AGA ATC3AUB Introduction To Cooking Methods

An Introductory AGA Recipe book - the 10 cooking methods

he launch of AGA Total Control provides
the opportunity to reflect on why the AGA

T

Gustav Dalén, the inventor of the AGA, recognised that the
ingredients, the recipes and the correct application of heat –
essentially an engineering question – have to come together to create
great food. The radiant heat from all around from the cast iron walls
of the AGA cooker, is simply a better cooking method than typical
conventional ovens provide.

And when it comes to double ovens and multi-functional ovens, the
AGA was there first.

So with the AGA, cooking is healthy with more vitamins and minerals
retained and less fat used.

And with all 10 ways of cooking the benefits of the AGA stand out.
Using examples from the new AGA Total Control Recipe book,
here is a short review of how the AGA covers all cookery techniques.
I am sure you will enjoy it.

remains the world’s best cooker.

Best wishes

Dawn Roads

AGA Cookery Editor

Grill

Casserole

Succulent steaks and chops cooked on your AGA boiling plate in the special cast iron grill

pan. Fierce heat reminiscent of a charcoal grill sears the outside of the meat, sealing in
flavour and juices, while the meat gently cooks to perfection on the inside.

Oven grilling for a full English breakfast at the top of the roasting oven is so easy, sausages,
bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms in one large pan, no cleaning off fat splashes from the top plate

Grill direct on the simmering plate

Toast

Using the special wire toaster, you can make the famous AGA toast crunchy-on-the-outside and

fluffy-in-the-middle. AGA toast tastes better and even looks better: every slice is branded with the
distinctive waffle pattern. Carried out on the boiling plate or on the simmering plate with no toaster
required for toasted sandwiches.

Stir Fry

Tackle Asian cookery with an AGA wok on the boiling plate for fast stir fries and quick cooking.

The AGA simmering oven’s gently persistent heat helps you create richer, juicier casseroles, stews

and slow-roasting or braising large cuts of meat. It slow cooks for hours. Also can be undertaken
on slumber mode on the AGA Total Control cooker.

Boil

Water boils so fast on an AGA. The AGA boiling plate cooks so rapidly that fresh vegetables retain

more of their natural flavour, colour and nutrients. Provides a good rolling boil for making quick jam.

Roast

Roasts are superb – cooked evenly throughout because, unlike conventional cookers, the heat
comes from all directions, not just one. Shrinkage and dryness are reduced because there are no
flames or elements inside the ovens to dry out the meat. Roasted vegetables are full of
Mediterranean flavour and roast potatoes are brown and crispy. All undertaken in the
roasting oven.

Slow-roasting is ideal carried out in the simmering oven or when the roasting or baking oven is
on slumber.

Fry

Creating crunchier-on-the-outside, moister-on-the-inside fried / sautéed chicken

Simmer

The simmering plate of the AGA Total Control is so gentle it allows milk to heat without boiling over,

10 COOKING METHODS

2

make sauces and simmer soup.

The AGA simmering oven, or the roasting and baking ovens, when on slumber slow cooks for hours
– even overnight – gently coaxing casseroles, stock, soups, curries, and bolognaise to perfect
tenderness while you’re at work, running errands, or simply relaxing.

Bake

Like a traditional baker’s brick oven, the AGA roasting and baking ovens provide all-around,

consistent heat, to create feathery pastries, ever-so-moist cakes, and perfectly baked breads.
Sweet and savoury can be cooked together without intermingling of flavours.

Steam

In the AGA simmering oven or on slumber mode on the AGA Total Control you can steam a sponge
pudding to perfection without turning your kitchen into a sauna. Also unpleasant, lingering,
cooking smells are banished and no topping-up is required. Steaming root vegetables locks in their
full flavour and nutrients.

The Full English

When nothing but an English breakfast will do.
Any late-wakers in the house will be tempted out
of bed with the irresistible lure of sizzling bacon.

Place a piece of Bake-O-Glide in the large AGA roasting tin and

Grill

place halved tomatoes, the mushrooms and black pudding in
the base. Place the sausages on the grill rack and place the rack
over the tomatoes and mushrooms.

Grill the sausages at the top of the roasting oven for 12-15 minutes,
turn the sausages over and add the bacon, return to the top of the
roasting oven for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile place a little fat into the half size roasting tin, lined with
Bake-O-Glide, heat on the floor of the roasting oven. When the fat is
hot break in the eggs and return to the floor of the oven to cook to
your liking (cooking in the oven saves fat splashes on the top plate).

