Mahnke Family Recipes

Mains

Substantial main course recipes that serve as the central dish of a meal. They include both meat-based and vegetarian options with a focus on balanced flavours and satisfying portions.

• Almut's Chicken Curry
  This is a super simple weeknight curry using store bough sauce.
• Aloo Chana
  A traditional potato and chickpea curry. Quick and easy.
• Aubergine and Lentil Pie
  Angela and I tried Weight Watchers. It didn't go very well, but we really loved a few of the recipes. This was one of the top five.
• Beef brisket pasta
  A slow-cooked beef brisket pasta in a light gravy like sauce.
• Beef Rogan Josh
  This is a complete classic that teaches you about how to cook a curry properly. And you can see the overlap with French cooking a the same time.
• Stuffed Chicken with Artichokes & Goat Cheese
  You can stuff the chicken breasts and chill up to 4 hours before cooking.
• Chicken Divan
  This is another classic that can be made well ahead of when you want to eat it and it freezes well.
• Chicken with leeks
  A very simple main that feels like you are cheating.
• Chinese Eggplant with Minced Pork
  A big family favourite. We use the pork mixture as our go to for Chinese dumplings as well.
• Chorizo, Flageolet and Savoy Cabbage Casserole
  I grew these beans on the allotment and this was our favourite way to eat them.
• Dal Makkni
  A modern, north Indian variation on a dal. Most recipes don't have chickpeas, but I like it.
• Dijon & Honey Salmon
  Lovely and dead simple sauce to make salmon come alive.
• Eggplant (Aubergine) Parmesan
  The whole family loves this meal. Yes it takes a long time to make all the bread-crumbed eggplant and make the sauce, but there are days it is just worth it. It is also a lovely appetiser for a dinner party and can be made the day before and reheated.
• Giorgio's sausage and lentils
  I have changed this a bit by adding red wine, a carrot and fennel seeds.
• Greek Lamb Tray Bake
  Give the family a taste of the Med with this satisfying one-pan lamb dish
• Hamburger Stroganoff
  We make this dish about once a month. It is quick and tastes sophisticated. Our boys liked it from a young age as well.
• Herb-Crusted Beef with Onions
  Another very quick and very tasty week night meal.
• Herb crusted fillet of brill
  This is a very sophisticated and tasty dinner, great for company.
• Jamaican Beef Patties
  The classic Jamacian street food.
• Kielbasa, Potato and Leek Gratin
  This is won of my absolute favourite meals. It might sound different, but the flavours marry together so well. Delicious.
• Lamb Koftas
  
• Leek and Goat Cheese Quiche
  Very tasty and a simple quiche.
• Lemony Chicken with Fresh Coriander
  This is the dish that got my father to like Indian food. It is just delicious and not spicy at all.
• Madhur Jaffrey's Spiced Yogurt Leg of Lamb
  I have made this a dozen times over the years and it never fails to impress. Perhaps use a meat thermometer to make sure you don't overcook the meat.
• Moroccan Chicken & Lentils
  Very tasty, but perhaps not very traditional.
• Moroccan Roasted Lamb with Mint Dressing
  Rule #1, don't skimp on the lamb - get a good piece, not something marked down for sale. Rule #2 - see Rule #1. Also makes a great replacement for the Thanksgiving turkey as it serves 8-10 easily and you get that "ooh ahhh" factor when carving it up table-side.
• Omar's Chicken Karahi
  From my good friend Omar, who basically only eats meat.
• Pan Fried Fillet Mignon
  A classic French style main.
• Picatta-style pan fried fish
  You can use virtually any small skin-on fish fillets - approximately one large or two smaller fillets.
• Red Beans and Rice
  We make this with both black beans and kidney beans. It is so simple, filling and delicious.
• Sag Paneer
  Very simple and super tasty.
• Spaghetti Hamburger Casserole
  If you have been pregnant, Angela has probably made this for you...
• Stuffed Peppers
  This really is a quick meal to prepare, even though the cooking time is fairly long. To me, it is the perfect use of cumin. The tomato and peppers really let it shine.
• Swedish Meatballs
  This can be frozen, so make an extra batch.
• The Champagne of Chilis
  John and Dave won a local NYC chilli competition with this recipe. It is called the 'Champagne of' based on the Miller Beer that was put in the chili. Miller Beer's motto is the 'Champagne of Beers'
• Turkish fried lamb and potatoes
  I use a Pensey seasoning called 'Turkish spices', but I think this is pretty close. I tend to serve it with naans or another flatbread.
• Veal Marengo
  Julia Child's version is the one I grew up with. So I often add the following; orange zest or a 3 inch strip of peel, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon tarragon and I think she replaces the 1 c wine with 2 c vermouth!
• Veal Picata
  An absolute classic dish, and it deserves it.
• Vietnamese style pork and beef on lettuce
  Serve this in a bowl, hot. Eat on Cos lettuce leaves and spoon on the sauce.