The first weekend in July was quite tropical both in temperature and the number of wet storms that took place. It was enough to cancel my game of cricket on the Saturday, albeit that hardier teams in our club still played their matches. Still it left some time for experimenting with new recipes.
The day before we had visited a new Steakhouse that's opened in a building that once housed a rough and ready boozer. A link to their website is at: (2) BIG JIMS BBQ Steakhouse | Facebook Their owner, who was a classmate of mine for 11 years at Primary School and then Secondary School, has created a recipe roster of first class steaks and the best chicken goujons that I've had since I stopped at a diner in Massachusetts in 1990. Chatting to him, in person for the first time in twenty years, and hearing his business plans made it clear he's got the drive and the focus to succeed spectacularly.
On the player, as I flicked through some recipes online for my own inspiration, was the Band's 1971 double record "Rock of Ages" that shows they were a force to be reckoned with onstage. The edition I have also features a cameo by Bob Dylan during his "retirement" period between 1971 and the start of 1973.
I was inspired by Big Jim's example to make an exciting and new meat dish with some low budget minced beef the Tag Team Partner had unearthed from the bargain bin earlier that week. The dish is a Jamaican Dish and the ingredients are as follows:
For the chilli Minced Beef:
500 grams of Minced Beef.
Some Chilli Flakes.
A teaspoon of All Spice.
A teaspoon of Jerk Seasoning.
One Red Pepper cut into small squares.
A grated Carrott.
A tin of Red Kidney Beans in Chilli Sauce.
For the Minty Sweetcorn
A tin of Sweetcorn.
Some chopped fresh mint, around two tablespoons worth.
An Orange Pepper cut into small squares.
Two diced Tomatoes.
For the Coconut Rice
125 grams of Rice.
A small Tin of Coconut Milk.
50 grams of Creamed Coconut sliced into pieces.
To make the mince mixture first fry on a medium heat the mince with the spices for around ten minutes. Then add the Red Pepper pieces and fry for around another ten minutes. Add the Red Kidney Beans and stir them into the mixture to make a thick sauce.
The Minty Sweetcorn is made by frying it with the Orange Pepper for ten minutes on a medium heat and then adding the Tomatoes and frying the ingredients for another fifteen minutes. Lastly add the fresh mint in readiness to serve.
The Coconut Rice is made by adding the Rice to a frying pan then covering it with some boiling water. Simmer it on the hob for around ten minutes, stirring regularly to stop the Rice getting stuck to the pan. Then add the Coconut Milk and the Creamed Coconut and let it cook on a low heat for another five minutes to create a creamy rich rice.
This dish was a good mix with the fieriness of the Chilli Minced Beef getting quenched by the minty Sweetcorn and the Sweetness of the Coconut Rice. An enjoyable leap into the unknown which may see a few more Jamaican Recipes on this blog.
