January is the month for cutting back on the excesses of Christmas and starting out as we all mean to go on. Resolutions are made to keep fit, eat less and keep off the booze. We asked five top Chester chefs to share their top tips on eating healthily and create a favourite dish to help us on our way.
Ben Finchett, head chef at the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill at the Doubletree by Hilton hotel and spa
Top tips
Use rapeseed oil for salads instead of other oils as healthier. Use spray oils when cooking instead of olive oils as less calories. Use crème fraiche in soups instead of cream when making your own soups to still give it that fab flavour!
Recipe
Saltimbocca of cod, chickpea hummous, Provençale vegetables
Ingredients (serves 2):
2 cod fillets
2 pieces of Parma ham
1 red, 1 green & 1 yellow pepper
1 courgette, 1 aubergine
Punnet of cherry tomatoes
Fresh micro basil
Sprig of rosemary
Olive Oil
Tub of plain hummous (200g)
Method
Wrap the cod in Parma ham. Dice peppers, courgettes and aubergines into inch dice, place on a baking tray and drizzle in olive oil, season with salt & pepper, then place in oven on 180°c for 5-6 minutes.
Half 10 cherry tomatoes, season with salt & pepper and rosemary, drizzle with olive oil and place in the oven on a baking tray on a low heat, 50°c for 4 hours. Warm the hummous in a pan with a drizzle of olive over a low heat, meanwhile place the pieces of cod onto a tray with grease proof paper on 180°c for 8 minutes. By the time the cod is ready the hummous should be warm enough ready to serve. Assemble to dish as per the picture. Place the cod piece in the centre of the plate, scatter the diced vegetables and baked tomatoes around the cod, drizzle gently with olive oil, and finish off with micro basil.
To see the recipes from the other four chefs clink on the links below:
Daniel Beech, sous chef at The Chester Grosvenor Hotel
Dave Ashton, head chef at Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel
Joe Wright, head chef at Joseph Benjamin Restaurant and PORTA Tapas Bar
Paul Wright, head chef at Chester Racecourse