Chilli Chicken Nachos

If you want a quick, no fuss minimal effort for a snack or starter for a get together then this is the recipe for you. These nachos really are the easiest to make but definitely moreish when it comes to flavour and are a definite crowd pleaser. 

The amount below that I made served just over 10 of us :

2 x 150g Bag of Doritos (I went for the hint of lime flavour)

1x g Bag of grated cheese

1x g Jar of Jalepenos (optional)

Fresh coriander - chopped small handful (optional)

2x g bottle of sala (I used Old El Paso)

smoked paprika 

1kg boneless chicken*

2 medium onions

1 tsp chilli flakes 

1/2 tsp salt

• Start by chopping your onions, and browning them till softened in a large pan in a little oil.
• Add the chicken once the onions have softened, and cook the chicken throughly & until lightly browned in colour - mine took about 20 minutes.
• Add in the salt & 1 level tsp of smoked paprika, chilli flakes, chopped coriander & stir through. Leave to cool.**
• When ready to serve, take a platter or large plate (making sure it fits in your microwave)***
• Put the Doritos in the plate, pour half the salsa evenly over the Doritos, and sprinkle over a little cheese.
• Add some of the chicken next, and a few jalepenos, pour on a little more salsa & another good handful of cheese, finish with a sprinkling of smoked paprika.
• Put the plate in the microwave on full power for 8-10 minutes - or until the cheese is melted and bubbling .. and tuck in 
• Serve with Guacamole & Sour cream on the side with extra salsa & jalepenos 

* Instead of chicken breast, I asked my butcher for thigh/ leg meat as this doesn't dry out as much as breast does.


** When the chicken has cooled, pour into colander so that any excess oil can be drained as the last thing you want is the nachos sitting in a pool of oil.


*** You can also put them under the grill if your serving plate/platter won't fit in the microwave.

Potato & Chick pea curry

This is another vegetarian favourite of mine .. quick and simple but packed full of flavour. It's great with rice or naan or even on it's own with a good dollop of natural yogurt. It's also a dish traditionally eaten on Eid for breakfast with Poori's ( fried flatbread)  and halva (semolina based dessert), the combination of spice with warm sweet halva is just amazing

To serve 4-6 people you will need

1 large onion

2 tsp garlic paste or crushed garlic

1 tsp ginger paste or crushed ginger

1 tsp salt

1 green chilli

1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes

2 tsp curry powder

2 x 400g tin chickpeas - water drained

3 large potatoes

2 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp poppy seeds

fresh coriander to garnish

2-3 tbsp natural yogurt ( optional )

• start by chopping your onion and browning in a heavy based pan in a little oil, add in the ginger garlic & the salt
• On a medium heat, cook the onion with the ginger and garlic till golden brown & completely softened.
• Add in the chillies & curry powder, lower the heat, cook through until the chillies have softened. Remember to stir occasionally & add splashes of water if need be to stop it from catching the bottom of the pan.
• Add in the chopped tomatoes and simmer on a low heat for about 10 minutes till tomatoes have softened. 
• While the tomatoes are simmering, peel & chop the potatoes into quarters. Par boil them in a pan, drain and put to the side.
• When the tomatoes have softened, add in the chickpeas, cook through on a medium heat for about 5-8 minutes and add in the potatoes. Check the seasoning & add more salt if need be to your taste,leave to simmer on a low heat
• While the potatoes & chickpeas are simmering, toast your seeds on a low heat in a frying pan till browned. Remove from the heat as soon as the mustard seeds begin to pop & add into the chickpeas & potatoes and stir through*
• Add enough water just to cover the potatoes & chickpeas and leave to simmer on a medium heat for about 10 minutes. Serve with boiled rice, naan or even poori's   

*if you'd like the consistency to be thicker, simmer for slightly longer or if it's too thick for your liking then add in a little more water