How would you improve on this recipe?

[Bleek]

The recipe is as follows - http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9021/chicken-and-white-bean-stew

Now to me it looks wintery and 'nice' but it also has the potential to be bland so was looking for ways to improve it's depth.

This is a low fat recipe for the girlfriend and I want to keep it that way i.e. anything I add isn't full of calories and fat!

My first port of call would be to marinade the chicken before grilling, or pepper it, or perhaps herb it... or maybe lemon it?

My second option was to finely chop chorizo and at it to the stew, finely chop so that I don't use too much and just ply the broth with fats! Or go the lean route and use proscuitto crudo (raw) which is more inkeeping with the low fat recipe.

Ideas?

 

[antijoke]

Mustard?

 

[xJcBx]

Put some finely chopped up lemon grass into the stock in a little net bag for a while, that should give it a nice taste.
Personally I would crumble a warm dried chilie into it, it would bring depth but not heat.

 

[PapaLazaru]

Paprika will jazz that up no end.

Swop the parsley for coriander as well.

You mentione chorizo, well this is one of my favourite recipes at the moment -

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/recipes/article2582370.ece

 

[LOAM]

fennel

 

[Ciphon]

Agreed with Paprika...

I reckon Chinese Five Spice may add a little something too..

Just a matter of experimenting with the dish.

 

[Bleek]

Swop the parsley for coriander as well.
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I actually prefer basil but not sure that would work here.

 

[Bleek]

Paprika will jazz that up no end.

Agree - I really like paprika but she doesn't... that said in this broth I doubt she'd notice it that much?

 

[Wossi]

Chilli powder. Works everytime, turns bland tasting food into something slightly edible, hence why we always have a few pots of it at home.

 

[PapaLazaru]

Agree - I really like paprika but she doesn't... that said in this broth I doubt she'd notice it that much?

She wont notice it as long as you use it sparingly. Will make it look a lot more appetizing as well will give it a deeper colour.

 

[Naffa]

Easy peasy, don't use Oxo cubes or other tat as stock, use Marigold vegetable bouillon powder, instead. It's unbelievable how much more flavour this stuff boasts than regular stock.

http://www.deliaonline.com/ingredie...Marigold-Swiss-vegetable-bouillon-powder.html

 

[Cosimo]

Mustard?

French, English, German or American?

 

[Hairybudda]

It's basically a veg soup base with some chicken and beans in it, add some chopped dried chilli for heat (beans and chicken love chilli), soy would work quite well too, could add a little sweetcorn for sweetness to balance out the heat from the chilli too. Toss some rice noodles in to weigh it out and fill you easier as well if you want!


[Edit] Some whole mushrooms would add a bit of texture and depth of flavor too!

 

[Cybermyk]

A drop of a dry white wine perhaps? maybe some ginger, mushrooms or barley. I'd have to experiment.

 

[LeJosh]

Well for starters, pepper.

And a little chilli powder. But that's my preferential taste.

 

[Bleek]

Easy peasy, don't use Oxo cubes or other tat as stock, use Marigold vegetable bouillon powder, instead. It's unbelievable how much more flavour this stuff boasts than regular stock.

http://www.deliaonline.com/ingredie...Marigold-Swiss-vegetable-bouillon-powder.html

Sweet - I'll defo get some. :agree:

 

[Bleek]

Well for starters, pepper.

And a little chilli powder. But that's my preferential taste.

She doesn't like peppers that much... I know, idiot!

I want to avoid chilli because it's the easy option.

 

[Bleek]

It's basically a veg soup base with some chicken and beans in it, add some chopped dried chilli for heat (beans and chicken love chilli), soy would work quite well too, could add a little sweetcorn for sweetness to balance out the heat from the chilli too. Toss some rice noodles in to weigh it out and fill you easier as well if you want!


[Edit] Some whole mushrooms would add a bit of texture and depth of flavor too!

Noodles also add loads of carbs and calories, I'm trying to keep it light AND filling... tough I know.

Mushrooms might work with the cured ham in combo.

 

[heeeed]

To be honest if it's seasoned well it doesnt look that bland a recipe to me. If it's not really something you would pick at a restaurant yourself then maybe look at a different dish entirely.

 

[LeJosh]

Light and filling?

Would some crispy krutons work? Don't have to fry them with oil just dry bake diced bread in a pan, brush the bread with a garlic clove first too.