thai spiced mussels – serves 2

  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 onion, peeled and finely sliced
  • 20g ginger, peeled and cut into matchsticks
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 2 tbsp red Thai curry paste
  • 1 tbsp tomato puree
  • 400ml tin coconut milk
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • 1 kg mussels, cleaned and debearded (chuck any that don’t close after a sharp tap)
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • a handful of Thai basil leaves
  • crusty bread, to serve

Heat the coconut oil in a large casserole or heavy saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onions and ginger and cook gently for 10 minutes. Add the turmeric and coriander and cook for another minute, then add the curry paste and tomato puree and cook for a minute more.

Add the coconut milk and brown sugar, bring to the boil, then turn the heat down to simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

Add the cleaned mussels, then turn up the heat, cover with a lid and cook for 5 minutes or until all the mussels have opened (chuck any that don’t open).

Stir the mussels through the sauce, then add the lime juice and tear in the Thai basil leaves. Serve with lots of crusty bread.

(Original recipe by Georgina Hayden in The Guardian, 11 Feb 2025)

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Pilaf with Prawns & Feta

Posted in Food, Gluten-free, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on 1 December 2024| Leave a Comment »

Prawns actually pair very well with feta, which is always a bit suprising to us. It’s nice to have a lighter dish amongst all the winter soups and stews.

Wine Suggestion: we think this suits a white grown somehwere around the Mediterranean, like tonight’s choice of the Hatzidakis Santorini Cuvée 15, a wonderfully fresh and complex Assyrtiko with honeysuckle and herbs on the nose followed by a textured, almost salty palate.

Prawn & feta pilaf – serves 4

  • 225g basmati rice
  • 15g unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, plus a bit extra to
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove of garlic, crushed
  • 275g tomatoes, deseeded and roughly chopped
  • a big bunch of dill, chopped
  • a big bunch of flat leaf parsley, leaves chopped
  • a handful of mint leaves, chopped
  • 400ml fish stock or light chicken stock
  • 350g raw prawns, shelled and deveined
  • juice of ½ lemon, plus lemon wedges to serve
  • 55g black kalamata olives, pitted and roughly chopped
  • 75g feta cheese, crumbled

Rince the rice in a sieve under cold running water until the water runs clear. Leave to soak for an hour if you have the time, then rinse again.

Heat the butter and 2 tbsp of olive oil in a saucepan and cook the onion until it starts to soften. Add the garlic and tomatoes and continue to cook, stirring now and then, until the onion is cooked and the tomatoes have softened. Stir in the rice and half the herbs, season well, then pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Boil hard until the rice starts to look pitted, with little holes in the service and it seems like the liquid has disapeared.

Wrap a clean tea towel around the lid of the pan and cover the pan. Reduce the heat to low and leave to cook for 20 minutes.

When the rice is almost ready, dry the prawns on kitchen paper and quickly sauté in a little olive oil over a high heat. Squeeze over the lemon juice and season with black pepper and salt.

When the rice is cooked, fork through the olives, remaining herbs and lemon juice with a good glug of your best extra virgin olive oil. Transfer to a serving platter, then scatter over the feta and mound the prawns on top. Drizzle again with olive oil and serve with lemon wedges.

(Original recipe from Crazy Water, Pickled Lemons by Diana Henry, Aster*, 2024.)

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Spicy Prawn Spaghetti

Posted in Food, Pasta, Prawns, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on 8 October 2024| Leave a Comment »

We’ve had mixed success with these all-in one pot pasta dishes with some working really well and others not quite! We were pleased with this one which worked out really well. Delicious sauce and lovely fresh flavours.

Spicy prawn spaghetti – serves 2

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 courgette, diced quice small, about 1cm pieces
  • 165g pack raw peeled prawns
  • zest and juice of ½ lemon, plus wedges to serve
  • 2 cloves of garlic, sliced
  • 1 tbsp harissa paste
  • ½ tbsp tomato purée
  • 2 tbsp vodka
  • 2 biggish tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • 600ml hot veg stock
  • 150g spaghetti
  • ½ tsp fine sea salt
  • 75g feta, crumbled
  • a handful of rocket, to serve

Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large sauté pan, then add the courgette and cook for a few minutes, until just starting to colour. Add the prawns and season lightly with salt and black pepper. Stir for a couple of minutes until the prawns are pink and just cooked. Squeeze in some lemon juice, then tip into a bowl and set aside.

Add another tbsp of oil to the pan and cook the garlic until it sizzles. Add the tomato purée and harissa and cook for 30 seconds, before adding the vodka, followed by the tomatoes. Pour in the stock and add the spaghetti, the salt and some black pepper. Bring the boil, mixing well. Cook at a brisk bubble, without a lid, for 15 minutes or until the pasta is al dente and is coated in the sauce. You can add extra water at any point if needed.

