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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Irish Examiner
Sarah Butler: Feed the whole gang with these fabulous, fast family favourites
Looking for quick, delicious meals the whole family will enjoy? These two recipes are perfect for busy weeknights when time is short but appetites are big! First up is our Harissa Chicken Pasta—a creamy, comforting dish ready in just 25 minutes. Juicy chicken, sautéed veggies, and pasta come together in a bold, smoky harissa sauce with a little heat and lots of flavour. Topped with melty parmesan and fresh basil, it's a guaranteed midweek winner that reheats beautifully for lunch the next day. For a weekend treat or a fun fake-away night, try the Homemade Spice Bag. This crowd-pleaser is loaded with crispy chicken goujons, golden chips, and colourful peppers, all tossed in a punchy spice mix. Kids will love helping in the kitchen—whether it's stirring the batter or shaking the final mix—and you'll love knowing exactly what's going into dinner. Both dishes are easy to prepare with ingredients you most likely already have at home. Whether you're feeding picky eaters or spice lovers, these recipes can be adapted to suit eveyone's tastes. Fast, flavourful, and family-approved—these meals are sure to become regulars on your dinner table! Harissa Chicken Pasta recipe by:Sarah Butler A quick and flavour-packed dinner that's ready in just 25 minutes. An ideal midweek meal it's easy, satisfying, and full of bold, smoky flavour. Servings 4 Preparation Time 10 mins Cooking Time 15 mins Total Time 25 mins Course Main Ingredients 4 chicken breasts 2 tbsp olive oil 40g butter 1 small red onion, thinly sliced 1 red pepper, thinly sliced 3-4 cherry tomatoes, halved 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tbsp harissa sauce 1 tsp tomato purée 100ml pasta water (reserved from cooking) 1 tbsp crème fraîche 100g grated parmesan Handful of chopped basil Salt and pepper, to taste 200g pasta (any type) Method Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Reserve 100ml of the pasta water before draining. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 20g butter in a large pan over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then pan-fry until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside. In the same pan, add the remaining oil and butter. Cook the onion, pepper, tomatoes, and garlic for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in the harissa sauce and tomato purée. Pour in the reserved pasta water and bring to a simmer. Stir in the crème fraîche and parmesan until melted and smooth. Add the cooked pasta and shredded chicken to the pan. Toss everything together until well-coated. Stir through the chopped basil. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve hot and enjoy! Sarah's secret This dish reheats really well so make extra for lunch the following day. Homemade Spice Bag recipe by:Sarah Butler If your family loves a good take-away treat, this Homemade Spice Bag is the perfect way to bring that magic to your own kitchen - packed with golden crispy chips, tender chicken goujons, and colourful stir-fried veggies. Servings 4 Preparation Time 15 mins Cooking Time 20 mins Total Time 35 mins Course Main Ingredients 3 chicken breasts, cut into strips (goujons) 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into thick chips 600ml sunflower oil (for deep frying) 1 red pepper, sliced 1 green pepper, sliced 1 white onion, sliced For the spice bag seasoning: 2 tbsp Chinese five spice 2 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp ginger powder 1 tsp Aromat (or substitute with a pinch of extra salt and MSG if preferred) 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp sugar For the batter: 200g plain flour 100ml buttermilk 100ml sparkling water 1 tsp baking powder Method Combine all spice mix ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, buttermilk, sparkling water, and baking powder until smooth. Heat 1 tbsp of sunflower oil in a pan over medium heat. Stir-fry the sliced peppers and onion for 2–3 minutes until just softened. Set aside. Boil the cut potatoes in salted water for 8 minutes. Drain and pat dry thoroughly with kitchen paper. Heat the oil in a deep pot or deep fryer to 180°C. (Tip: Drop in a piece of bread—if it sizzles and rises quickly, the oil is ready.) Carefully fry the dry chips until golden and crispy. Remove and drain on kitchen paper. Lightly coat the chicken strips in flour. Dip into the batter, then gently lower into the hot oil. Fry in batches for 4–5 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and drain on kitchen paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chips, chicken, peppers, and onion. Sprinkle the spice mix over the ingredients and toss everything until well coated. Sarah's secret Make a second spice mix and put it away, ready for another day to save time!
