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Lisa McGrillis is an actor. Born in Carlisle to Irish parents, Lisa grew up surrounded by family, food, and humour - three things that still shape her life today. She studied drama in Newcastle, got her start in regional theatre, and had her London breakthrough when Lee Hall’s Pitman Painters transferred to the National Theatre. Since then, she’s become a familiar face on stage and screen, from Mum alongside Lesley Manville to her current role as the gloriously over-the-top Valerie in Rivals. When she’s not filming in Bristol or learning lines, Lisa is at home in London with her husband, also an actor, and their two children. Food is central to her family life, a connection that runs deep thanks to her Austrian grandmother — “Big Nanny” — whose recipes still inspire Lisa’s cooking today. In this episode, Claire arrives at Lisa’s London home to cook one of those beloved family dishes: chicken schnitzel with Big Nanny’s potato salad. Together they peel, chop, and bread the chicken while reminiscing about Lisa’s roots, the chaos of raising kids, life on a busy TV set, and the joys (and nerves) of performing live theatre. There’s also a well-stocked fridge to explore, some very handy kitchen gadgets courtesy of Lisa’s dad, and a celebratory glass of Crémant to toast the cooking session. The result? A comforting family meal with a side of laughter, memories, and a glimpse into the real life of an actor balancing stage, screen, and supper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For this episode of 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast, Claire travels to Bristol to cook with England rugby prop Sarah Bern - just a stone’s throw from Ashton Gate Stadium, where Sarah hopes to be battling it out in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals this September. With her own flat mid-renovation, Sarah borrows a friend’s beautiful (and admittedly “too swanky to be mine”) kitchen for the occasion. Between whisking eggs and grating Pecorino for Sarah’s pre-match favourite, spaghetti carbonara (no cream allowed - “straight to hell” if you do, so they say), the pair dive into Sarah’s remarkable rugby journey. From earning her first England cap at 18, to playing in two previous World Cups, to preparing for the gruelling demands of the next, Sarah reveals the technical finesse of life as a tighthead prop - part maximum squat, part chess match. Sarah’s instagram @sarahbern3 is a paean to what it takes to be an athlete on the international stage, determination, ambition and a true love of the sport to which you are so utterly devoted to.  Carbonara doesn't take long to cook, and yet Sarah and Claire manage to fit an awful lot of chat into the time it takes to cook (and record) this classic Italian pasta dish, they discuss the reality of women’s rugby, the joy and rivalry of playing alongside (and sometimes against) her partner Mackenzie Carson, the sacrifices elite sport demands, and Sarah’s big ambitions beyond rugby - namely, swapping the scrum for the cockpit as a pilot. All the while, the guanciale sizzles, the pepper flows freely, and Sarah proves she’s as strong in the kitchen as she is on the pitch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Claire visits Oxford to cook with Alexandra Green, curator for Southeast Asia at the British Museum. Alexandra shares her passion for Southeast Asian food, shaped by her childhood in Malaysia and her love of rice and vibrant flavours. Together, they prepare Alexandra’s favourite quick and easy Thai chickpea curry – a comforting dish that blends classic Thai ingredients with a twist, reflecting Alexandra’s own culinary influences.As they cook, Alexandra talks about her fascinating role at the British Museum, looking after a vast collection of over 33,000 objects from across Southeast Asia. She discusses the importance of spices, their journeys across the world, and how food and objects connect cultures through time. Alexandra explains how she became the first dedicated curator for Southeast Asia at the museum, her work on exhibitions, and the ongoing efforts to share and document the region’s rich history.The conversation weaves together stories of family, travel, and the everyday joy of cooking. Alexandra reflects on the objects she cares for, from fish traps and mortars to contemporary art and ceremonial daggers, and what they reveal about the lives and histories of Southeast Asian communities. She also touches on the complexities of museum collections, the significance of transparency and access, and the role of curators in shaping the stories we tell about the past.With a warming bowl of Thai chickpea curry and plenty of good conversation, this episode is a