What better way to spend a Wednesday night in Toronto than meeting Ireland’s most lovely Celebrity Chef Clodagh McKenna, enjoying  a beautiful Irish Christmas dinner complete with a glass of Guinness! Doesn’t get much better than this!

We were invited to  Dish Cooking Studio for an intimate and interactive holiday entertaining event on November 28, 2018. Chef Clodagh McKenna shared her own personal holiday entertaining tips and tricks as well as providing a cooking demo of three holiday-inspired Guinness-based dishes perfect for the upcoming holiday season.  

Check out exclusive interview with Chef Clodagh on our audio podcast.

 

Check out all the recipes here below.

Guinness Prawn Tempura

METHOD
1. For the batter, sift the flour and soda together into a medium bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the egg and Guinness. Whisk from the centre outwards until just combined. Allow the batter to stand for a few minutes in a cool place.
2. Heat the canal oil in a deep heavy-bottomed pan until a breadcrumb sizzle and turn brown when dropped into it.

Dip the prawns into the batter

3. Dip the prawns into the batter and carefully add to the hot oil to deep-fry in batches for 2-3 minutes or until crisp and golden. Carefully remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
4. To make the chilli aioli crack the egg yolks into a bowl along with a teaspoon of dijon mustard and lightly whisk. Whisk the oils into the egg yolks slowly. The agile will begin to get thick and creamy. Stir in the white wine vinegar, garlic and chilli flakes. Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
5. Serve the chilli aioli with the Guinness prawn tempura log its the rosemary salt.

Roast Pancetta Wrapped Turkey with Guinness and Chestnut Gravy

METHOD
1.Pre-heat the oven to 4ooF/gas mark 6
2. If you are using a frozen turkey its best to thaw the bird in the fridge. A turkey will need about 24 hours to thaw for every 4 lbs. Take the turkey out of the fridge one hour before roasting to allow the meat to relax and come to room temperature,  which will make the meat more tender. Next remove the giblets from the inside the bird’s cavity because these cannot be cooked with the turkey. Wash the cavity and dry completely with kitchen paper, then season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

Fill the cavity of the turkey

3. Fill the cavity of the turkey with sprigs of fresh thyme, the cavity should only be filled half way to allow hot air to circulate and the turkey to to cook more evenly. Line the roasting tray first with the shallots, carrots, garlic and thyme. Place the turkey on top. This will flavour the turkey even whilst cooking.
4. Next stretch the strips of pancetta by rolling them with a rolling pin. Then arrange about three -quarters of the pancetta over the breast, overlapping the slices and wrap the legs and thighs with the remaining pancetta. Tuck the slices of orange around the turkey.
5. Lastly, place the turkey in the pre-heated oven. Then reduce the heat to 250F. After 45 minutes take the turkey out of the oven and baste the juices from the pan over the turkey. Cover loosely with tin foil and return to the oven and cook for three and a half hours. Continue to baste the turkey every 45 minutes.

Check to see if the turkey is cooked

6.Check to see if the turkey is cooked by inserting a skewer into the thickest part of the thigh. The juices should run clear. When you have taken the turkey out of the oven leave it to rest for 30 minutes with a loose tent of tin foil to keep it warm. This will allow the juices to redistribute themselves giving tastier meat.

7. Once the turkey has cooked and is resting on a board then make the gravy. Carefully pour 4 tbsp of the juices from the roasting tin into a saucepan and place over a medium heat. Whisk in the flour, followed by the Guinness chicken stock, thyme and bay leaf. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 min, then whisk in the chestnut  puree and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Strain the gravy into a jug, discard the herbs.

Guinness Maple and Ginger Pudding with Crystallized Ginger Caramel Sauce

METHOD

1. Sift the flour and soda into a bowl with the ground ginger. In a separate bowl, beat the butter with the sugar and maple syrup until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the Guinness. Fold the dry ingredients into the creamed butter and egg mixture adding the milk to give a soft dropping consistency. Stir in nuts and raisins.
2. Spoon the mixture into a glass bowl, then cover with greased grease proof paper and foil, ,making a pleat in the centre of both. Tie securely with string. Suspend the bowl over a saucepan half filled with water over a medium heat. When the water comes to a boil reduce the heat and reduce to simmer. Steam the pudding for 1 1/2 hours, checking regularly to make sure that the pan doesn’t boil dry.

Next make the crystallized ginger caramel sauce.

3. Next make the crystallized ginger caramel sauce. Place the butter, cream and maple syrup together in a small pan and stir over a low heat until well mixed. Bring to a boil, simmer for three minutes, then stir in the finely chopped crystallized ginger.
4. Carefully tip the pudding on to a serving plate or cake stand and pour the crystallized ginger caramel sauce on top.

Holiday Entertaining with Celebrity Chef Clodagh McKenna, Guinness, Chase Vodka and Irish Tears’ Whiskey