UIST LADY’S RECIPES
I’ve started this little collection of recipes which I’ve created from local produce. We’re blessed here with access to fresh and smoked fish, shellfish, tasty lamb, mutton, venison and beef.
Many people grow fruit and veg too, and sell it at local markets. Potatoes are commonly grown on the machair, fertilised with seaweed and if you can find any better tasting spuds in the world, I’ll eat my hat.
Mr Mac and I will be trying to grow some veg in barrels this year, hoping this might beat the bunnies.
Please feel free to add your own recipes by email, or by using the comments box. I’d love to hear from you. And I must try and remember to take pics of my dishes before they disappear!
Linguine with smoked scallops (for two quite greedy people)
Cover a large shallow pan generously with olive oil. (Well, you like your pasta moist don’t you?)
Gently sizzle in it :
Fresh garlic to taste
Chilli flakes to taste
A couple of generous tablespoons of Provençal semi-cooked tomatoes (they come in jars packed in oil, and are really sweet and tasty) or some equivalent like sun-dried;
A light sprinkle of rosemary, sage and thyme. Takes about 20 mins sweating (the veg, not you) to bring out the flavours.
Cook your linguine according to instructions.
Drain well.
Put a 110g Hebridean Smokehouse smoked scallops, halved, into the pan with the veg. You don’t want them to cook, merely to heat through. (Don’t despair. These utterly gorgeous delicacies are available on line from Hebridean Smokehouse.)
Tip in the linguine and stir everything through, gently but thoroughly, before adding a handful of chopped fresh parsley.
Season to taste.
Serve with a scrumptious Italian red and possibly a sprinkle of Parmesan.
This recipe comes Mr Mac-approved. And considering he hates pasta on the whole, this says something.
maybe i’ll try this as a main course on saturday night! For starters i’m doing “Paprika soup”
4 large red peppers,olive oil,2 large onions,1 vegetable stock cube,pouring cream,I/2 litre of water.powderd paprika.
De-seed and chop the peppers,thinly slice onions. heat the olive oil in a pot, put in the onions,cook them till they’re sof–not brown,add peppers,cook for about 5mns. add 1/2litre of water,plus the veg cube,cover and simmer till peppers are all soft.Put through blender till smooth. Put back into pan,put in some cream,paprika powder and stir gently. serve with garlic croutons. Enjoy.