celebration of food, heritage, and the connections we make through what we cook and collect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Susan Bennison, Sue for short,  is 92 years old and incredible with it. Claire travelled to rural Kent to bake a cake with Sue for this episode. Arriving outside a cottage that looks a little bit Beatrix Potter, a little bit Jane Austin complete with a very old and wonky stone doorstop which is surrounded by rambling roses, bluebells and peonies. The door opens and out pops a very sprightly Sue; “watch your step, this cottage is very, very old” instructs Sue, practically galloping off to the kitchen where Sue’s daughter Vicky is waiting to put the kettle on. Vicky is the founder of iconic Pasta Grannies channel on YouTube and also on instagram, but Claire and Sue don’t need any help from Vicky, no way, Sue is an accomplished cook and Claire begins to fully appreciate that Sue probably doesn’t need any help, from anyone, ever!  Sue gets cracking on the cake, no scales necessary, she’s made this so many times, she just “knows” … she also has the help of her trusty (and quite noisy!) Kenwood mixer circa 1952 “that mixer’s been down the Suez Canal with me on route to Kenya when I 1st got married aged 23!” Remarkably, the mixer still works, and is still in constant use with Sue, a keen baker still finding it a very “soothing” activity. Baking a cake with Sue was a lesson in having wisdom and good sense in cooking. The cake gets baked with an ease that Claire finds breathtaking. As the cake cools, Sue takes Claire for a turn around her beautiful garden, with Sue once again, reminding Claire to “watch your step over the cobbles there” as Sue strides ahead, at pace. Sue Bennison is remarkable for many reasons, she’s lived a very long and interesting life, that she still cooks from scratch most days “there’s the odd occasion I might have something shop bought, but not many” is very inspiring. Especially so as she has lived alone for the last 15 years, since her much missed husband passed away..  Sue Bennison is an inspiration to us all. A gardening and / or baking podcast career surely beckons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Andrews is a farmer. Ben comes from a very long line of farming, in fact, his family date back 7 generations. He’s also been voted the UK’s 3rd hottest farmer by Farming Weekly Magazine. And that’s not all, Ben is a voice person for farming and mental health and uses his social media to shine a spotlight on the contemporary agriculture landscape. Ben is also a supporter of the global LGBTQ+ farming network agrespect which promotes and supports diversity in the countryside.    Ben farms organic beef and vegetables, supplying Abel and Cole amongst other shops. He is also the beneficiary of Nuffield Farming Scholarship which supports young farmers seeking to explore the work of new and revolutionary farming communities world-wide. Ben is currently studying the water and river systems of New Zealand, how and why they are managed differently, in the hope his findings bring new insight to waterways and flood management here in the U.K.     The episode starts with Claire driving down tiny country lanes on route to Ben’s farmhouse. It’s a hot sunny day and the birds are chirping high up in the trees. There are also some sheep in the field next to Ben’s house, so enormous, that Claire first mistakes them for cows. It’s off to a good start for the recording!    Ben wants to cook Bulgogi beef, he’s using his own rump steak from the farm, naturally. Outside the BBQ is lit and together Ben and Claire make a start on cooking his Herefordshire take on a Korean classic, all the while tackling topics such as mental heath, clubbing in the countryside, his mum’s love of kitchen knickknackery, and his neighbour, “just over that hedge”, Monty Don.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Number 5 in 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast hears Claire cooking alongside Principal Ballerina from The Royal Ballet, Yasmine Naghdi. Claire has never met a ballerina before, nor indeed cooked with one. Yasmine is everything (and more) that Claire could have expected of a ballerina. Confident and poised (of course), Yasmine is also an extraordinary cook.    Yasmine’s roots are Belgian Persian, but she’s a born and bred South Londoner. Yasmine attended the Royal Ballet school from age 11 and has danced her way through the ranks to the very top of the institution. Earlier this month Yasmine announced the exciting news that she is expecting her first child later this year and plans to return to performing next year.    