October Recipe – An autumn stew delight

Posted on October 5, 2017 Updated on November 12, 2018

Last week our box from Blaencamel Farm looked like a picture of autumn itself. Whilst new crops like squashes are being harvested some of the summer crops like the last of the tomatoes and chillies are still going. The greens, such as Cavolo Nero, are a darker shade. My seasonal compass is navigated towards deeper flavours, with spice combinations that help us transition seasons comforting us during the first frosts.

This dish I cooked and loved a lot last year. It grew from my fascination with how spices and ingredients fuse and connect culinary cultures. And it uses some of my most loved ingredients. Dill as herb much loved in Northern Greece where I am from but also prolific in Iranian and Ukrainian cuisines. Cumin for us Greeks of the eastern side (just a pinch mind). Caraway, a key spice for the soothing borscht and much Ukrainian cooking. Sour grape powder typical in Iranian cooking. Goji berries instead of the Iranian barberry. Turmeric, ginger, beetroot, pomegranates, tomatoes, parsley… You can see where this is going. It’s a tasty cure on a plate. You can replace some of the fresh turmeric and ginger with powder although I think it is much nicer when fresh is used. I serve this dish with brown rice.

Order your seasonal Blaencamel veg box online www.blanecamelbox.com or by email to Tom Frost (Tom@blaencamelbox.com).  Find out more about Lia’s Kitchen and subscribe on Lia’s newsletters here www.liaskitchen.com

Ingredients (Feeds 6 people)

• 1 Hokkaido or other squash, 700g
• 250g beetroot (raw grated or small cubes)
• 300g cherry tomatoes halved or whole or 1 tin whole organic tomatoes
• 1 onion, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic roughly chopped
• 200g of autumn greens, roughly chopped (kale, Cavolo nero or Japanese greens will do as) (optional)
• 1/2 Hungarian wax chilli (optional)
• 5cm turmeric chunk grated OR 1tsp. turmeric powder
• 3cm ginger chunk grated OR ½ tsp ginger powder
• 1 tsp sweet paprika powder
• 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 tsp. caraway seeds
• 1 Tbsp. fresh dill finely chopped OR 1 tsp dried dill (both heaped)
• 30g fresh parsley chopped
• 1 tsp sour grape powder (optional – available at middle eastern shops)
• Pinch of oregano
• 1 small handful of dried goji berries
• Juice of one lemon or half an orange
• 1 can pre-cooked beans (recommend borlotti or cannellini but use what you have)
• Up to 2 cups hot water or vegetable stock(500ml)
• Pomegranate seeds (optional)
• 2tsp sea salt

Preparation (approximately one hour)

1. Place the goji berries in citrus juice for the duration of the preparation.
2. Peel and grate or cube the beetroot. If using cooked beetroot cook an hour before prep starts.
3. Halve the squash and remove seeds with a tablespoon. Peel, slice and cube in 5 cm chunks (not too small).
4. Stir fry the onion, 1 tsp salt and spices (cumin, caraway, paprika, turmeric, ginger and sour cherry &chilly if using) for five minutes on low heat to soften and release aromas.
5. Add the garlic and oregano stir fry for a couple more minutes.
6. Add the squash, beetroot and beans and stir well.
7. Add the softened goji berries with the citrus juice, the chopped dill and parsley. Stir well.
8. Add the hot water or stock with another tsp of salt.
9. Stir well, cover and simmer for thirty minutes. Then add the greens and simmer for another fifteen minutes.
10. Enjoy with a dollop of Greek yoghurt, walnuts and honey and pomegranate seed or apple if you fancy a fruity taste.