James Martin Hotpot Food

BEEF HOTPOT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas 3.
• Season the beef with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat a large casserole dish until very hot then add the oil and a small knob of butter. Fry the beef until browned all over, then remove from the pan and set aside. (You may need to do this in batches.)
• Add the onions and another knob of butter to the pan and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the carrots and cook for a further minute.
• Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Then gradually add the red wine, stirring until smooth. Add the browned beef back to the pan with the stock, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and bring to the boil. Stir in the fresh thyme, then arrange the potatoes on top. Dot the surface with the remaining butter.
• Cover with a lid and cook in the oven for one hour or until the potatoes are crisp and golden brown on top.
• Remove the lid and increase the heat to 200C/400F/Gas 6 for 30 minutes. Serve the hotpot with buttered boiled greens and the remaining red wine.

RATATOUILLE HOTPOT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a shallow flameproof casserole dish or pan. Add the onions and cook for 2 mins, then tip in the garlic, peppers, courgettes and aubergine. Cook over a medium heat for 10 mins (adding a splash of water if the dish looks dry), until the vegetables are soft.
• Stir in the tomatoes and 4 tbsp water. Season well. Cover and leave to bubble gently for 15 mins. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Meanwhile, tip the potato slices into a bowl. Season with salt, pepper and the nutmeg, then pour over the cream. Toss everything to coat. Remove the casserole dish from the heat and stir in the basil. Lay the potato slices on top of the ratatouille, creating a spiral pattern, then pour over any remaining cream. Place in the oven, uncovered, for 40 mins.
• Remove from the oven and increase heat to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Scatter over the cheese and bake for a further 20 mins until golden and bubbling. Serve with salad, if you like.

LANCASHIRE HOTPOT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3.
• Heat a little of the 100g dripping or butter in a large shallow casserole dish and brown 900g stewing lamb chunks in batches, lift to a plate, then repeat with 3 trimmed and sliced lamb kidneys.
• Fry 2 chopped onions and 4 peeled and sliced carrots in the pan with a little more dripping until golden.
• Sprinkle over 25g plain flour, allow to cook for a couple of mins, shake over 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, pour in 500ml lamb or chicken stock, then bring to the boil.
• Stir in the stewing lamb and kidneys and 2 bay leaves, then turn off the heat.
• Arrange 900g peeled and sliced potatoes on top of the meat, then drizzle with a little more dripping.
• Cover, then place in the oven for about 1½ hrs until the potatoes are cooked.
• Remove the lid, brush the potatoes with a little more dripping, then turn the oven up to brown the potatoes, or finish under the grill for 5-8 mins until brown.

EASY BEEF HOTPOT

Steps:

• Cut each onion into eight wedges. Roughly chop the carrots and cut the potatoes into large chunks. Put the kettle on.
• Heat a large non-stick pan, add the mince and fry quickly, stirring all the time, until evenly browned. Crumble in the stock cubes and mix well. Add the prepared vegetables, stir them around, then pour in 900ml/1½ pints of hot water from the kettle. Bring to the boil.
• Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes, until the veg are tender. Stir in the baked beans and a generous splash of Worcestershire sauce and heat through. Taste and add salt and pepper if necessary.
• Scatter over the parsley, then ladle the hotpot into bowls. Put the Worcestershire sauce bottle on the table in case anyone fancies a bit more spice.