Bland casserole :(

[Biddlybee]

Made myself a casserole today (my first)... put in lamb, potaoes, carrots, swede, onions, mushrooms, leeks, salt, pepper and stock - left it on a low heat in the oven for a couple of hours... just had a bowl and it was really really bland

Is there anything I can add to it, now that it's cooked, to make it taste a bit better?

(good job I didn't invite my mate round for tea like I was planning to )

 

[citydreams]

wouldn't of thought leek and swede go together but some red wine might perk it up?

have you served it with some crusty bread and butter

 

[Biddlybee]

It was only a tiny bit of left over leek.

Didn't really serve it - just put some in a bowl and ate it

 

[Orang Utan]

Stick a bay leaf in next time.
I guess you could use Worcestershite Sauce if you were really really desperate

 

[citydreams]

I've got a bay tree and never used it apart from the obligatory leaf in spaggy bol.. do you add them from the start?

 

[Biddlybee]

Stick a bay leaf in next time.
I guess you could use Worcestershite Sauce if you were really really desperate

oh, forgot that off the list... there was a bayleaf and a sprig of rosemary in there too... maybe it's meant to taste like this and my tastebuds are dead

 

[Xanadu]

Did you brown the meat first?

A glass of red wine?

Squeeze of tomato paste?

 

[Xanadu]

What stock did you use?

 

[Orang Utan]

I've got a bay tree and never used it apart from the obligatory leaf in spaggy bol.. do you add them from the start?

Yep - I always put a couple in actually - I say always, I haven't made one for years, I don't have a casserole dish in my present home - I would positively kill for a Le Creuset

 

[Orang Utan]

oh, forgot that off the list... there was a bayleaf and a sprig of rosemary in there too... maybe it's meant to taste like this and my tastebuds are dead

Oops, I made a typo

 

[Biddlybee]

Yep, browned the meat (very quickly mind). Used stock cubes.. erm mix of chicken and beef

Maybe I'll put in a little bit of tomatoe paste.

 

[Biddlybee]

Oops, I made a typo

understandable, seeing as it's a bay tree (not a bayleaf tree)

ahhhhh... you made 2 typos

 

[trashpony]

Yep - I always put a couple in actually - I say always, I haven't made one for years, I don't have a casserole dish in my present home - I would positively kill for a Le Creuset

You can get pretty good pretend Le Creuset from Ikea - mine's brilliant

 

[Orang Utan]

understandable, seeing as it's a bay tree (not a bayleaf tree)

ahhhhh... you made 2 typos

No, I typed Worcestershite not Worcestershire

 

[Biddlybee]

No, I typed Worcestershite not Worcestershire

hence.. 2 typos

 

[Xanadu]

Yep, browned the meat (very quickly mind). Used stock cubes.. erm mix of chicken and beef

sounds... interesting

I always coat my meat in some flour then brown it til it caramelises quite a bit on the outside. The flour helps thicken the juices

 

[Orang Utan]

hence.. 2 typos

You just added that

 

[Biddlybee]

I always coat my meat in some flour then brown it. Helps thicken the juices

yep, did that too... and the juices were really runny... I'm having an off cooking day I think.

 

[citydreams]

some grated parmesan is always good, or some sour cream.

 

[Biddlybee]

I've got sour cream and double cream, would they add flavour or just make them creamier?

 

[citydreams]

depends if you can taste the difference between them

I prefer sour cream in hot dishes.. I think they allow flavours to become more contrasted

 

[Biddlybee]

You just added that

I know... I was a bit slow in seeing your intentional typo

 

[Orang Utan]

I know... I was a bit slow in seeing your intentional typo

It wasn't intentional but it might as well stand

 

[Orang Utan]

Just experiment with something completely incongruous

 

[Biddlybee]

Will give it a little squeeze of tomato puree, maybe a bit more pepper and salt.. and see what happens. My flatmate suggested a sprinkle of chilli powder.

 

[Orang Utan]

Icing Sugar?
Treacle?
Cocoa?

 

[Biddlybee]

you're just being silly now

I'll leave those for my cakes

 

[vipper]

Chilli sauce.

 

[Callie]

Icing Sugar?
Treacle?
Cocoa?

treacle is actually a nice ingredient to add to stewy/casseroley things, just a touch though

 

[Biddlybee]

Ok, I take it back Orang.

I have used chocolate in chilli con carne before... but don't have treacle in my cupboard at the mo.