Ladies and Gents, 'I love Flavour, me!' is officially ONE year old!
And what a year it has been too, so many changes, so many adventures!!!
To celebrate this event I would like to do two things.
First, to Thank all of you who took the time and patience, to visit, read, comment or simply pop in from time to time. I can't begin to tell you how much that has meant to me!!
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!! MUITO OBRIGADO!!! GRAZIE MILLE!!!
Second of all, I would like to talk about the dish that inspired me to start a blog: Portuguese Fish Stew or better known as Caldeirada.
This dish is for me what Julia Child's Beef Borgouignon is for many!
My temptation, my craving, my indulgence, my luxury!!
Exactly one year ago, I was sat in my house in England, browsing through recipes and craving Caldeirada more than anything else.
I terribly missed Portuguese food and so wished to recreate it at home.
Only problem was, living in the UK it proved quite difficult to find similar ingredients. So what to do?
And this is how the idea of the blog came to be.
After reading many blogs I thought of writing one that combined delicious Mediterreanean (mainly Portuguese) flavours with British Recipes.
As the blog developed, I found that it went way beyond that.
It became a journey of self-discovery, of finding that bit by bit, by experimenting here and failing there, I could actually cook.
And trust me my friends, that was a major discovery!
I always saw myself as a great food lover but never ever, as someone who could cook.
So here I am, one year down the line, sitting in a warm Italian flat, and with your help, wonderful support and encouragement, feeling so humbly proud of 'I love flavour, me!'.
Once again, thank you for helping me grow and trust in myself but...most of all... thank you for believing in me!!!
But enough of soppiness, what better way to celebrate than by recreating Caleirada in an Italian kitchen and savouring it with the utmost pleasure!
Try it, trust me, you will get hooked like me! Hope you love the flavour too!!!
And what a year it has been too, so many changes, so many adventures!!!
To celebrate this event I would like to do two things.
First, to Thank all of you who took the time and patience, to visit, read, comment or simply pop in from time to time. I can't begin to tell you how much that has meant to me!!
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!! MUITO OBRIGADO!!! GRAZIE MILLE!!!
Second of all, I would like to talk about the dish that inspired me to start a blog: Portuguese Fish Stew or better known as Caldeirada.
This dish is for me what Julia Child's Beef Borgouignon is for many!
My temptation, my craving, my indulgence, my luxury!!
Exactly one year ago, I was sat in my house in England, browsing through recipes and craving Caldeirada more than anything else.
I terribly missed Portuguese food and so wished to recreate it at home.
Only problem was, living in the UK it proved quite difficult to find similar ingredients. So what to do?
And this is how the idea of the blog came to be.
After reading many blogs I thought of writing one that combined delicious Mediterreanean (mainly Portuguese) flavours with British Recipes.
As the blog developed, I found that it went way beyond that.
It became a journey of self-discovery, of finding that bit by bit, by experimenting here and failing there, I could actually cook.
And trust me my friends, that was a major discovery!
I always saw myself as a great food lover but never ever, as someone who could cook.
So here I am, one year down the line, sitting in a warm Italian flat, and with your help, wonderful support and encouragement, feeling so humbly proud of 'I love flavour, me!'.
Once again, thank you for helping me grow and trust in myself but...most of all... thank you for believing in me!!!
But enough of soppiness, what better way to celebrate than by recreating Caleirada in an Italian kitchen and savouring it with the utmost pleasure!
Try it, trust me, you will get hooked like me! Hope you love the flavour too!!!
Ingredients
Extra Virgin Olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 large Chopped onion
2 finely chopped cloves of garlic
2 to 3 teaspoons of Sweet Paprika, depending on taste
1 medium Yellow Pepper, Sliced
1 medium Red Pepper, Sliced
1 large cup of good quality White Wine
1 large cup of Passata or Chopped tomatoes
1 cup of Fish Stock
A selection of seafood of your choice, I used raw large Prawn Tails, Cod, Salmon, Squid Rings and Mussels but any Seafood will work
Lots of chopped Parsley
Method
Get a selection of top quality seafood from your fishmonger's or market, something like this...
And this...
And finally this...
Fry your chopped onion until translucent in the olive oil, add your garlic and fry for another 1 to 2 minutes on a low heat.
Add your sweet paprika. Trust me, the more the better, I added 3 teaspoons and a bit after, it just gives it such a wonderful taste. Fry for one minute.
Add your slice peppers and gently fry until slightly soft.
Pour in your wine and allow it to reduce but not disappear altogether as it adds a touch of sweetness to the stew.
Add your passata or tomatoes, your fish stock and season to taste.
Leave it to simmer for 30 minutes, then add your fish and cook for 5 minutes.
Add your squid and prawns and cook for another 5 minutes.
Then your mussels. Cover and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until they are fully opened.
Sprinkle with your parsley and serve with warm crusty bread!
Enjoy and thanks so much for popping in!!!
