Here are some recipe ideas and tips to make your meal a mouth-watering event that far surpasses the novelty of a takeaway.
Triple-decker burger
This towering fast-food favourite hinges on excellent construction – treat each element like it’s the main event and your burger will taste delicious. When it comes to burgers, it all starts with the perfect sauce. A homemade burger sauce is delicious and can transform a traditional burger into an extraordinary fast-food lookalike. For the sauce, combine ½ a cup of Hellmann’s mayonnaise with a ¼ cup of tomato sauce or ketchup. Next, add 2 teaspoons of finely diced sweet pickles, 2 teaspoons of white sugar, 2 teaspoons of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper – it’s that simple. To assemble the burger, layer the base of a round toasted roll with burger sauce, diced onions and shrettuce (shredded lettuce), a cooked burger patty and a slice of cheddar cheese. Next goes another half of a toasted roll, more burger sauce, onions, shrettuce, sliced sweet pickles and another cooked patty finally adorned with the top of the bun. And voila you have a triple-decker burger to rival your favourite burger chain.
Look-alike fried chicken
This fried chicken double also tastes like the real deal – it may even have your family calling you colonel. For this recipe, the flavour is in the herbs and spices that you add to your flour dredge to coat the chicken pieces. For the dredge, in a large bowl mix 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons of salt, ½ a tablespoon of dried thyme, ½ a tablespoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1 teaspoon of celery salt, ½ a tablespoon of black pepper, 1 tablespoon of mustard powder, 2 tablespoons of paprika, 2 tablespoons of garlic salt, 1 tablespoon of powdered ginger and 1 tablespoon of white pepper. In a separate bowl, beat two large eggs and 400ml buttermilk – add your chicken pieces and chill in the fridge as long as possible but for a minimum of an hour. To cook, coat the soaked chicken pieces in the herbed flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Deep fry the chicken pieces until they are golden brown and cooked through – roughly 15 minutes on medium heat should do the trick. For a healthier version, you can opt to cook the coated chicken in the oven at 170 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour and turning the pieces halfway to ensure an even cook. Serve the chicken with a cracking cabbage, and carrot coleslaw enrobed with a creamy mayo dressing – enough said!
Thick crust pizza
A thick crust pizza is an ultimate centrepiece for a crowd of hungry family members – the tear and share style of eating means a revolving pan of fresh-from-the-oven pizza to enjoy together every 15 to 20 minutes. This one is mega-easy to achieve if you opt for shop-bought bread dough. Simply shape your dough into a rectangle approximately 1 and a half to 2 centimetres thick and place on a large oiled baking tray to fit from corner to corner. For the sauce, cook a can of pureed tomatoes with a teaspoon of dried oregano, ½ a teaspoon of dried basil, ½ a teaspoon of dried garlic and simmer on a low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. To assemble the pizza, cover the base with the desired amount of tomato sauce. At least 1/3 of a cup and spread it over the dough, leaving a thumb width space around the edge for the crust. Top with the desired amount of shredded mozzarella – ideally, you want to be able to coat all the tomato sauce with a thin layer of cheese. Add additional toppings of your choice such as pepperoni, ham, feta, olives, peppers or sliced onion, the options are endless. To cook, preheat your oven to 250 degrees, place the tray in the centre of the oven and bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbling – 10 to 15 minutes should be ideal depending on how many toppings you add. Slice into squares and serve to the expectant faces of your adoring family.
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