Claire and Yasmine meet at Yasmine’s parent’s house, “their kitchen is better suited than mine” says Yasmine, and immediately the pair start cleaning clams, picking herbs and chopping garlic. Yasmine is a meticulous and passionate cook, teaching Claire her way to make her very favourite pasta dish, Linguine Vongole.    Remarkably organised, clearly very skilled, Yasmine cooks exactly as you might imagine a ballerina would cook, and Claire is in awe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For this episode of 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast, number 4 in a series of 10, Claire travels to Sheffield to cook with the comedian Jaime Macdonald. Jamie is blind, extremely tall and very, very funny. The front door opens and out jumps Jamie’s new puppy as the recording begins. Claire is armed with some ingredients that Jamie has asked her to bring along to cook with. It’s a lean shopping list, to say the least and it has Claire asking questions from the off. Some Sea Bass, half a packet of Orzo, three Leeks and a jar of Cream Fraiche, but that’s just the beginning, far from it, ‘Nduja, Lemons, good Olive Oil and a remarkable set of weighing scales that can talk are soon wielded.   Cooking alongside Jamie was a riot. Lots of laughter, obviously, the pair discuss Edinburgh fringe, toxic masculinity, wild swimming, noisy owls, so-called Scottish risotto as cooked by his mum circa 1980s and Claire asks the silliest question Jamie has ever been asked. All the while, the fish gets fried, the orzo cooked along with the leeks, ‘Nduja and crème fraiche and together Jamie and Claire make lunch to eat in the sunshine.   It was a tonic to cook with Jamie, and apart from his talking measuring scales (Claire wants a set!), Jamie cooks exactly as anyone with sight would cook. Taste, as all good cooks know, is crucial, and Jamie has great taste, in abundance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For this episode of 5 O Clock Apron Podcast, Claire travels to Margate to cook with Ruby Rare. Ruby is a sex educator, that is to say, a force of nature with a mission to encourage and include everyone in her task to make the world a fairer and more accepting place when it comes to the enormous and thorny topics of sex, relationships and body positivity. In the podcast episode Claire and Ruby talk about the word ‘woke’ being misappropriated, the correct use of pronouns with Ruby saying she is she / her but “you can chuck a couple of they / thems in for good measure, if you like”, together the two discuss marriage VS non monogamous relationships, queerness, sex with friends, celebrating divorce and winter swimming. And all the while, Claire and Ruby cook alongside each other with a casual ease that Claire finds reassuring as it is enchanting. Surrounded by her father’s paintings and with Ruby’s Sri Lankan gorgeous tableware bought on a recent trip with her family, lunch with Ruby was one of the nicest and most illuminating lunches Claire has had in sometime. Claire leaves Ruby’s tiny seaside cottage with a slightly skewed lens on her world, a good thing, there is much to celebrate in the world with people like Ruby in the centre of it. Oh, and she’s also a great cook, that salad dressing was something else! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this 2nd episode of 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast with Good Food, Owen welcomes Claire into his gorgeous kitchen in Bristol and sets about cooking with a confidence and flair that can only come from people cook often and cook well. Owen Punselie works for Bristol Waste and Recycling managing a squad of 12 people working in waste management in the city of Bristol. He’s also an American full football scholarship alumni and fairly new to his role with Bristol Waste; “As jobs go, it’s a great cardiovascular workout,” he tells Claire, “you also end up walking up to 12 miles on shift with each recycling truck being responsible for processing the waste of up to 750 houses each day.” Owen introduces himself as Dutch with Nigerian heritage, mentions he likes Spanish food, not too keen on vegetables, and he really likes coconut milk. Owen tells Claire he’s going to show her how to make Paella, the coconut milk mystifies Claire, there is also Jerk seasoning and Soy Sauce in the line-up, not everyday paella ingredients. Owen can cook, it was his mum who taught him, and so with the pan bubbling and the kitchen smelling delicious, Claire and Owen ditch calling it paella, renaming the recipe instead, Owen’s Spicy Coconut Chicken Rice. Owen was a delight to cook with for the podcast, an absolute gentleman, who recycles with gusto.