Turkey Somosas's - great for left over turkey or chicken

Turkey Somosas – A great recipe for left over turkey

If you always have the problem ‘What to  do with left over turkey’ then here’s a great alternative to the usual curry pot. 

Have a go at making our tried, tested and much loved recipe for Turkey Somosas and turn leftovers into scrummy canapes  for your guests over Christmas.  It is easy to make and there are lots of ingredients that can be used as substitutes to use up all your left over vegetables from the fridge.  For example if you can’t find somosas pastry then use filo pastry, or even puff pastry and instead of frying them just bake them in the oven brushed with a little egg. 

Turkey Somosas

 Ingredients:

Section 1 – somosa filling

300g cooked turkey meat – shredded of the joint

5 stems salad onions finely chopped

2 finely chopped Thai chillies (these are much less hotter so provide volume and texture)

100g garden peas

60g sugar snap peas finely shredded (substitute with Red pepper if necessary)

30g bean sprouts

1 tsp sesame seeds

1 tbsp grated ginger

Salt to taste

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 large handful chopped coriander

30 g or a handful of fresh coriander

4 tbsp chilli & fennel spice blend – see our web site for the recipe

 Section 2

Somosas pastry or Filo pastry

50g Plain flour

Cold water

Vegetable Oil to fry

Cooking Instruction:

To make the somosas filling:

 In a large mixing bowl add all the ingredients in section 1 and mix well.  Taste to season accordingly with salt and additional chillies if required. 

 Filling the somosas:

1. Start by making a flour paste (edible glue) to bind the somosas together. Mix flour and water in a bowl until it is pancake consistency. 
2.  Now separate the somosa pastry one slice at a time covering the pastry you are not using with a slightly damp cloth. Create pocket as shown in the class and fill. Be careful to seal all the edges to prevent leaking whilst frying.
3. Heat oil to deep fry and slowly slide the somosas into the oil at the sides, cook for 1.5 minutes on either side or until golden brown.
4. Remove from oil onto absorbent paper to drain any oil and serve. 

 Cooks Hint 1: Don’t be afraid to be generous with the ‘edible glue’ as it will dry out like the pastry and stop the somosa from opening in the cooking process

Cooks Hint 2: Be careful the oil is not too hot as it will brown the somosas without heating the filling sufficiently. 

Cooks Hint 3: The somosas can be frozen flat on a tray once made but before frying

 Serving Tip: Allow somosas to cool for a moment or two before serving as they are too hot to eat straight away.

 Recipe by Kumud Gandhi – Founder of The Cooking Academy- Cookery School

Jazz up the Cranberry sauce - Recipe from The Cooking Academy

Cranberry sauce – spice it up !

 If you like the idea of cranberry sauce but find traditional jars too sweet then you might like my alternative. My ‘left over turkey’ somosa recipe will be a willing accompaniment as a dip to this dish so look that one too.  

I’ve taken a regular jar of cranberry sauce, add 1 tsp of dried chilli flakes, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp of ground roasted cumin, 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 3 tbsp of orange juice.  The consistency is now perfect as a dip, to accompany your turkey roast dinner or the somosas. Give it a go…..

Recipe by Kumud Gandhi – Founder of The Cooking Academy

Cookery team building for Christmas - The Roche Way

Roche products based in Welwyn wanted a Christmas party with a difference, something that that had a team building element and would facility more than drinking and a meal.  

All hands to the deck

They decided upon a cookery team building event at The Cooking Academy.   The objective was to have fun, learn something that they could take away for their personal experience and be together as a group. 

Here at The cooking Academy we put together corporate cookery events for our clients to have an all inclusive, fun teambuild that also provides a personal growth element that individuals will be able to take away and do for themselves in their domestic lives. 

We created a Christmas theme that would give the delegates alternative recipes for Christmas dinner and all the trimmings that go with it. 

To find out more about our corporate cookery events plrease contact us on 01923 778880 or speak to Cara at The Cooking Academy

The all new funky social networking web site!  

I am delighted to launch our new all singing and dancing, fully e-commerce web site for The Cooking Academy, just in time for the Christmas sales period. 

It’s been a long time in coming, but with so many exciting new additions to The Cooking Academy we’ve finally managed to get it out there.  Our spice range is increasing all the time, and so too are lots of other frequently requested cooking utensils that are used in The cookery school.  If there’s anything there that you can’t find, then drop me an email.

Our ranges of cookery classes has also expanded so take a look and see what other culinary delights could be in store for you and your family in the new year….  with the gift of a cookery class.  The latest addition is the Middle Eastern cookery class - here’s the link for it  http://www.thecookingacademy.co.uk/Middle-Eastern-Cookery-Classes.php

The new site is enabled for direct booking of classes allowing you to check availability on line and book directly and pay.  There is also a facility to send the page you like to a friend to share your activity or invite a friend to join you on a class. 

Cookery Gift Vouchers for Christmas

Don’t leave it to the last minute.  We have some swift solutions for your Christmas gifts this year.  We are now also offering gift vouchers starting from £50 now – so customers can add to the cost of a class or buy from our merchandising store – The Spice Shop.

For further information or for group bookings and christmas parties call us on 0845 0 68 58 48.  

If you would like to comment on our new web site please doo send an email to Kumud@thecookingacademy.co.uk, we welcome any feedback and suggestions to improve on the site.

Indian Cookery classes At The Cooking Academy.

