Darina Allen

Celebrity Chef

Irish chef, food writer and TV personality, Darina Allen is a renown presence on the Irish food scene. And being the author of several food books on Irish cuisine has definitely paid off, as Darina shares with us a selection …

Crunchy Orange Butter Scones

Teatime anytime!

Food • 11 Oct 17

Old-fashioned Roast Turkey with Fresh Herb Stuffin

Turkey is now available all year round but I associate this dish with Christmas. This is my favourite roast stuffed turkey recipe. You may think the stuffing seems dull because it doesn't include exotic-sounding ingredients like chestnuts and spiced sausage meat, but in fact, it is moist and full of the flavour of fresh herbs and the turkey juices. Cook a chicken in exactly the same way but use one-quarter of the stuffing quantity given.

Christmas • 07 Dec 17

Ballymaloe Spiced Beef

Darina says: "Although spiced beef is traditionally associated with Christmas, in Cork it’s available all year round in the English Market. It may be served hot or cold and is a marvellous standby, because if it is properly spiced and cooked it will keep for 3–4 weeks in the fridge. Butchers often have their own secret recipe. This delicious recipe for spiced beef has been handed down in Myrtle Allen’s family and is the best I know. It includes saltpetre, nowadays regarded as a health hazard, so perhaps you should not live exclusively on it! Certainly people have lived on …

Christmas • 10 Mar 17

Jerusalem Artichoke Soup with Avocado and Roasted

Darina says: "Jerusalem artichokes are a sadly neglected winter vegetable. They look like knobbly potatoes and are a nuisance to peel, but if they are very fresh you can sometimes get away with just giving them a good scrub. Not only are they a smashing vegetable, but they are also delicious in soups and gratins. They are a real gem from the gardener’s point of view because the foliage grows into a hedge and provides shelter and cover for both compost heaps and pheasants!"

artichoke • 10 Mar 17

Medjool Dates with Crozier Blue Cheese

How easy can a delicious bite be? The blue cheese needs to be mild and meltingly ripe. We were served this delicious little morsel with a Swedish Blue cheese at Wardshuset Ulla Winbladh beside Skansen in Stockholm. It's become a favourite little nibble with a drink.

Food • 04 Oct 17