Hairy Bikers' best-ever dinner recipes

Meaty and more-ish recipes from Britain's favourite cooking duo.

Passionate about motorcycles and good food, the lovable Hairy Bikers, whose real names are Si King and Dave Myers, have travelled the world together in search of new ideas and inspiration to use in their cooking. Now with over 20 cookbooks under their considerably smaller-than-when-they-started waist belts – the pair famously lost 7st between them – we take a look at their best recipes.

Beef Stifado

This rich stew made with pork, rabbit or beef is a comforting feast for one or can be cooked for a group. Inspired by traditional Greek stifado, the recipe has lots of Mediterranean flavours in the marinade as well as spicy undertones from the red wine, cloves, allspice and cinnamon. Serve with short macaroni-style pasta so the little tubes soak up all the saucy goodness.

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Steak and ale pie

Everyone loves a pie, but this steak and ale beauty is extra decadent. Slice through a crisp puff pastry crust to reveal a rich filling of melt-in-the-mouth beef chunks, juicy chestnut mushrooms, bacon and an ale-ey sauce. Opt for steak that’s well-marbled to get the most flavour. Wilted green cabbage makes an excellent side dish.

Roast belly of pork

This recipe is a great centrepiece for a Sunday Roast or family gathering. First, the pork belly is cooked on high so the rind bubbles and becomes really crisp. Then it continues roasting alongside the apples, onion and sage to take on heaps of extra flavour. The juices are saved and spiked with cider to make a wonderful gravy to accompany the meat.

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Lamb vindaloo

The Hairy Bikers are passionate about good curries and a hot vindaloo is one of their favourites. It comes from the Goa region of India, which was once a Portuguese colony so it has Portuguese influence. This one follows the tradition of first marinating meat in vinegar before cooking with Indian spices such as cinnamon and chilli. Serve with rice, warm naan bread and cooling yogurt.

Meatloaf with gravy

A classic American dish, this meatloaf recipe is well suited to carnivores as it uses three types of meat – minced beef (ground beef), minced pork (ground pork) and sausage. All three release tonnes of juice which can be used later. Coat with a sweet and spicy tomato glaze if you fancy and serve thick slices with your homemade gravy.

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Spicy bean hotpot

A hearty bean hotpot makes an epic mid-week feast and is great if you’re trying to reduce your meat intake. Kidney beans, cannellini beans, sweet potato and a topping of buttered, sliced potato makes it filling, while smoky spices give it a kick. It’s simple to make, baking for 35 minutes in the oven. You know it’s cooked when it’s lightly browned on top and the filling is bubbling.

Potted salmon

Smoked salmon fans will love this elegant potted salmon dish which works wonderfully as an afternoon treat or starter. It combines fresh salmon fillets with smoked salmon, lemon zest, butter, dill and cream cheese for something that is tantalisingly rich. Spread over hot toast and witness your problems melt away.

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Wild boar ragù

This meat is experiencing a renaissance. Once wiped out from overhunting, British farmers are now raising wild boar again. The key to creating the best ragù is to brown the boar first then stew it low and slow until the meat falls apart. This also gives the tomatoes, red wine, pancetta and beef stock time to mull together and deepen in flavour. Juniper berries and herbs add a nod to the wild boar’s woodland origins too.

Crayfish macaroni cheese

Taken from Hairy Bikers’ Mississippi Adventure, this indulgent dish is a Southern take on macaroni cheese. Use both Gruyère and cheddar in the cheese sauce, plus paprika, nutmeg and cayenne pepper for spice. Stir in chorizo and crayfish tails for even more luxury. Then give it a crispy, golden breadcrumb gratin lid.

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Lead image: HairyBikers/Facebook

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