Ham, Potato, Leek and Herb Hotpot.

I have now adapted the lunchtime menu at The Nook to change every couple of days which keeps me interested in always looking for new ideas and trying new dishes as well as the customer always having a new experience each time they come.
The menu always consists of our signature quiche dishes and then a couple of paninis or focaccia, a light bite and a hot dish of the day.
Searching through recipe books takes up a lot of my time but is well worth the effort when I find something that works well as a dish, and that customers love.

Few weeks back I found a James Martin recipe book in a local charity shop which had a few good ideas for ne to try and what a bargain at £2.00!
The book, called "Eating In With James Martin", contained a brilliant recipe for Ham, Potato, Leek and Herb which I tried and had great success with in the cafe and, since posting photos of my completed dish, I have been asked for the recipe.

So below is a photo of my dish and underneath the photo is James Martin's recipe for everyone who asked for it.

Ingredients:
1 Red Onion (peeled and finely chopped)
4 Garlic Cloves (Peeled and finely chopped)
2 Small Leeks (cleaned and sliced)
225g Butter
200ml White Wine
500ml Fresh Ham Stock (if you don't have the time or inclination to make ham stock, use fresh chicken stock, available from supermarkets)
450g New Potatoes (cooked)
550g Cooked Ham (cut into chunks)
Salt and Pepper
65g each of chopped, fresh Basil, Parsley, Chives and Coriander

Serves 4

Method:
1. Using about 55g of the butter, sauté the onion, garlic and leeks in a large pan until soft.
2.Add the white wine, ham stock, potatoes and ham and cook for 5-10 minutes until everything is hot.
3. Drain off the liquid, keeping the meat and vegetables warm. Gently simmer the liquid, adding the remaining butter bit by bit, whisking all the time to thicken the sauce. Do not boil.
4. Put all the ingredients back into the sauce and season. To finish, add all the chopped, fresh herbs. Serve piping hot.

Many other really good recipes can be found in this book. Well worth the money!!