I feel like I have been neglecting my vegetarian friends so here is a Quorn recipe I make for my daughter-in-law Tracy. Just so my son and daughter are not left out I replace the Quorn with chicken. I have been trying to make Quorn recipes in earnest for the last three years, since I retired and decided to cook for the kids once a week. Now I feel I am on a mission. Quorn have actually made a great cookbook and also have recipes on-line but I still like to experiment. This recipe is easy to make and really tasty. It is perfect for a vegetarian of course, but also is great for anyone on a diet. I’m not sure how it fits with the Slimming World diet but I seem to remember Quorn is free on Green days. Perhaps my friend Ali could let me know?
Did you know that Quorn was actually invented to help solve world hunger? In the early 1960’s there was a predicted population growth that threatened food and protein supplies. Scientists were trying to find a solution and even looked to making protein out of coal and saw dust! In 1965, Lord Rank, who owned a Company that includes the Hovis brand, decided to put this as a challenge to his Research and Development department. In 1967 an organism was found occurring naturally in the soil in a field in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. I cannot think for the life of me why they would be looking there!! There was obviously a lot of work to do to make this into a mycoprotein, turn it into something edible, pass all the strict food laws and make it in sufficient quantities that they could supply demand. It wasn’t until 1985 that the first retail product was launched, a vegetable pie. Research continued and in 1990 the first Quorn branded cooking product was launched, Quorn cooking pieces. Today Quorn make over a 100 different products in their ready meals section, as well as a full range of products to enable customers to make their own meals up.
Quorn itself is almost flavorless so when you make a recipe you have to make sure there is plenty of flavour in the other ingredients as the Quorn will take this on. Curries, chillies and pasta sauces are obvious excellent choices and I have experimented successfully with many of these. However, Tracy is pregnant at the moment and curries is definitely off her food list. Hence the pie. I hope you give it a try. Here is the recipe. If, like me, you are not too keen on Quorn, replace it with cooked chicken, its lovely.
Quorn chicken and tarragon pie Serves 2
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 150g Quorn chicken style pieces
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 3/4 pint milk
- 1 tsp dried tarragon
- 2 small handfuls of frozen peas
- Salt and pepper
- 500g potatoes (suitable for mashing)
- knob of butter
- a little extra milk
- Fry the onion in the oil over a low heat for about 10 minutes until it is softened but not coloured. Add the Quorn pieces, stir around and cook for another 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- In a separate pan, make the tarragon sauce. Melt the butter then add the flour. Mix well and cook for a minute. Very slowly, to avoid curdling, add the milk. When all the milk has been added stir in the tarragon and continue to cook over a medium heat until the sauce thickens. Season to taste.
- Add the sauce to the Quorn mix and stir in the peas. Cook over a low heat for about 10 minutes then place the mix evenly in an ovenproof dish.
- Meanwhile,cook the potatoes in salted water. When tender, mash with the butter and milk to make a creamy consistency. Top the Quorn mix with the potato then cook in a preheated oven, 190C/180C fan/Gas 4, for 25-30 minutes or until the potato is browned on top and the base is bubbling.
Tasty Advice 