FORMER Bake Off star Liam Charles has just published his second cookbook Second Helpings packed with comfort food, generous sharing meals, lighter salads, soups and juices and, of course, loads of pudding - yet almost always with a creative twist.
HOW TO MAKE LIAM CHARLES' NO CHURN-BUT-FIRM KEY LIME PIE ICE CREAM
Think you need a machine to make ice cream? Nope.
All you need for this recipe is a loaf tin.
Ingredients
(Serves 8)
90g white chocolate, chopped
800ml double cream
500g condensed milk
Grated zest of 4 limes and juice of 3
300g lime curd
200g ginger biscuits, crushed
To finish:
100g ginger biscuits, roughly broken
50g white chocolate, melted
Grated zest of 1 lime
Method
1. Melt the white chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water (making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water) or in a microwave in 20-second bursts. Let it cool.
2. Whisk the double cream and condensed milk in a bowl until the mixture forms soft peaks. Fold through the melted chocolate, the lime zest and lime juice gently with a metal spoon until well combined.
3. Pour half of the cream mixture into the loaf tin and dot half of the lime curd on top. Using a skewer or spoon, swirl the curd through the cream so it is rippled with streaks of curd, then sprinkle half the crushed ginger biscuits over the mixture. Top with the remaining cream mixture, ripple through the remaining curd, then top with the rest of the crushed ginger biscuits.
4. Cover with cling film and freeze for at least seven hours, or ideally overnight.
5. Once you're ready to serve, place the roughly broken ginger biscuits on top, squiggle with melted white chocolate and sprinkle over the lime zest.
HOW TO MAKE LIAM CHARLES' CAULIFLOWER SHOW SALAD
Take your salads into autumn with this hearty recipe.
Ingredients
(Serves 4)
For the blue cheese dressing:
100g mayo
100g soured cream
100ml buttermilk
140g blue cheese, crumbled
2tsp fresh lemon juice
1tsp garlic granules
For the nugget sauce:
130g gochujang (red chilli paste)
65ml dark soy sauce
3tbsp runny honey
3tbsp water
For the cauliflower nuggets:
Sunflower oil, for deep-frying
180g plain flour
1tsp fine sea salt
1tsp cracked black pepper
1/2tsp cayenne pepper
1/2tsp smoked paprika
2 large eggs
1 large cauliflower head, cut into nugget-sized florets
3tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
3tbsp chopped chives
For the salad:
4 bunches of romaine lettuce, chopped
4 carrots, julienned
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
150g walnuts, toasted
Method
1.Blue cheese dressing: Put the mayo, soured cream, buttermilk and 100g of the blue cheese in the bowl of a food-processor or in a blender, add the lemon juice and garlic and blitz until smooth. Transfer to a squeezy bottle or bowl and chill.
2. The nuggets: Combine all the ingredients for the nugget sauce in a saucepan, place over a low heat and heat until it starts to simmer. Remove from the heat and keep warm.
3. Pour sunflower oil in the deep-fat fryer up to the safety markers and heat to 170°C. If you don't have a deep-fat fryer, use a large saucepan (filling the pan by no more than two-thirds) and a food thermometer instead. (If you don't have a thermometer, chuck a piece of cauliflower into the oil and if it bubbles and floats, the oil's ready.)
4. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, salt, pepper, cayenne and smoked paprika together, and in another bowl whisk the eggs. Dip some cauliflower florets into the eggs, then toss them in the flour mixture until well coated. Place on a plate and repeat with the rest of the cauliflower. Line a large tray with kitchen paper.
5. Deep-frying: Working in batches, fry the cauliflower nuggets in the hot oil for about seven minutes, until golden brown. Remove the nuggets using a slotted spoon and put them on the paper-lined tray.
6: Toss: Transfer the cauliflower nuggets to a large bowl, pour the nugget sauce over them, toss until well coated, then sprinkle with the sesame seeds and chives.
7. Salad assembly: Combine all the salad ingredients in a large bowl, give everything a good mix, then set aside until ready to serve.
8. Assemble: Place the salad on a serving dish, top the salad with the cauliflower nuggets and a generous squiggle of blue cheese dressing, then sprinkle over the remaining crumbled blue cheese.
HOW TO MAKE LIAM CHARLES' SEA DOGS
A fishy version of a classic.
Ingredients
(Serves 4)
For the crabby patties:
240g white crab meat
4 spring onions, trimmed and finely chopped
30g fresh coriander, leaves finely chopped
2tbsp sesame seeds
100g fresh breadcrumbs
2 large egg yolks
Plain flour, for dusting
2tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil
Fine sea salt, to taste
Cracked black pepper, to taste
For the prawns:
150g raw king prawns
2tbsp vegetable oil
1tsp chilli powder
1tsp smoked paprika
1tsp garlic granules
1tsp ground cumin
1tsp dried mixed herbs
1/2tsp freshly ground black pepper
For the lime jalapeno mayo
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
6tbsp mayo
Grated zest of 1 lime
Grated zest and juice of 1 unwaxed lemon
To serve:
4 large hot dog buns, split in half lengthways and lightly toasted
1/2 ripe mango, peeled and thinly sliced
Lime wedges, for squeezing
Method
1. Crabby patties: Bung the crab, spring onions and half the coriander into a large bowl. Lightly toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat, then tip them into the bowl of crab. Add the breadcrumbs along with the egg yolks, season with salt and pepper, and give it a light mix. Shape the mixture into 12 patties, pop them on a plate and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
2. Time to fry: Mix the prawns in a bowl with the oil and spices and set aside for 10 minutes. Heat a frying pan over a medium heat, add the prawns and fry until they become pink and are cooked through, then remove them from the pan.
3. Lightly dust your crab patties with flour, place the frying pan back over the heat, add the oil then add half the patties and fry them gently over a medium-low heat for three to four minutes on each side until golden. Transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper to absorb excess oil, then fry the remaining patties.
5. Mayo: Mix the jalapeno with the mayo, lime and lemon in a bowl and set to one side.
6. Assemble: Spread each bun with some jalapeno mayo followed by a couple of slices of mango, three crab patties, then some of the prawns. Drizzle over more of the jalapeno mayo and top with the remaining prawns. Sprinkle with the rest of the coriander and finish off with a cheeky squeeze of lime.
* Second Helpings: 70 Wicked Recipes That Will Leave You Wanting More by Liam Charles is published by Hodder & Stoughton, priced £22. Available now.
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