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PULSES AND GRAINS
General

  • Cook in stock for an improved taste.

  • Speed up cooking time by using boiling water from the kettle.

  • Add to soups and stews.

  • Create ‘dahl dips’, cook and puree with garlic, spices etc.

  • Cous cous – dip fish into cous cous before frying for a crispy coating. Or do the same with burger patties/veggie patties or fish cakes.

  • Use up salad/vegetables by chopping and mixing through cous cous and serving as an accompaniment to meals.

    Couscous

  • Cook the couscous as directed on the packet. Add lemon juice and a drizzle of Merchant Gourmet Garlic Infused Oil. Add freshly chopped mint and parsley and serve with grilled or roasted chicken or fish.

  • Cook the couscous as directed on the packet, substituting fish, meat or vegetable stock for a richer flavour.

  • Serve freshly cooked couscous with roasted poussin, chicken or guinea fowl, mixing the juices from the roasted meat with the couscous just before serving.

  • Mix cooked couscous with pesto and chopped sun dried tomatoes. Use to stuff roasted red peppers before topping with Parmesan cheese and grilling.

    Black Beluga® Lentils

  • Pan-fry streaky bacon until crispy. Add some red onion and sliced mushrooms and sauté until soft. Stir in cooked Black Beluga® Lentils, some roasted red pepper and a pinch of dried chilli flakes and stir until warmed through.

  • Mix cooked and cooled Black Beluga® Lentils with finely chopped tomatoes, diced chorizo and chopped black olives. Stir in some sun dried tomato sauce, crème fraiche or pesto and use to top crostini.

  • For a simple and delicious Black Beluga® Lentil, Chestnut and Mushroom Pate, place cooked and cooled Black Beluga® Lentils into a food processor, add some Merchant Gourmet Chestnut Pieces and some sautéed mushrooms. Blend until the mixture resembles a course pate. Add some chilli, garlic and a drizzle of olive oil along with some fresh herbs and serve with hot toast.

    Polenta

  • Chop set polenta into small cubes and deep fry. Allow to cool and use as croutons in soups and salads.

  • Punch up your polenta’s flavour by adding grated Parmesan, fresh herbs, pesto or sun dried tomato sauce during cooking.

  • Mix soft polenta with pesto and line a tart tin, leave to set. Once firm, fill with your favourite tart fillings.

  • Chop set polenta into cubes and thread onto kebab skewers, alternate the polenta with SunBlush® Tomatoes and chunks of halloumi cheese and barbecue.

  • Add olive oil, freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a generous seasoning of salt & black pepper to soft polenta and serve alongside your favourite meat, fish or vegetable casserole.

    Puy Lentils

  • Sauté some cubes of Chorizo sausage and roasted red pepper in olive oil. Stir in some freshly cooked Puy Lentils and a tablespoon of crème fraiche or natural yoghurt and use to top crostini of fill mini tart cases and serve as a canapé.

  • Puy Lentils are a delicious addition to soups. Add them to vegetable broths or create a rich winter soup with Puy Lentils, chunks of sausage and winter vegetables, stir in some crumbled blue cheese or a swirl of cream.

  • Mix freshly cooked Puy Lentils with thyme and roasted garlic. Stir in chunks of goat’s cheese and serve with wedges of roasted butternut squash or pumpkin.

  • Cooked and cooled Puy Lentils make a delicious and filling salad when dressed with extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs, and topped with grilled fish or chicken.

  • Puy Lentils mixed with roasted peppers, caramelised red onions and goat’s cheese makes a wonderful tart filling or topping for pizza and foccacia.

  • Add baby spinach to just cooked Puy Lentils and allow the spinach to wilt. Season with freshly grated nutmeg and serve alongside roast pork or sausages, with rich onion gravy.
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