Tip the courgettes and prawns into the pan and toss until piping hot. Taste and add more lemon juice if you like. Serve in pasta bowls with the feta and lemon zest scattered over and a pile of rocket on top.

(Original recipe by Tasmin Burnett-Hall in Sainsburys Magazine, September 2024.)

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Garlic & Chilli Prawns on Puréed Butter Beans

Posted in Food, Gluten-free, Prawns, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on 29 September 2024| Leave a Comment »

This recipe comes from Rick Stein’s Simple Suppers and it is indeed a simple and easy recipe. Ready in minutes and deeply satisfying!

Wine Suggestion: the creamy beans need a buttery Chardonnay, and likewise this works with the prawns too. Pick you own style, or whatever is at hand. For us we were lucky to have Au Bon Climat’s Santa Barbara County Chardonnay which is Californian sunshine in a glass tempered by the cooling breezes and fogs of this part of the world. Full and deep, but fleet of foot and minerally fresh.

Garlic & chilli prawns on puréed butter beans – serves 2

FOR THE BUTTER BEAN PURÉE:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 clove of garlic, chopped
  • 400g tin of butter beans, drained
  • juice of ½ lemon

FOR THE PRAWNS:

  • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled
  • a handful of flatleaf parsley
  • 50ml olive oil
  • ¼ tsp chilli flakes
  • 225g peeled raw prawns

Heat the oil for the butterbeans in a pan and add the garlic. Cook for a minute, then add the butter beans and cook for 3-4 minutes or until warmed through. Add the lemon juice and a couple of tablespoons of water, then whizz in a blender or food processor. Return to the pan and keep warm, you might need to add a little more water if it’s too thick.

Chop the garlic and parsley for the prawns together to get a coarse paste. Pour the oil into a frying pan and when hot, add the chilli flakes and garlic mixture. Cook over a gently heat for a minute until sizzling, then increase the heat a little, add the prawns and stir-fry for a few minutes or until pink and cooked through.

Divide the purée between two warm bowls and spoon the prawns and garlicky oil over the top.

(Original recipe from Rick Stein’s Simple Suppers, BBC Books, 2023.)

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Barbecued Prawn & Avocado Cocktails

Posted in Barbecue, Food, Gluten-free, Prawns, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , on 1 September 2024| 2 Comments »

Smokey prawns really add something special to a standard prawn cocktail. A great summer starter.

Wine Suggestion: Something a little different: El Paisano de Tares which is from Bierzo in Spain. A wine made from a field blend of Red and White grapes: Mencia, Garnacha, Palomino Fino, Doña Blanca & Godello. Served slightly chilled, it’s like a sophisticated Rosé with an earthiness and smokey spice plus smooth tropical notes. A very traditional wine that we don’t see much any more so a big bravo to the guys at Domniio de Tares for championing this alongside their excellent single varietal Mencia and Godello’s.

Barbecued prawn & avocado cocktails – serves 4

  • 600g large raw tiger prawns, peeled but with tails left on
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 6 dashes of tabasco
  • juice of ½ lemon

FOR THE MARIE ROSE SAUCE:

  • 120ml mayonnaise
  • 60ml tomato ketchup
  • 1 tbsp brandy
  • 5 dashes of worcestershire sauce
  • 6 dashes of tabasco
  • juice of ½ lemon

FOR THE SALAD:

  • 1 small iceberg lettuce
  • 2 celery sticks, finely sliced
  • 1 ripe avocado

TO GARNISH:

  • 2 tbsp chopped chives
  • 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Put the prawns into a bowl with the olive oil, garlic, parsley, tabasco, lemon juice and some seasoning. Toss well and leave to marinate for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the marie rose sauce by mixing all of the ingredients together until smooth, then seasoning to taste. Cover and leave in the fridge.

Cut the lettuce into quarters and use the outer leaves to line 4 bowls. Thinly slice the rest of the lettuce and put it into a large bowl with the celery.

Cook the prawns over a hot barbecue for about 2-3 minutes on each side (depending how big they are). Transfer to a tray and leave to cool for a bit.

Add a couple of spoons of the marie rose sauce to the lettuce and celery, season and mix together.

Peel and cut the avocado into quarters. Divid the lettuce and celery between the bowls and spoon on a generous dollop of marie rose sauce. Pile the barbecued prawns on top and tuck in an avocado wedge. Finish with the chopped chives and lemon wedges.

(Original recipe from Tom Kerridge Outdoor Cooking, Bloomsbury Absolute, 2021.)

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Mussels on the Barbecue

Posted in Barbecue, Fish, Food, Gluten-free, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on 28 August 2024| 2 Comments »

We’ll cook anything on the barbecue and these mussels come highly recommended! Serve in the foil package with plenty of crusty bread.

Wine Suggestion: Muscadet all the way, but given you get a little more with the smokey barbecue flavours coming through we’d suggest one with a bit more oomph like Jérémy Huchet’s Clos les Montys which is grown on a very particular blue-green bedrock giving the wine depth and substance.