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To kick off the new series of 5 O' Clock Apron Podcast with Good Food Claire cooks with the giant of the airwaves, Amol Rajan. Amol is one of Radio 4’s Today program presenters, he also hosts BBC2’s legendary TV quiz show University Challenge. Amol Rajan Interviews on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds platform Amol interviewing momentous public figures from Bill Gates to Greta Thunberg to Sir Ian McKellen amongst others. Amol is a busy man with x4 children under 9 years of age, he’s up early to host the Today program and home late recording University Challenge, to make things easier, Claire and Amol meet at Good Food HQ in Hammersmith to record the episode. Amol arrives on his bike (of course he does!) and apologises to Claire for not arriving as is more customary, suited and booted. If you follow Amol on his social media and on TV, you’ll know this man is a snappy dresser!    Claire brings along some of her spice collection from home and Amol sets about teaching Claire his recipe for Paneer Curry and, apart from the stove top tripping a couple of times during the recording, the pair chop and chat like no tomorrow. Cricket, Cooking for Kids, Amol’s upbringing in south London, previous careers, hereditary diabetes and how to chop onions, speedily! Can Amol cook? Of course he can, he’s Amol Rajan! Amol Rajan’s Paneer Curry   2 blocks of paneer, approximately 400g total, diced 2cm 4 tbsp ghee 2 onions, peeled and finely diced 3cm piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated 3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped 300g cherry tomatoes, cut in half, or use diced tomatoes 200g frozen peas, defrosted 1 tbsp cumin seeds, toasted and ground, or use ground 1 tbsp coriander seeds, toasted and ground, or use ground ½ tsp ground turmeric ½ - 1tsp chilli powder, to taste Large bunch of coriander, finely chopped ½ lemon Cooked rice, to serve Indian pickles, to serve     1.     In a non-stick pan over a moderate – high heat, add ½ the ghee and fry the paneer with a pinch of salt, in batches if needed, until nicely bronzed on all sides, around 3 – 5 minutes. 2.     Remove from the pan and put the paneer on a plate and keep to one side. 3.     Return the pan to the heat and add the remaining ghee, add the onion and cook over a moderate for around 10 minutes to soften. Add a big pinch of salt, garlic and ginger and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the ground spices and cook for 30 seconds more. 4.     Add the tomatoes and a splash of water, around 2 - 3 tbsp should do, you want the contents of the pan juicy, but not soupy! Put a lid on the pan and cook for 10 minutes over a moderate heat for the tomatoes to soften and the flavours to meld. 5.     Add the peas, check the seasoning, add more salt if needed and plenty of black pepper. Cook for a couple more minutes to heat the peas through. 6.     Add the cooked paneer to the pan and stir to warm through in the pan. Check the seasoning, adding more salt and pepper, as needed. 7.     Remove the pan from the heat and stir through with the chopped coriander and the lemon juice. 8.     Serve the paneer curry with some steamed rice and Indian pickles to accompany.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chef and food writer Claire Thomson is back with a brand-new series of the 5 O’Clock Apron podcast with Good Food! In this series, Claire invites another incredible line-up of guests into the kitchen - from a comedian to a Royal Ballet dancer, a waste and recycling worker to a rugby player - and many more. Together they cook favourite home recipes while sharing stories, laughter, and the odd kitchen mishap. Episodes drop weekly from 18th June. Follow now and join Claire for some delicious kitchen companionship! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of 5 O’Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with fish merchant Robin Turner. Robin’s family have been involved in the Cornish fishing industry for 5 generations and what Robin doesn’t know about fish isn’t worth knowing. Learn how to select the freshest fish, how fish change with the seasons, and what Claire will need to do if she wants to catch a mackerel. The podcast is recorded on the beach at Mousehole, near the South West Coastal Path, and attracts the attention of passers-by intrigued to see the pair cooking such delicious food in the sunshine on a camping gas stove. Robin cooks an old and locally famous dish of Mackerel with 'Cat’s Whiskers' sauce. Intrigued? We certainly were!  