Tag: Great Name

Moors and Christians

I love food that has an evocative/unusual name so as soon as I saw a recipe for something called Moors and Christians in the Caribbean chapter of Good Housekeeping’s World Cookery (1972), I knew it was something I wanted to cook.  Moors and Christians 2

This dish which is a mix of black beans and rice comes from Cuba and looks back to the time of conflict between the Moors and Christians in Spain.  It represents the end of this conflict and how two different cultures can live side by side in harmony.  Which is a heartwarming story for a lovely spot of comfort food!  

Moors and Christians was a great side dish to a very non-Cuban lamb and potato curry we were having that night for dinner.  I  could also see myself just eating it with a little pico de gallo-style salad.  Or mixed some pulled beef or chicken as a burrito filling!  

Moors and Christians

 

Moors and Christians – The Recipe

Moors and Christians recipe

 

 

This looks to be a very simple version of Moors and Christians.  There are some more elaborate versions on the internet if you want something more fancy!0 

I was also fascinated to see that my dish which I cooked without a picture reference was a lot paler than most of the other dishes.  I think this might be because I cheated a little bit and used canned black beans.  

Travel Aspirations

I am fairly sure that Moors and Christians is the first Cuban-inspired food I have eaten.  And reflecting on it reawakened a long-held desire of mine to travel there.  I first got the urge after watching The Beuna Vista Social Club many years ago.  The music, the dancing, the culture really spoke to me!  Now that we can travel again, I guess I better start saving!  

Havana here I come!

Have a great week! 

Use By: Roast Vegetable Bubble and Squeak

What can you do with a load of leftover roast veggies?  Make one of the best-named dishes ever – Bubble and Squeak!  Bubble and Squeak is a British recipe which is traditionally made from the leftovers from the traditional Sunday roast.  It is supposedly called Bubble and Squeak due to the noises made during the cooking process.  I think this last bit may be apocryphal.  My Bubble and Squeak neither bubbled or squeaked.  It was totally delicious though!

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So what’s it all about Alfie?  Given the Britishness of this dish, feel free to use your best Michael Caine cockney voice as you read that too!

Well, get your leftovers – I had some Ottlolenghi Harissa Potatoes and some Brussels Sprouts. You can use pretty much whatever veg you have as long as you have one that can be mashed up.  Mashed potato will also work a treat in this.

 

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Mash up your veggies and add a beaten egg.  The rest is up to you. Add some of your chopped up leftover roast if you like, throw in some herbs or some cheese.  Add some chill or a dollop of mustard.  Be as fancy or as simple as you like.  I kept these pretty simple, just the veggies and egg because the potatoes already had some harissa and spice seasoning.

When you are ready, pan fry your Bubble and Squeaks  to make delicious patties.  These are delicious as a side dish, make a great vegetarian burger patty or are good just by themselves.

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Topped Bubble and Squeak

My favourite way to eat Bubble and Squeak is to pan-fry the little cakes until they are all crispy and brown on the outside and then top them with all sorts of delish things.  These are one of my go-to’s for lunch (or breakfast) when I am working from home.

Breakfast Bubbles

No, I’m not talking about champagne although, having just come back from Europe where a glass of sparkling is de rigueur with your brekkie I’m totally on board with bubbles in the AM.  Hmm…if you had some sparkling wine with your breakfast Bubble and Sqeak I guess that’s double bubble!

Bubble and Squeak with an egg makes a for a super breakfast.  You could pan fry some bacon as you heat the bubble and squeak if you wanted to have some meat but I like to have mine just with egg.  Grilled cheese on top of your B&S is another delicious breakfast option.

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Lunchtime Squeaks

Come lunchtime, I like to top my Bubble and Squeak with some chilli labneh and pickled red cabbage or hummus and tomato salsa as per the top picture.

I love the combination of the crispy roast veggies, the creaminess of the yoghurt and the bite of pickle!

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Bubble and Squeak can become quite addictive and now I routinely cook extra veg just so I can have them over the next few days!

Here’s a recipe but feel free to experiment as you wish with herbs, condiments etc.  My version does not include cheese in the mix but, if you were going to add it, you could play around with different types.  Having said that, now I desperately want to have Bubble and Squeak with some blue cheese crumbled through it!!!

Tell me, what is your favourite way of using up roasted veg?

Have a great week!