This week it’s all about food to fuel your performance, without turning your back on flavour. Summer has arrived (or almost), which for many will mean outdoor activities, sporting endeavours and the need for plenty of fuel that doesn’t slow you down. This isn’t something most chefs are used to. From a restaurant perspective, the aim is to offer pleasure and food experiences people can’t provide for themselves at home. That often means butter, sugar, salt and all those other goodies that make our food taste great. Here we’re seeking superb flavour without all the rich additions.
The first recipe is a cost-effective midweek meal that can be brought together in record time and for large numbers. The chicken is marinated in some simple aromatics, including lemon zest, thyme, olive oil and black pepper. This is a job I will often do in bulk and then I’ll keep the result in the fridge for two to three days. It’s also a great ingredient to have ready to throw on the barbecue on a nicer evening. The Caesar salad is an all-time classic, and the dressing is easier to bring together at home than you might think. The key is to use high-quality anchovies and blend them together with their own oil, egg yolk, mustard and Worcestershire sauce to create a paste that emulsifies and thickens when you add the oil. Parmesan, vinegar and lots of black pepper bring an umami punch to the party and there’s no better dressing for some crisp lettuce leaves.
The second recipe is very simple to bring together but relies on a quality piece of fish to top it off. The dressing is an all rounder and, if nothing else, is a recipe you should keep on file. It can be made in bulk and kept in the fridge for more than a week and works beautifully with all manner of fish and even chicken. The key is to thicken the highly seasoned liquid with cornflour before chilling it and finishing with lime juice and sesame oil to create a punchy dressing that coats the noodles. This means every bite delivers as you work your way through the bowl. Lightly seared tuna is packed with protein and definitely won’t slow you down, while the addition of chilli, spring onion and coriander leaves to the mix speaks to the summer weather. Don’t discount the addition of the toasted sesame seeds at the end: this is the X-factor finish.
