We recently celebrated Halloween at the allotment with some cool rain (most fitting to conclude the season) but some sustaining warm fare. Despite the weather we cosied up round the wood burner in the community hut. There were two sorts of hotpot - the obligatory for this part of the world Scouse, as well as a delicious vegetarian hotpot, ensuring that everybody was catered for. This was washed down with copious amounts of tea or coffee and a desert of a chunky slab of parkin - mmmmmmm! As we have been trying to eat less meat this year I've since cooked the vegetarian hotpot a couple of times at home. Here is the recipe ~
Winter Veggie Hotpot
Oil
A few garlic cloves crushed
A chopped onion
Any winter vegetables (except for swede which is too strong) parsnip, turnip, sweet potato, carrots, squash etc chopped into bite size pieces.
½ tsp ground cinnamon,1 tsp cumin seeds, ½ tsp ground ginger
1 tin chickpeas
1 tin chopped tomatoes
A handful of prunes
A handful of raisins
A glug of tomato ketchup
Water/stock
Salt and pepper to taste
Fry onion & garlic for a few seconds, add chopped up vegetables, fry, add spices, fry, add chickpeas, tomatoes, prunes, raisins, ketchup, salt and pepper, water/stock to cover, bring to boil, simmer until the vegetables are just cooked (20 mins approx)
Serve with cous cous, garlic bread or potatoes.
This is the recipe as it was given to me so I had to work amounts to suit the two off us. I have since cooked a couple of times making some minor adjustments. I'm not that partial to cumin so reduced the amount to just ½ teaspoon. I included a couple of sticks of celery and the second time I tried it I used red kidney beans instead of chick peas. I like these sorts of recipes as you can fine tune according to your own taste, what you have a glut of or to accommodate left - overs. I also found that it took longer than twenty minutes to cook, as I made enough to do us for lunch the following day. It's reasonably cheap to make as well as being nutritious and I think that we will be eating variations on this theme regularly over the coming months.
That looks lovely, I'm going to have to try it :-)
ReplyDeleteHope that it goes down well Su :)
DeleteIt looks delicious, though my lot wouldn't be happy unless there was meat in it. The great thing about hotpots and stews is that you can vary the ingredients and amounts according to what you have available.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo - himself likes his meat too but has been more than happy to eat this.
DeleteLooks great - versatile recipes get my thumbs up. I think I'll try making this with the spuds sliced thinly on top to make a one pot meal :)
ReplyDeleteGood thinking VP - one pot meals get my vote every time :)
DeleteI'd try sliced dried apricots, or peaches - instead of the raisins and ketchup. Going to try a version of this ... and I love cumin seeds!
ReplyDeleteOh yes I can imagine apricots mixing in well Diana - thanks for the suggestion. Have never tasted dried peach so will have to seek some out.
DeleteThat sounds a very yummy recipe and would suit us fine, maybe leftovers could be whizzed up for soup the next day - will certainly try this one. thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Pauline. Hope that you give it a whirl sometime - certainly makes a good hearty soup the next day.
DeleteWhat a perfect "Empty the fridge" delicious meal, I too like things you can customise according to taste and what is available. Like you we are trying to eat less meat, and I find bunging extra veg and canellini beans or chick peas into a curry makes it go further and it still tastes great. Will be even better when I am cooking up my own produce...
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