Today I was teaching an Indian cookery class here at The Academy in Rickmansworth.  With Amrit off with an injured ankle and Kristen back in New Zealand for the time being,  I’m racking up a number of classes.  Its all good because I have say its reminded me of why I started on the journey 4 years ago; I am glad I have the opportunity to do what I do as a  job, though its so much more than just a job.  To say I love meeting new people is a cliche but I do love meeting new people and making a small contibution to their life journey on the culinary front.  None more so than today with the group of people I had in my class. 

I’ve already had 2 emails from them this evening so far and i love it….  they’ve been shopping, and their putting into practise what they learn’t today, that’s great! 

I’m a happy bunny and I’m glad I do what I do for a living.   I enjoy seeing new faces and I love to see the people come back again and again for classes…  or new recipes  because that means my mission is working !

Kumud Gandhi – Founder of The Cooking Academy  

Red & Gold themed decor - St Johns Wood

Food of Asia serves London Party goers tonight From The Saffron House

Something is in the air tonight, as we are busy catering for a host of parties in London this evening starting with a late Diwali Party catering in Begravia, a Rakshabunden Dinner for the brothers in Kensington and a Labanese Party celebration catering in St John’s Wood.   Whatever the occaasion, it seems that Stylish Asian catering from The Saffron House will be serving the guests tonight. 

What a feast they have in store from Monkfish for starters, Venison for main course and some pretty scrumptious puddings for dessert dinner will be fit for a king.  

If you are looking for very sophisticated but authentic Asian party catering  then you should speak to us here at The Saffron House.  WWW.thesaffronhouse.co.uk

Thai restaurants in Rickmansworth – Thai George

This restaurant has been established for a number of years, and has changed hands about 3 times during that period.  As far as Thai food in the UK  goes Thai George fairs pretty well.  it does because the service is very good, staff are attentive, and your order is taken efficiently.  The food also arrives fairly promptly, which is no bad thing if you’re hungry, however if you’re looking to make a night of it then you’ll need to take control of the pace a little.   As for the food itself, this is a bit of a dilema, it is Thai food but originality and depth of flavour is often lacking, so if your know your Thai food then you’re going to be pretty disappointed, which is the case with a number of Thai restaurant I have found over the years.  The Blue Elephant in Fulham is one of the few Thai restaurants that i think reall does consitently do well for original Thai falvour and creativity of menu items. 

If you really enjoy Thai food then you could do better by learning to cook Thai Food yourself.  For the cost of a couple of meals you could learn how to be totally original in the kitchen and learn to cook a range of Thai food that will definately give Thai George a run for their money.  Learn to cook Original Thai food at the Cooking Academy http://www.thecookingacademy.co.uk/ThaiClasses.html

Hazledene Farm shop – Suppliers of native rare breed meats

You know I’m a great advocate of searching out local suppliers of fine provenance and I’m happy to share yet another local treasure with you.  

Hazledene Farm & Farm shop is conveniently located in Chesham on a rather large estate.  They sell native rare breed animals that are are slow maturing which adds to the flavour. All the livestock is free range and fed on a non-gm natural diet, and whilst not certified organic all the produce on the farm is raised to organic certification standards – but without the heavy price tag.   The quality of the produce is fantastic and having cooked with it I can say it is particularly good. 

So if you’re thinking about your christmas lunch then you’ll find some very tasty produce at Hazledene Farm.  The farm shop is well stocked with a range of high quality produce including our very own range of organic spices and spice blends from The cooking Academy. 

Contact Liz on  01494-783501  http://www.hazeldenefarm.com/

Thai cookery classes at The Academy

A Thai cookery class

We’ve got a Thai cookery class here at the academy.  A collection of fabulous Thai recipes to share with Thai cookery enthusiasts.  We’ll start with the ‘Spice Trail’ and take you on a journey of all the herbs and spices used in Thai cookery, this is a great start to the day, a demystication of the myths that cooking is complicated; as it begins to put all in the ingredients into simple English and help you find suitable swaps if necessary. 

The class is entirely hands on – so make the most of cooking to your hearts content, without having to do the washing up.  This cookery class will give you the menu for a dinner party; so look forward to entertaining your friends and family effortlessly.  We’ll also give you lots of practical hints and tips to make cooking easy, even for the beginner. 

With only 6 people per class you’ll feel right at home and in very friendly environment that is a simple pleasure for the day.

Classes run from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.  You’ll be taking lots of food home so be prepared for a take away.  The cost of the 1/2 day class starts at £130 and the full day class is £199, all inclusive. 

To book contact Sonia or Cara at The Cooking Academy. tel 01923 77 8880. www.thecookingacademy.co.uk.

Indian cookery classes at The Cooking Academy

Cookery Classes in Rickmansworth

 So today we’ve got the ever popular 1/2 day Indian cookery classes.  We could run these everyday and fill them….  this class is a fabulous starting place.  Whether you’re an accomplished cook or a beginner the beauty of this class is you’ll still learn so much. 

This 1/2 day Indian cookery class starts with a spice trail, a detailed look at all the herbs and spices in cooking, whether its Indian or European; you’ll be amazed at just how much cross over there actually is.  you will learn lots of little known facts about the health benefits of the herbs and spices and why they should be used.  This part of the class is usually the element that surprises most people, and the part they enjoy so much because it is outside of the usual learning opportunity;  all the things you should have been taught in your late teens, which could possibly have influeneced your food choices.    There is lots of hands on cooking,  spice blending and making tasty marinades…  fantastic to stock up your fridge for quick suppers and mid week dinners.  The biggest bonus is,  it’s tasty real Indian food that you can learn to cook YOURSELF! 

To find out more about our range of classes or to book a class contact Cara at The Cooking Academy on 01923 77 8880. or email her at cara@thecookingacademy.co.uk.