CURLY LEAF PARSLEY RECIPES

Steps:

• Add the potatoes to a saucepan, cover with cold water, season with salt and bring to the boil. Simmer until soft but not falling apart. Drain and mash, then season with salt and pepper. Spread out on a plate to cool.
• Place the cod fillet in a large saucepan with the milk and bay leaf. Cover with a lid and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and leave to stand for 5 minutes. Remove the fish from the milk. Discard the skin, break the fish into chunks and leave to cool. Reserve the milk, discarding the bay leaf.
• Place the cooled mash in a bowl and stir in the lemon zest and spring onions. Stir the fish into the mash without breaking it up too much. Season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
• Divide the mixture into two and shape into patties. Put the flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs in separate shallow bowls. Coat the fish cakes in flour, then dip in the beaten egg, coating all sides. Allow any excess egg to drip off then coat in the breadcrumbs, pressing firmly and evenly onto all sides.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the fish cakes for 3 minutes on each side, then hold them on their sides to brown the edges. Transfer to a baking tray and finish cooking in the oven for 8–10 minutes.
• For the parsley sauce, melt the butter in a small non-stick saucepan. Gradually add the flour, stirring with a wooden spoon until well combined. Slowly add the reserved milk, stirring constantly to remove any lumps.
• Bring to the boil, simmer and cook for 3 minutes, until thick and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Place the fish cakes on a serving plate, pour the sauce into a small jug and serve with lemon wedges and some wilted spinach.

Steps:

• Pour the stock and wine into a large, wide frying pan. Add the garlic, thyme, tarragon sprig and carrots, bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for 3 mins. Lay the chicken in the stock, grind over some pepper, cover and simmer for 5 mins. Scatter the leek slices over the chicken, cover again then gently simmer for 10 more mins, so the leeks can steam while the chicken cooks. Remove from the heat and let the chicken sit in the stock for about 15 mins, so it keeps moist while cooling slightly.
• Strain the stock into a jug – you should have 500ml (if not, make up with water). Tip the chicken and veg into a 1.5 litre pie dish and discard the herb sprigs. Pour the stock back into the sauté pan, then slowly pour in the cornflour mix. Return the pan to the heat and bring to the boil, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the crème fraîche, mustard, chopped tarragon and parsley. Season with pepper. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Tear or cut the chicken into chunky shreds. Pour the sauce over the chicken mixture, then stir everything together.
• Cut each sheet of filo into 4 squares or rectangles. Layer them on top of the filling, brushing each sheet with some of the oil as you go. Lightly scrunch up the filo so it doesn’t lie completely flat and tuck the edges into the sides of the dish, or lay them on the edges if the dish has a rim. Grind over a little pepper, place the dish on a baking sheet, then bake for 20-25 mins until the pastry is golden and the sauce is bubbling. Serve immediately.