Chicken, Apricot and Lentil Stew

I love Middle Eastern food. You can spice this one up to taste.

2 chicken breasts, diced
1/2 c dried apricots, quartered
1 can lentils
1 onion, chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
ginger
3 c chicken broth
oregano
allspice
paprika
cardamon
couscous
olive oil

Saute onion in oil, then add garlic and ginger. Add chicken and brown. Mix in spices. Toss in lentilsm, apricots, and chicken broth. Cook until chicken is tender - about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring water and oil to boil, then add couscous. Cook for 2 minutes then remove from heat and leave for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Serve chicken stew over couscous.

Kefta Bil Tahini

I really think there is nothing better than Middle Eastern food (aside from Mexican). I've replaced the potatoes in this recipe with beans (a 4 bean mix, to be precise, as I had no potatoes on hand).

1/2 kg lamb mince
1 large onion (1/2 diced, 1/2 sliced)
breadcrumbs (I used italian and omitted spices below)
1 egg
spices

Mix above (only diced onions) together and form into patties, then brown under grill.

3 tbspn tahini
water
lemon juice
ground pepper
garlic powder
potatoes, slice thinly

Place potatoes and sliced onions in bottom of casserole dish. Place kefta on top, then pour tahini mix over. Cook in 180C oven for 30 minutes. (If using beans instead of potatoes, serve over rice.)

Turkey & Curry Stew

This is made with curry powder so not a true curry but more of a chili.

1/g kg ground turkey
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can chick peas
1 large onion, diced
curry powder
ground pepper
olive oil
yogurt

Saute onions in oil, then add turkey and brown. Add curry powder and pepper and simmer for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and chick peas and simmer for 15 minutes. Mix in yogurt and simmer (do not allow to boil) for 5 minutes. Serve alone or over rice.

Lamb Shanks in the Crockpot

Adapted from a Master Chef recipe - some of the same ingredients, different method of cooking

4 lamb shanks
thyme
ground pepper
5 beads mastic
lemon juice
1 c white wine
1 c chicken stock
honey
plain yogurt

Place lamb shanks in crock pot. Sprinkle with ground pepper and thyme, sprinkle with lemon juice, and pour in white wine, then chicken stock. Smear yogurt on lamb, then drizzle honey over. Place beads of mastic on top of lamb. Cook on low for 7 hours.

Fish & Potato Chowder

As I couldn't stomach the thought of coming home on a cold winter's night and having boring old whiting and potatoes, I decided to try a chowder.

2 fillets fish (could also use a seafood marinara mix)
2 large potatoes, diced
veg (I used 1/2 cup each of frozen peas & corn, defrosted)
1 large onion, sliced
butter
white wine
stock (approx 2 cups, weak)

Melt butter in pot and saute onions, then add chopped potatoes and wine. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes, then add stock and bring to boil. Reduce to simmer and cook until potatoes are almost tender. Add fish and vegetables, simmer until fish is cooked through. Remove 1/2 of soup from pot and put into food processor or blender. Blend well and return to pot. Serve with some nice warm bread.