This podcast is a brilliant listen for anyone heading to the seaside this summer, and for those who want to know more about fabulous local Cornish produce. Thank you Robin for sharing your colossal knowledge of fish. Recipe: Serves 2 2 mackerel filleted  200mls double cream 1 heaped tsp mustard powder 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar  Salt and pepper, to taste  Splash of oil, to cook the fish Robin served this with some pink peppercorn and kombucha pickled radishes  Baguette or some boiled potatoes, to serve  Get a good pan hot over a high to moderate heat. Add the mackerel fillets skin side down, giving them a gentle press to stop them curling up - see reel. Cook for around 2 - 3 minutes then flip and cook 30 secs to 1 minute on other side (depending on thickness of fillets). In a separate saucepan, add the mustard powder and vinegar and mix together, over a low heat add the cream and season well with salt and pepper to taste, warm through and serve the Cat’s Whiskers Sauce alongside the fried mackerel immediately. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of 5 O’Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with RNLI lifeguard Gavin Philpotts. The podcast is recorded in the sand dunes above Sennen Beach, just below the lifeguard hut. With the sun shining bright and the lifeguard’s radios in bleeping distance, Claire and Gavin carve a space to cook with a lifeguard rescue board as their work surface. Claire arrives with some mackerel bought that morning in Newlyn and the pair get busy preparing a tabbouleh to go alongside, Gavin also contributes some roasted beets which he brought from home that morning.  With the iconic 90’s TV series Baywatch as Claire’s reference for all things lifeguard, coupled with the countless lifeguards Claire and her family spot on Cornish beaches each summer, meeting and cooking alongside Gavin was a real highlight.  We talk saving lives, long distance swimming, rip currents, weever fish and where lifeguards go in the wintertime. Huge thanks to RNLI for covering Gavin as he cooked with us, after all lifesaving can never stop, for whatever the reason, my podcast included. Find out more about the RNLI and Sennen beach here: Sennen Beach - RNLI Lifeguarded Beach in Cornwall Follow Claire at 5 O' Clock apron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5oclockapron Make this recipe. It is the very essence of summertime in Cornwall via The Levant. Serves 2 2 mackerel, filleted  2 tbsp olive oil to fry and 3 -4 tbsp olive oil for the dressing 50g bulgar wheat, soaked in boiling water for 15 mins then drained  1 cucumber, diced small 4 spring onions 1/2 - 1 green or red chilli, finely diced  1/2 red onion, finely diced  Around 20 cherry tomatoes, diced small  1 clove garlic, finely grated  Big bunch of mint Big bunch of pulses  Fruit, any or all, I’m using in season 3 ripe apricots, diced small  1 lemon, 1/2 juiced, 1/2 cut into quarters to serve 1 - 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses  1/2 - 1 tsp dijon mustard (Gavin’s inclusion) Pinch of ground cumin Pinch of ground cinnamon  Beetroots, roasted with salt in tin foil until soft, chopped into quarters  Seasoned yoghurt, to serve Method; Make the tabbouleh first. Get all the salad ingredients in a bowl and make the dressing by mixing together the mustard, pomegranate, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil and season well with salt and pepper. Dress the tabbouleh and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Get a good pan hot over a moderate - hot heat. Add 2 tbsp of olive oil and heat until just shimmering. Add the mackerel fillets skin side down, giving them a gentle press to stop them curling up. Cook for around 2 - 3 minutes then flip and cook 30 secs to 1 minute on other side (depending on thickness of fillets). Serve the fried mackerel with the tabbouleh, roasted beets and seasoned yogurt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of 5 O’Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with the Cornish Witch Emma Griffin. The podcast is recorded in a magical shed at the bottom of Emma’s garden, next door to a graveyard. Alongside Emma is her witches' companion, or familiar, her dog, Walter. Claire and Emma are cooking a ‘Protective’ Potato Salad with chicken and bacon on a camping stove and space is tight, what with the broomsticks and the cauldron, so Emma’s husband Steve kindly boils potatoes in the kitchen. Emma’s witchcraft is boundlessly positive and together Claire and Emma talk good vs evil, recipes as spells, failed gangsters, sea witches and building towers of yumminess. Claire has never met, not least cooked with a witch before, so the learning curve is a steep and ridiculously joy-filled one.  