General Tso

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken thighs cut into 1 inch chunks
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• Oil for frying
• 1 tablespoon minced ginge
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 2 cloves garlic minced

• For the Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

• Toss the chicken thighs with the quarter cup of cornstarch and let sit while you mix the sauce ingredients.
• Add the rice vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, water, sugar and tablespoon of cornstarch in a small bowl and whisk together.
• Add the chicken to a pan with the oil and fry until crispy.
• Remove chicken from the pan and drain all but a tablespoon of the oil and add the chili flakes, ginger and garlic.
• Cook until you smell the garlic (about 30 seconds).
• Add in the chicken and toss, then add in the sauce.
• Stir for about 30 seconds until thickened.
• Serve immediately.

SMOKED SALMON TERRINE

• Starter

• easy

• 8

• 45 minutes

Ingredients

SMOKED SALMON TERRINE

• 20 smoked salmon slices

• 500g of hot-smoked salmon

• 250g of cream cheese

• 1/2 lemon, juiced

• 200ml of double cream

• 1 pinch of cayenne pepper

• 1 tbsp of chervil, chopped

• olive oil for greasing

• salt

• pepper

CUCUMBER SALAD

• 1/2 cucumber

• 2 tbsp of white wine vinegar

• salt

• 1 tbsp of caster sugar

• 1 tbsp of dill, chopped

HORSERADISH CREAM

• 300ml of double cream

• 1 tbsp of fresh horseradish

• 1 tbsp of horseradish relish

• 1 tbsp of Dijon mustard

• 1 lemon, juiced

• 8 sprigs of chervil

Equipment

• Food processor or blender

Method

1

Rub the inside of a small terrine with vegetable oil and line it with cling film. Line this with the smoked salmon slices, arranging them so that they overlap slightly and come far enough up over the sides of the terrine to cover the surface once it is filled. Keep any trimmings

• 20 smoked salmon slices

• olive oil for greasing

2

Flake the hot-smoked salmon into a food processor. Add the trimmings, cream cheese and lemon juice and purée. Once you have a smooth paste add the double cream and cayenne and whiz again briefly being very careful not to overwork the mixture

• 500g of hot-smoked salmon

• 250g of cream cheese

• 1/2 lemon

• 200ml of double cream

• 1 pinch of cayenne pepper

3

Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary – it may need a touch of salt. Fold in the chopped chervl then scrape the mixture into the terrine. Fold the smoked salmon slices up to neatly cover the filling, top with a sheet of cling film and chill for at least six hours

• 1 tbsp of chervil

• salt

• pepper

4

To make the cucumber salad, peel and thinly slice the cucumber. Place it in a colander, sprinkle with salt and leave for 2 hours. Squeeze the cucumber dry then put it in a small mixing bowl with the vinegar and sugar and mix well. Add the chopped dill and chill until needed

• 1/2 cucumber

• 2 tbsp of white wine vinegar

• salt

• 1 tbsp of caster sugar

• 1 tbsp of dill

5

To make the horseradish cream, put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk until slightly thick. Cover and store in the fridge until needed

• 300ml of double cream

• 1 tbsp of fresh horseradish

• 1 tbsp of horseradish relish

• 1 tbsp of Dijon mustard

6

To plate, turn the terrine out of its mould and remove the cling film. Slice into eight portions and arrange on serving plates with the cucumber salad. Add a dollop of horseradish cream, garnish with chervil, and serve with hot toast