I don't remember what it was I was reading last week that made decide to buy turkey mince when I was doing the food shop on Tuesday (it had become urgent I was out of milk, tea bags and needed loo roll for the first time since lockdown started - the essentials) but something did and I came home with the essentials plus turkey mince and a reduced price coriander plant.
So the question then was what to do with it? I've not had a great couple of weeks - furlough is wearing, I'm not great at self-motivation and everything has become tedious, add to that the world going to hell in a handcart and I needed a distraction. Even food had got a bit boring so I decided to make food that needs some preparation because when you have time to spare the only excuse is inertia and I do like food.
So first I made cinnamon and raisin bagels using yeast from Hannah and a recipe from the Daily Mail (sorry but it worked perfectly so...) and no turkey.
Secondly I made Melinda's fennel and spinach flatbreads from a week or so ago https://confinedkitchen.blogspot.com/2020/05/time-to-knead.html I had half of them, with a tomato and avocado yogurt salad, eaten hot standing in the kitchen while cooking the rest as I was too impatient! These are very good - be brave and let them cook hot and start to blister!
(I had more flatbreads for breakfast with bacon and eggs - I strongly recommend this)
The last of these were destined to became the accompaniment for the turkey which I made in to burgers/patties/flatten meatballs inspired by a number of recipes from the internet but essentially made up at the time.
So take some turkey mince - I used 7% fat mince because it's so much cheaper than the 2% stuff and doesn't dry out. Put it in a bowl (mine was too small - lockdown had taught me I need at least one additional mixing bowl) then add garlic - chopped a bit, two cloves, a smallish courgette and a red onion, grated - I used the food processor which is messy and a faff but saves fingers and eyes, some chopped coriander from that supermarket bargain, and spices - I used ground cumin, ground coriander, garam marsala, and hot chilli powder, heavy on the cumin slightly less of the rest and only enough chilli to taste. Mix it all together well - this is where it was obvious the bowl was a bit small - and I decided it didn't smell spiced enough so I added some medium curry powder because why not.
Leave to sit for a bit to let the flavour develop while you make a salad for the side, heat the oven for yesterday's flatbreads to reheat, hang out laundry etc. Then make into patties - I made eight but it all depends what size you want them to be - I took a hand full, made a ball and flatten roughly.
Then cook them. I fried them in a reasonably hot, non-stick frying pan with a bit of oil - they would probably cook fine in the oven and you could try bbq-ing them though they might fall apart a bit.
I've got half leftover in the fridge for dinner tonight but first I'm meeting family for a socially distanced trip to Waddesdon and a chilly British byo picnic. Mixed emotions but it'll be good to see them for the first time in three months.
So the question then was what to do with it? I've not had a great couple of weeks - furlough is wearing, I'm not great at self-motivation and everything has become tedious, add to that the world going to hell in a handcart and I needed a distraction. Even food had got a bit boring so I decided to make food that needs some preparation because when you have time to spare the only excuse is inertia and I do like food.
So first I made cinnamon and raisin bagels using yeast from Hannah and a recipe from the Daily Mail (sorry but it worked perfectly so...) and no turkey.Secondly I made Melinda's fennel and spinach flatbreads from a week or so ago https://confinedkitchen.blogspot.com/2020/05/time-to-knead.html I had half of them, with a tomato and avocado yogurt salad, eaten hot standing in the kitchen while cooking the rest as I was too impatient! These are very good - be brave and let them cook hot and start to blister!
(I had more flatbreads for breakfast with bacon and eggs - I strongly recommend this)
The last of these were destined to became the accompaniment for the turkey which I made in to burgers/patties/flatten meatballs inspired by a number of recipes from the internet but essentially made up at the time.
So take some turkey mince - I used 7% fat mince because it's so much cheaper than the 2% stuff and doesn't dry out. Put it in a bowl (mine was too small - lockdown had taught me I need at least one additional mixing bowl) then add garlic - chopped a bit, two cloves, a smallish courgette and a red onion, grated - I used the food processor which is messy and a faff but saves fingers and eyes, some chopped coriander from that supermarket bargain, and spices - I used ground cumin, ground coriander, garam marsala, and hot chilli powder, heavy on the cumin slightly less of the rest and only enough chilli to taste. Mix it all together well - this is where it was obvious the bowl was a bit small - and I decided it didn't smell spiced enough so I added some medium curry powder because why not.Leave to sit for a bit to let the flavour develop while you make a salad for the side, heat the oven for yesterday's flatbreads to reheat, hang out laundry etc. Then make into patties - I made eight but it all depends what size you want them to be - I took a hand full, made a ball and flatten roughly.
Then cook them. I fried them in a reasonably hot, non-stick frying pan with a bit of oil - they would probably cook fine in the oven and you could try bbq-ing them though they might fall apart a bit.
I've got half leftover in the fridge for dinner tonight but first I'm meeting family for a socially distanced trip to Waddesdon and a chilly British byo picnic. Mixed emotions but it'll be good to see them for the first time in three months.
Oh now I want to try those flatbread for breakfast. That sounds like a cracking plan.
ReplyDeleteAnd those turkey meatballs do too. They sound quite like my fave ones (though mine have an egg in for extra stability, which is cheating!). I am with you on the mince, too; the lean stuff is really dry. Good plans for tasty food, and I hope it's helped pass the time cheerfully. Have a good picnic, however weird it's going to feel.
The sun came out, the rain held off mostly and after an hour my two year old nephew decided Catherine wasn't actually that scary (he's not seen me for three months, poor monkey is confused) and despite the lack of hugs there were definitely more positives than weirdnesses.
DeleteAnd yes to these flatbreads for breakfast they were awesome - next time I might need to add chilli jam
with thanks to my friend who introduced me to bacon naan for breakfast!