The podcast ends with Claire happy in her newfound kitchen witchery and Emma’s recipe is a brilliant example of just how similar the disciplines of witchcraft and cookery really are. Thank you Emma, we’ll be back! Follow Claire at 5 O' Clock apron on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/5oclockapron Follow Emma on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/emmagriffinwitch/ If you have enjoyed this podcast it would be an immense help if you could rate, subscribe or leave a review. Recipe: ‘Protective’ Potato Salad with ‘Secret’ Ingredient Chicken, Maple and Bacon. To feed x4  2 large chicken breasts, diced  6 rashers of streaky bacon 2 tbsp olive oil 600g small new potatoes Soft lettuce, I used large butterhead  4 spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced  Dressing: 2 tbsp mayonnaise  1 tbsp thick greek yogurt  1 tbsp balsamic vinegar  1 tbsp maple syrup  1 heaped tsp dijon mustard Juice of 1/2 lemon Salt and Pepper, to taste  Secret Ingredient info: Emma used @nandosuk medium chicken seasoning powder, and it was great, Emma is a witch and I’m a chef, so I made my own and this is what I used; 1 heaped tsp unsmoked paprika  1/4 tsp medium heat chilli powder 1 heaped tsp dried oregano  1 heaped tsp ground cumin 1 heaped tsp ground coriander  Few shakes of smoked paprika  2 cloves garlic, finely grated  2 tbsp olive oil Zest of 1/2 lemon Lots of black pepper and salt, to taste    Boil the potatoes until soft. Drain & keep warm. Marinade chicken in olive oil & the secret ingredients, or do as Emma does & use @nandosuk chicken seasoning powder. Leave for 30 mins, or less. Cook bacon in a pan over a moderate heat in a dry pan until crisping up, remove from pan, leaving fat behind in pan to cook chicken. Add a splash more olive oil to pan & cook chicken pieces over moderate heat until fully cooked through. Remove from heat & rest. Meanwhile, make dressing, mix mayonnaise, yoghurt, lemon juice, maple syrup, balsamic & mustard together & season well with salt & pepper. Dress warm potatoes with salad dressing & add the spring onions. Arrange lettuce on a serving plate & pile on with warm, dressed new potatoes. Add chicken & break up the bacon pieces to serve. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of 5 O’Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with the wildlife cameraman, TV presenter, author and winner of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, Hamza Yassin. The podcast is recorded in a tent at The Hay Literary Festival. Hamza is there to talk about his latest book ‘Be a Birder’ and Claire was there to cook a date and tomato tagine with him after he finished his long and busy day. Hamza is an extraordinary guest to cook alongside, gracious and charming, he’s a once in a lifetime, next-generation David Attenborough type contender. The world and all it’s wildlife salute you Hamza. Claire and Hamza talk Sudanese food, the perils of having your grandmother marry you off each time you return home, silent food to eat in a hide, pet monkeys, how bird spotting is really like Pokemon, rugby, Scotland and Pop-Eye The Sailor Man. Hamza’s book, 'Be a Birder' is available here. https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk/titles/hamza-yassin/be-a-birder/9781856755108/ Follow Claire at 5 O' Clock apron on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/5oclockapron If you have enjoyed this podcast it would be an immense help if you could rate, subscribe or leave a review. Recipe: TOMATO, DATE + CHICKPEA TAGINE 2 onions, finely sliced or chopped  4 garlic, finely chopped  Olive oil, 2 - 3 tbsp 2 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp ground ginger 1 large cinnamon stick Salt and pepper, to taste 700g chickpeas, I used @boldbeanco 400g polpa (chopped) tomatoes 40g dates  1/2 preserved lemon, finely chopped  Couscous, cooked as per packet instructions, to serve  Harissa, to serve Coriander, roughly chopped, to serve In a heavy bottomed saucepan with a lid (or use a tagine dish) heat the oil over a moderate heat and cook the onions until golden brown (around 10 mins), add the garlic and cook for a couple of minutes more. Blitz the tomatoes with the dates. Add the ground spices and the cinnamon stick to the onions and garlic and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and dates, rinse out the container in which you blended them with around 80mls of water, add that to the pan. Add the chickpeas (I didn’t bother draining them). Season the mix with salt and plenty of black pepper. Lid on and cook over a moderate / low heat on the stove top, or in the oven, at 180C for around 25 - 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, check the seasoning, remembering the preserved lemon is salty, add the preserved lemon and stir well. Prepare the couscous as per instructions on packet (or do as I do in the reel, and toast the couscous in a dry pan until nutty shade of brown before carefully adding the boiling water and lemon juice). Serve the tagine with the couscous, coriander and harissa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices