5 more school holiday family dinners
Tortellini with Hidden Veggie Sauce
Ingredients
½ cauliflower
1 red capsicum
1 zucchini
¼ pumpkin
700ml passata
2 tsp mixed dried herbs
1–1.5 cups water
Olive oil
Sea salt & pepper
Tortellini
Parmesan cheese
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Chop vegetables, spread on a tray, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Roast 35–40 minutes until golden.
Blend roasted veg with passata, water, and herbs until smooth.
Pour over cooked tortellini and finish with Parmesan.
Chuck Steak Pot Pie
Ingredients
1kg chuck steak, cut into 3cm chunks
2 brown onions, diced
2 carrots, sliced (2cm)
3 celery sticks, sliced (2cm)
250g potatoes, cubed
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup frozen peas
3 cups beef stock
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
¼ cup tomato paste
1 tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
Sea salt & pepper
Olive oil
3 tbsp plain flour + 3 tbsp water (extra if needed)
2 sheets puff pastry
Method
Brown steak in batches in a heavy pot with olive oil, then set aside.
Cook onion 3–4 minutes, add garlic for 1 minute. Deglaze with balsamic vinegar.
Stir in tomato paste, thyme, carrots, celery, potatoes, steak, stock, and bay leaves. Cover and simmer on low 2.5 hours until tender.
Add peas. Mix flour and water into a slurry, stir into pot, simmer 5 minutes to thicken.
Transfer filling to a baking dish. Top with puff pastry, cut a steam hole, and bake at 180°C for 25–35 minutes until golden.
Honey Soy Chicken
Ingredients
5–6 chicken thighs, diced
1 head broccoli, florets
2 carrots, thinly sliced
2 cups white rice
Sauce (double for extra)
2 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp cornflour + 1.5 tbsp warm water
Method
Cook rice as preferred.
Heat wok with oil, fry chicken until golden.
Add carrots and broccoli, stir-fry until just tender (cover with lid to speed up).
Stir in soy sauce and honey. Mix cornflour with water, add to pan, cook 1–2 minutes until thickened.
Steak Bites, Sweet Potato Chips & Balsamic Beans
Ingredients
750g rump steak, cubed
1kg sweet potato, cubed
500g green beans, trimmed
Olive oil
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp oregano
Sea salt & pepper
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp minced garlic
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C. Roast sweet potato with olive oil, salt, and pepper for 35 minutes.
Toss steak with oil, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Air fry at 180°C for 12–15 minutes, tossing halfway.
Pan-fry beans in olive oil 5–6 minutes. Add balsamic and garlic, cook 1 more minute.
Serve steak bites with sweet potato chips and balsamic beans.
Bacon & Broccoli Gnocchi Bake
Ingredients
500g gnocchi
5 rashers streaky bacon, diced
1 head broccoli, florets
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
Olive oil
Toppings
Shredded tasty cheese
Sour cream
Chives
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Spread gnocchi, bacon, and broccoli on a lined tray. Sprinkle with garlic powder, paprika, drizzle with olive oil, and toss.
Bake 20–25 minutes. Serve with cheese, sour cream, and chives.
