LEMONGRASS, GINGER COCKTAIL RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/gas 5.
  2. Scrub the sweet potato, then slice into thin rounds. Arrange the slices, overlapping, in a large roasting tin.
  3. Bruise the lemongrass, then finely chop the tender parts. Peel and finely chop the ginger and garlic. Finely slice the chilli.
  4. Mix the sesame oil, stock, coconut milk and two-thirds each of the lemongrass, ginger and garlic. Pour over the potatoes, tuck in the lime leaves (or squeeze the juice on top and scatter over the zest) and sprinkle over the chilli.
  5. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are done. About 8 to 10 minutes before the cooking time is up, sit the fish on the potatoes and top with the rest of the lemongrass, ginger and garlic.
  6. When the fish is just cooked, drizzle with soy sauce, if you like. Delicious served with green beans and mangetout.

Steps:

• 1. Thinly slice the shallots, peel the garlic and deseed the chillies, and put in the bowl of a food processor. Peel and roughly chop the fresh turmeric, ginger and galangal, and add to the bowl with the ground turmeric and tamarind. Blitz until it forms a rough paste.
  2. Remove the tough outer leaves of the lemongrass and roughly chop the stalks. Roughly tear the kaffir lime leaves.
  3. Heat 4 tablespooons of vegetable oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Stir in the paste, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, season with sea salt and black pepper, and cook for 5 minutes.
  4. Trim the beef and cut into 4cm pieces. Add to the pan and cook for 10 minutes, or until the pieces begin to brown, stirring to make sure the meat is coated in the paste.
  5. Stir in the coconut milk, pop on the lid, and simmer over a low heat for 1 to 1½ hours, or until the meat is tender and the sauce has thickened.
  6. Deseed and thinly slice the red chilli and scatter over the curry. Delicious with boiled rice and fried crispy shallots.