Cooking with Richard – Harissa chicken with aubergine, pomegranate and tahini salad
Ever since getting an Outdooroven, community member Richard Vickers has shared his delicious Outdooroven recipes to Instagram. We took notice, so for our latest magazine we asked him to share one of his recipes. It’s time to properly start cooking with your Outdooroven! Read Richard’s recipe from our magazine below and check out his Instagram for even more inspiration.
Richard: “One positive outcome from the events of the last year or so is a renewed love of the outdoors. The ability to enjoy nature in the garden, whether a precious urban space or a country cottage, has become even more special. The warmth of the sun, the scent of flowers, the joy of hearing birdsong, that sense of wellbeing that only being outdoors can bring. Cooking outdoors is an almost magical activity, a wonderful combination of fire and food. Being able to share the experience of cooking and eating in the fresh air with loved ones, family and friends is without doubt extra special and memorable.
This meal is a truly sumptuous summer treat, rich in flavours, texture and colour. It is also very versatile, you can scale up the ingredients to suit the number of people. I prefer chicken thighs, but you can use fillets or even a whole chicken spatchcocked. I’ve added the recipe for the pitta breads because they are so easy to make, and delicious baked in the Outdooroven, but you can easily use shop bought ones and just warm them.”
Ingredients for harissa chicken:
- 6 chicken thighs/fillets
- 4 tbs harissa paste
- 2 tbs olive oil
Ingredients for pomegranate and tahini salad:
- 8 small aubergines
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 4 tbs tahini
- 4 tbs crème fraiche
- Few sprigs rosemary
- 2 cloves garlic
- Salt and pepper
- 1 red chill
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- 1 pomegranate seeds
- only 1 small bunch coriander
Ingredients for pitta breads:
- 2 tsp fast-action dried yeast
- 500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
To serve:
- 50g green pistachios
- 25g sesame seeds toasted
Method:
- Light the Outdooroven and get the heat up to 200c.
- Slice the aubergines in ½ lengthways. Mix the oil, chilli, rosemary and garlic. Then coat all over the aubergines and roast on a baking tray for 15 minutes.
- Whisk together the tahini and crème fraiche.
- Mix the chicken, harissa and oil. Season with salt and pepper, then place onto a baking tray.
- Cook for 30 minutes, or until the aubergines are ready.
- To serve, pile the chicken onto a platter, top with aubergines, dot with tahini mix and sprinkle on the coriander, pistachios and sesame seeds.
When making the pitta breads yourself:
- Mix the yeast with 300ml warm water in a large bowl. Leave to sit for 5 mins until the yeast is super bubbly. Then tip in the flour, salt and olive oil. Bring the mixture together into a soft dough. Tip the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead for 5-10 mins until you have a soft, smooth and elastic dough. Once kneaded, place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave to double in size, approximately 1 hour.
- Divide the dough into eight balls then flatten each into a disc with the palm of your hand. On a lightly floured surface, roll each disc into an oval; around 20cm long, 15cm wide and 3-5mm thick.
- Place your pittas directly onto the baking stone in the Outdooroven (you may have to do this in batches) and bake for 4-5 mins, or until the pittas have puffed up and are a pale golden colour.
About Richard Vickers
Together with his wife Alison, Richard Vickers lives in East Yorkshire, the United Kingdom. He loves spending time with his family in the local countryside and beaches, but there is one hobby that preoccupies most of his time: cooking!
We hope Richard’s recipe inspires you to try start cooking in your Outdooroven. Be sure to check out @richardfvickers on Instagram for even more Outdooroven recipe inspiration.
OUTDOOROVEN
US$1,213.00
This outdooroven is an eye-catcher in any garden! Enrich your garden or patio with the Outdooroven Original. From bread rolls for breakfast to pizza or sparibs for dinner: the outdoor oven is a real all-rounder and contains an outdoor fireplace, oven and barbecue grill in one. So you can enjoy adventurous meals outdoors all year round. In summer with a cocktail and in winter with a hot chocolate. In the lower open compartment the wood fire is stoked. Above it is a compartment with a lockable flap, in which you can bake. The top of the Outdooroven is flat and warm enough for cooking. The outdoor oven easily reaches temperatures up to 350 degrees and is expandable with various accessories. This iconic design by Dick van Hoff is made of high-quality 3mm thick Corten steel. The outdoor oven comes complete with pizza stone, grill grid and 1 meter stove pipe. Complete your Outdooroven with various accessories. Light a fire, make some goodies in the outdoor oven and chat with your friends while enjoying the crackling wood fire in the background.
GLOVES
US$54.60
Protective and sturdy: the leather Weltevree Gloves protect your hands from the heat and sparks of the oven while you chop wood, throw the blocks on the fire or do chores around the house or garden. The Gloves also keep your hands warm in the winter. NOTE: These gloves are not fully heat resistant and cannot be used as oven mitts, they are only to assist in stoking a wood fire on the outdoor oven or dutchtub.
WOODSTOCK SET
US$833.00
The Woodstock, designed by Dirk Wijnants, consists of two parts: the Woodstock Frame and the Woodstock Trolley. The elegant storage frame is particularly suitable for storing firewood and looks beautiful with your (garden) interior. In combination with the Woodstock Trolley, the frame can be used to effortlessly transport your wood stock. Because the trolley has integrated hooks, you can securely fasten the frame as well as your Outdooroven or a crate of beer. The Woodstock Set helps you transport more easily and safely. The frame and trolley are made of electrolytically powder-coated and galvanized steel, making them weatherproof. The Woodstock Set can be used both indoors and outdoors. The Woodstock Set makes stoking a fire even more fun.
Various options from US$413.00
PIZZA SHOVEL
US$54.60
The Pizza Shovel helps you take warm dishes and pizzas out of the oven with ease. The enhanced handle offers extra grip and helps to keep it upright without the risk of it tipping over. This way the blade stays clean and ready for use. Place the shovel next to your oven or hang it from a wall.
OUTDOOROVEN DOOR
US$334.60
The Outdooroven door matches any Outdooroven (new and already in use). When using the Outdooroven with door the temperature in the oven increases and the smoke is better extracted via the chimney, plus you will burn the wood more efficiently.
OUTDOOROVEN CHIMNEY COWL
US$96.60
The chimney cowl protects the Outdooroven pipe against possible incoming rain and acts as a spark arrestor.
SPLITTING AX
US$110.60
The sturdy Weltevree Splitting Ax is your companion when it comes to splitting wood for a fire. It’s strong steel blade cuts through wood with ease and helps you cut large logs into small, manageable pieces of firewood. The fine finishing and shape of the handle guarantee a comfortable grip while splitting wood.
CUTTING BOARD
US$63.00
The Cutting Board is a wooden serving platter with soft curves, a hole and a remarkable feature: the wood surrounding the hole creates a perfect round tube. The hole is big enough for a thumb to fit through, making it an ideal handle for serving. You can also hang the cutting board to save space in the kitchen.