3 Family Weeknight Dinners
PILCHARD BURGERS
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
For the patties:
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 tin Lucky Star Pilchards in Sweet Chilli Sauce
½ onion, finely chopped
Handful fresh parsley, chopped
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
½ cup flour
1 egg, beaten
1 cup corn flakes, crushed
Salt and pepper, to season
For the burgers:
4 wholewheat bread rolls
Fresh rocket
½ cucumber, sliced into ribbons using a vegetable peeler
Sweet chilli sauce
¼ cup mayonnaise
METHOD
For the patties:
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Boil the sweet potatoes in water until just falling apart. Drain and mash until smooth.
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Debone pilchards and flake. *Chef’s Tip: This is an optional step as the bones are safe to eat.
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In a large bowl, mix together flaked pilchard, mashed potato, onion, a tablespoon or two of sauce from the tin, freshly chopped parsley and the breadcrumbs. Season with some salt and pepper to taste. The mixture should hold together well.
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Form medium sized balls in your hands and press down to form patty shapes.
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Crush the corn flakes and place in a shallow bowl.
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Dust each patty with flour, then dip into the egg, then crushed corn flakes.
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Place on a tray and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
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Remove patties from the fridge. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a shallow pan and fry patties for 10-15 minutes on either side, until golden and crispy.
To assemble:
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Slice buns in half and lightly toast them in the hot pan.
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Spread a generous amount of mayonnaise the inside of each half.
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Pile some fresh rocket, your Pilchard patty and cucumber ribbons on top of each other, finish with a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce and ENJOY!
SPAGHETTI AND PILCHARD MEATBALLS
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
For the pilchard meatballs:
2 tins Lucky Star Pilchards in Tomato Sauce
1 egg
1 cup breadcrumbs
Salt and pepper, to season
For the sauce:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tin whole tomatoes in sauce
300g spaghetti
Serving suggestion:
Fresh basil leaves
¼ cup parmesan shavings (optional)
METHOD
For the pilchard balls:
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Preheat the oven to 180°C.
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Remove the Lucky Star pilchards from the tin, reserving the tomato sauce, and place them into a bowl. Debone and flake. *Chef’s Tip: This is an optional step as the bones are safe to eat.
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Combine with remaining pilchard meatball ingredients and mash with a fork.
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Roll a tablespoon of mixture into small meatballs with your hands. Repeat with remaining mixture.
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Place fish meatballs on a baking tray, and refrigerate for about 10 minutes.
For the sauce:
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While the meatballs chill, start the tomato sauce. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pan. Cook the onions and garlic until they soften, about 5 minutes.
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Add the tin of tomatoes and the reserved Lucky Star tomato sauce. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for 10-15 minutes on low heat.
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Take the fish meatballs out of the fridge, and bake them in the oven for 10-15 minutes until golden and cooked.
To assemble:
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Cook the spaghetti as per pack instructions. Toss in the tomato sauce and serve with the fish meatballs on top.
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Garnish with fresh basil leaves and parmesan shavings and ENJOY!
CHEESY PILCHARD & BROCCOLI BAKE
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS
1 tin LUCKY STAR Pilchards in Tomato Sauce, deboned and flaked
2 cups broccoli florets
3 cups cooked rice
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
3 tbsp butter
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tbsp flour
2 cups milk
Serving suggestion:
Freshly chopped parsley
Green salad
METHOD
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Preheat the oven to 200°C and grease a casserole dish.
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Remove the Lucky Star pilchards from tin, reserving the tomato sauce. Debone and flake. *Chef’s Tip: This is an optional step as the bones are safe to eat.
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Roughly chop the broccoli florets into smaller, bite-sized pieces. Combine the broccoli, cooked rice, about ¾ of the grated cheese, the flaked Lucky Star pilchards and the reserved sauce from the Lucky Star tin in a large bowl.
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Melt the butter in a small sauce pot over medium-low heat. Fry the onion and garlic until the onions are soft and transparent, about 2-3 minutes. Add the flour and stir until a paste forms. Continue to stir and cook the paste for about two minutes.
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Whisk the milk into the butter and flour mixture. Turn the heat up to medium. Continue to whisk the mixture as it heats, allowing it to reach a simmer, at which point it will thicken. Remove the sauce from the heat. Season with salt and pepper.
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Spoon the rice mixture into the casserole dish. Pour the creamy sauce over the rice and smooth it out. Top with the remaining grated cheddar cheese.
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Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the cheese melts and turns golden.
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Serve with a fresh green salad and ENJOY!