Extra.ie
13-06-2025
- Extra.ie
From Canada to Guatemala: Here's where you can find a spice bag abroad
There's nothing better than the taste of home while abroad, whether you're simply on your holidays or if you're an expat who frequently brings a suitcase of Tayto and Barry's (or Lyons) tea bags through the airport. What was once a humble takeaway treat only available on the Emerald Isle, the spice bag is slowly making its way around the globe. They can now be found in the most random parts of the world, like Guatemala, for example. Who would have thought!? We here at have decided to compile a list of countries and eateries where you can find the Irish delicacy while on your travels. Bon appétit! Spice bag. Photo: Getty. Craving the good stuff while in the States? Don't worry, there are several cities across the US that have the spice bag on their menu. Sure, most Americans have some percentage of Irish in them! If you're visiting or living in Washington DC, Irish Channel Restaurant & Pub has got you covered (Caitríona Perry, this one's for you). Located at the Fairfield Inn & Suites downtown, you can grab a spice bag for some $17, and if you're feeling fancy, the restaurant will add shrimp for an additional $6. The highly-rated bar describes the dish as 'an Irish favourite'. The description reads: 'Heavily seasoned fries, crispy chicken, peppers, sauteéd onions and jalapenos served in traditional Irish style.' Staying on the East Coast, New York City is, of course, the home of plenty of Irish pubs, but Molly's Shebeen Bar + Restaurant seems to be the most popular. The restaurant offers the Irish spice bag for $18 as an appetiser, but also serves some other delightful Irish grub for dinner, like shepherd's pie for $25, or Irish lamb stew for $29. We're sure the pints are grand too! Molly's is located on 3rd Avenue, just a short walk from Gramercy Park. Unfortunately, the West Coast leaves much to be desired if you're looking for a spice bag, except if you find yourself in San Francisco! Casement's Bar, located in the Mission District, offers a slightly different version of the delicacy for just $12, or $17 if you decide to add chicken goujons. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Casements (@casementsbar) 'The Spice Bag' is described here as 'spicy fries, with sautéed peppers, onions, ginger and Szechuan with Irish curry sauce'. If you don't find yourself a fan of this dish, the bar also offers a beef and Guinness stew for $20 or a chicken curry for $18. If you find yourself craving a spice bag in Toronto, BOBO Bento Box will be your best friend. For just CA$14.99, you can order the spice bag under the Irish-Chinese dishes on the menu. And if you're feeling something else, the restaurant offers curry chips for only $7.99, a 3 in 1 for $12.99, or a 4 in 1 for $14.99. If you want to go the extra mile, BOBO Bento Box also offer the 'All in 1', which is fries, rice, chicken, shrimp, calamari and curry sauce. Talk about fancy! On the other side of Canada, you will find the very delightful Emerald Dragon. Advertised as 'Vancouver's first Irish style Chinese', the spice bag might just look like the closest thing to the real deal back at home. A spice bag in Emerald Dragon will set you back $20, while their munchbox, containing salt and chilli chips, salt and chilli chicken balls, egg fried rice, spring rolls, and a large curry sauce, will cost you a whopping $45. Also in Vancouver is the popular Super Smash Burgers, who claim they have the spice bag done 'just right'. For $19.50, the takeaway even import the famous McDonnells curry sauce from Ireland! The takeaway also supplies the food to the Irish-owned and run Donnellan's pub downtown. Yes, really. The Irish spice bag has made it to Central America! If you happen to find yourself in the small city of Antigua, just over an hour's drive from Guatemala City, you will find The Snug, run by Dungannon native Rory Fox. @megnoticing spice bags in Guate – what a day #creatorsearchinsights #irishchinesefood #spicebag #guatemala #guatemalatravel #antiguaguatemala #irish #irishtiktok ♬ Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter The city's only authentic Irish bar boasts a 360-degree view of volcanoes. What can be better than that? A spice bag, of course! If you are living in or even just visiting Sydney, P.J. O'Brien's on King Street offers the spice bag for A$23.50, with an additional $4 for double curry sauce. In Molly Malone's Irish Tavern, located in Surry Hills, 'The Craic Pack' spice bag will set you back $24, offering 'fried chicken breast, potatoes, onions, peppers, and hot chips'. If in Perth, you will find a spice bag on the menu of Durty Nelly's Irish Pub. Located on Murray Street, the pub has been pouring 'the best' pints in the town since 1998. A spice bag from Durty Nelly's will set you back $26 (that's just under €15), and it comes with McDonnells curry sauce. Not too bad!
