On Saturday I was at Leith’s School of Food and Wine in London, taking Jo Pratt’s Flexible Vegetarian course, a celebration of Jo’s new cookbook ‘The Flexible Vegetarian: Flexitarian Recipes to Cook with or Without Meat and Fish.’

 

Jo Pratt is an acclaimed writer, cook, food stylist and presenter.  She is a best-selling author of six cookbooks including ‘In the Mood for Food,’ and ‘In the Mood for Healthy Food.’

When she’s not writing books you’ll find Jo presenting recipes online, on TV, in your favourite food magazines, and on stage performing live cookery demonstrations and workshops/cookery classes.

Jo’s recently taken an exciting move into the restaurant world, collaborating with chef’s Sophie Michell, Gee Charman and Caroline Artiss, to launch ‘The Gorgeous Kitchen’, a contemporary restaurant specialising in beautiful global cuisine made with British grown produce at Heathrow Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal.

Course Menu

1. Creamy mushroom, leek and chestnut pie.
2. Malaysian squash and courgette redang.
3. Chinese Potstickers with spicy dipping sauce.

With Jo’s permission I am able to share my favourite recipe from her course.

Malaysian Squash and Courgette rendang.

An authentic rich and creamy Malaysian curry, which you can also add a handful of prawns or chicken to if you are not a vegetarian.

Butternut squash is low in calories and a great source of vitamin s A, C, D and B6 aswell as iron, fibre, potassium and sodium.

Red split lentils are also low in calories, a fantastic source of protein and fibre for vegetarians.

Spiced with lemongrass, ginger, galangal and coconut based this curry is a great Autumnal dish to see you into winter.

Ingredients:

Spice Paste:

4 shallots, peeled and roughly chopped

4 cloves garlic, peeled

1 lemongrass stalk, roughly chopped

2cm piece ginger, peeled and roughly chopped

2cm piece galangal, peeled and roughly chopped

1 tsp turmeric

2 long red chillies, roughly chopped

1 tbsp tamarind paste

1 tbsp sunflower oil

1 tsp flaked sea salt

For the curry

8-10 cardamon pods, crushed

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 tsp whole cloves

3lime leaves, torn into 4

1/2 medium butternut squash peeled and cut into 2-3 chunks

1 medium red peper, deseeded and cut into 2-3 chunks

1 medium red pepper, deseeded and cut into 2-3cm chunks

150g red split lentils

400ml coconut milk

400ml vegetable stock

2 small-medium courgettes cut into 2-3cm chunks

150g red split lentils

1tsp flaked sea salt

handful coconut flakes

1 tbsp agave or maple syrup

lime wedges to serve

Preparation Method:

1. To make the spice paste, put all the ingredients into a food processor or blender and blitz to form a smooth paste.  Set aside or keep covered in the fridge for up to 1 week.
2. Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan.  Add the paste and fry for a minute or so.  Add the cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cloves and lime leaves.  Fry for a further minute then add the butternut squash, red pepper and lentils.  Stir around to coat in the paste then pour over the coconut milk and stock.  Bring to a simmer, cover with a lid and cook for 10 minutes.  Stir occasionally making sure the lentils don’t catch on the bottom of the pan/wok.
3. Meanwhile, heat a small frying pan over a medium heat.  Add the coconut flakes and maple syrup, and toss around in the pan for a couple of minutes until golden and crisp.  Remove from the heat.
4. Stir the courgette into the curry.  Return to the simmer and continue to cook, with the lid off for a further 10 m minutes,  Season with salt to taste.
5. Serve the curry in bowls and scatter over the coconut.  Serve with lime to squeeze over.

See Leith’s school of food and wine’s website to book a course with Jo.

 

Emma xxx