A Veggie Dish

We are going to be away now for 3 weeks so I am going to have a burst of activity and get some more Staples written up. Firstly, 3 easy(of course) and cheap veg main courses the student and her friends might like to try. Two of them have fruit in which is not something you might anticipate being good but seems to work in these recipes.

Almond Risotto for 4 but easily halved

8 oz rice, white or brown, cooked first
1 large onion
A slice of ginger root
1 clove garlic
4 oz mushrooms sliced
3/4 oz whole almonds -with the skins on
1-2 oz dried apricots which have been covered with water, simmered until plump and then chopped

1. Soften the onion, ginger and garlic in a little oil
2. Add the mushrooms and cook briefly til softened
3. Add rice
4. Stir well and let heat through
5. Add nuts and apricots
6. Serve with the sauce

Peanut Sauce

• 4 oz salted peanuts
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/3 pint water
• Little bit of a stock cube or powder (vegetarian)
• Tabasco or chilli sauce
• Lime or lemon juice

Grind the peanuts and garlic together in a food processor. Simmer in the water and stock powder till the nuts are soft. This takes a little time so don't rush it. Then sieve to make it smooth. Add tabasco or chilli sauce, lime or lemon juice and a tiny bit of sugar to taste. If a processor is not in the kitchen apparatus provided, use crunchy peanut butter as the base, say a quarter of a jar, and don't bother to sieve it. This works just as well anyway and gives you a sauce with texture.

Couscous