Mussels on the barbecue – serves 2

  • 50g softened butter
  • 2 cloves of garlic, finely sliced
  • 2 shallots, finely sliced
  • 1 kg mussels
  • 1 small pack parsley, roughly chopped
  • 125ml white wine
  • 100ml double cream
  • crusty bread, to serve

Mix the butter and garlic with a big pinch of salt.

Heat the barbecue until the coals are white. Lay a sheet of tin foil, about 60cm long on the work surface, then put another sheet the same size on to, then add a third sheet about 30cm long acorss the middle to form a cross shape. Spread the shallots in the middle of the foil, pile the mussels on top, dot the garlic butter all over, then scatter over half the parsley. Season, then fold the foil in at the sides to create a bowl.

Pour the wine into the foil bowl and then seal it securely by scrunching the foil together at the top. If you need an extra sheet of foil to encase the whole parcel at this stage then do so.

Carefully place the parcel on the barbecue coals and cook for 10 minutes. Carefully open the parcel and check the mussels have opened. Pour in the cream, then cover the barbecue with a lid to cook for a few more minutes.

Sprinkle with the remaining parsley and serve with crusty bread.

(Original recipe from BBC Good Food)

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Clams with Fino Sherry and Serrano ham

Posted in Food, Gluten-free, Shellfish, Spanish, tagged , , , , , , , , , on 20 August 2024| Leave a Comment »

We sometimes find clams hard to find, but can’t resist them when we do. Here they’re cooked with dry sherry and salty serrano ham – a super combination.

Wine Suggestion: we were tempted to have a glass of the Fino sherry with this and weren’t disappointed. Fino and it’s alter ego Manzanilla have a purity and focus that suit this dish while retaining that classic umami saltiness that the clams and serrano also bring. A taste of the Altantic coast in southern Spain.

Clams with fino sherry and serrano ham – serves 4 as a light dish

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ½  onion, very finely chopped
  • 500g clams, rinsed well and discard any open ones that won’t close when sharply tapped
  • 50g serrano ham
  • 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
  • 100ml fino sherry
  • a handful of flatleaf parsley, roughly chopped

Heat the oil in a medium pan with a lid and cook the onion for about 5 minutes to soften. Add the ham and garlic and cook for another minute.

Add the clams to the pan with the sherry and bring to the boil, cover and cook for 4-5 minutes or until the clams have opened (chuck any that don’t open). Serve immediately with the parsley.

(Original recipe from BBC Good Food)

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Spicy Prawn Rice

Posted in Food, Gluten-free, Prawns, Shellfish, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on 16 April 2024| Leave a Comment »

This is almost like a biryani but with gentle Iranian spices and it makes a great centre piece. You can serve with yoghurt if you like and we missed a side of greens or salad.

Wine Suggestion: This suits a rich and broad white like Domaine Manciat-Poncet’s Pouilly-Vinzelles. With a lovely mix of stonefruit flavours and grapefruit this has a zip as well as the breadth that compliments the prawns as opposed to fighting or overwhelming them.

Spicy prawn rice – serves 6

  • 500g basmati rice
  • 6 fat cloves of garlic
  • 7cm piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 heaped tsp ground fenugreek leaves
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp dried chilli flakes
  • 600g large peeled prawns
  • 60g butter

Bring a large pot of water to the boil and add a big handful of crumbled sea salt. Boil the rice for 6-8 minutes or until the grains are bright white and slightly elongated. They should be just starting to soften.

Drain the rice and rinse under cold water for a couple of minutes, until cool.

Line the bottom of the rice pot with some nonstick baking paper and set aside.

Put a large frying pan over a medium heat. Drizzle in a generous amount of olive oil (or vegetable oil) and fry the garlic for 30 seconds, then add the grated ginger, ground ginger, cumin, fenugreek and chilli flakes, and stir. Add the prawns and cook for under a minute, or until just starting to turn pink, then remove the pan from the heat and season generously with salt and pepper.

Put the paper-lined pot back over the heat and pour in a generous drizzle of olive oil and the butter. Sprinkle in some sea salt, then scatter in enough rice to cover the base of the pan.

Layer the prawn mixture and rice into the pan, finishing with a thin layer of rice. Use the long handle of a wooden spoon to poke about 5 holes into the rice, right down to the base of the pan.

Wrap the lid of the pan in a tea towel, then cover the pan and cook over the lowest temperature for about 40 mintues.

Check the rice is cooked, then remove it from the pan. If you’re brave you can place a platter over the pan and flip the rice out onto it. Scrape out any crispy tahdig (the crispy rice on the base) from the bottom of the pan and serve on top of the rice.

(Original recipe from Persiana by Sabrina Ghayour, Mitchelle Beazley, 2014.)

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