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

6 tomatoes, halved

6 mushrooms

6 slices of black pudding

8 good quality sausages

6 rashers bacon

4

4-6 free range eggs

Variations

Eggs In Fried Bread

Use the AGA toaster on the boiling plate to toast the bread one side,
cut a circle out of the centre of the slice of bread. Place the bread
untoasted side down in the base of the hot roasting tin and break
an egg into the circle. Return to the floor of the roasting oven for
3-5 minutes, depending on how well cooked you prefer the egg.

No-Fat Fried Egg For One

If cooking for one try the no-fat method. Place a circle of Bake-O-Glide
onto the simmering plate, up to heat and break an egg into the
centre. Close the simmering plate cover, this will create a micro-climate
to cook (but not colour) the egg from the top and the heat from the
simmering plate will cook-fry the egg from underneath. Cook for 3-4
minutes or to your preference.

Cheese and Ham Toasties

When the whole clan need refuelling quickly,
these are an easy option as the simmering plate
will take up to four sandwiches at once. No butter
is needed for the outside as the bread will brown
beautifully naturally and a piece of Bake-O-Glide
will stave off cheesy spills.

Toast

6

Butter the bread and place a slice of cheese and ham between the
two slices of bread; spread a little mustard over the ham if liked.

Toast the sandwich on the simmering plate with the hotplate
cover down. Then turn the sandwich over to toast the other side.
If toasting four sandwiches at once leave the cover up to prevent
squashing the outer edges.

Variation

Brie and Grape Toastie

Place the bread on a board and butter. Put the cheese on the
buttered side of one slice of bread and sprinkle on the grapes.
Cover with the other slice of bread.

Place a piece of Bake-O-Glide on the simmering plate then place
the sandwich in the centre. Toast the sandwich on the simmering
plate with the cover down. Then turn the sandwich over to toast
the other side.

Tip – substitute a fruity chutney for the grapes or use chopped walnuts.

Makes 1

Ingredients

Cheese and Ham Toastie

2 slices of good bread

Butter for spreading

Slices of cheddar cheese

Slices of ham

Mustard, optional

Brie and Grape Toastie

2 slices good bread

Butter for spreading

Slices of Brie

4 grapes, halved

Sesame Beef Stir Fry

Food in a flash is epitomised by the stir-fry.
A meal in itself, it makes a fantastic work-night
dish. Don’t be shy about experimenting with the
ingredients, substituting and adding in things
that might need eating up in the fridge.

Cut the fillet of beef into strips.

Heat an AGA wok on the boiling plate, add the sesame oil, when hot

Stir Fry

place in the strips of beef and stir fry until browning, about 2-3 minutes,
and then add the mushrooms and chilli. Stir fry for a further minute.
Add the sesame seeds then the spring onions, cook a further minute.
Stir in the oyster sauce, when hot add the cooked noodles and stir
together, serve at once.

Serves 3-4

Ingredients

350g (12 oz) beef fillet

3 tbsp sesame oil

150g (5½ oz) oyster mushrooms

1 red chilli, sliced finely

25-30g (1 oz) sesame seeds

1 bunch spring onions,

sliced diagonally

Jar of oyster sauce

8

250g pack of noodles, cooked

Pan Fried Sea Bass with
Tangy Mango Salsa

The fish cooks brilliantly quickly and the most

Fry

time-consuming part of this meal is preparing
the mango salsa. So if you know you’re going
to be pushed for time, make the salsa in advance.
It’s still an impressive home-cooked plate, but it
only takes six minutes!

10

Firstly make the salsa by placing all the ingredients into a bowl
and mix well together. Just before cooking the fish divide the salsa
between two serving plates.

Pat the fish dry with kitchen paper and check there are no bones.

Heat the oil in an AGA frying pan. Place the fish fillets skin-side down
into the hot oil and cook for 2-3 minutes on the boiling plate, until
coloured. Carefully turn the fish fillets over and cook for a further
2-3 minutes, until the fish is just cooked. Put the shredded spring
onions into the side of the pan for the last minute of cooking.

Remove the fish from the pan and place on top of the salsa. Drain the
spring onions on kitchen paper then sprinkle over the fish. Serve.

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 x 175g (6 oz) sea bass fillets,

with the skin on

2 tbsp oil

2 spring onions, shredded

Salsa

1 small mango,

pealed and diced

½ bulb of stem ginger,

finely chopped

2 tomatoes, diced

½ red onion, finely diced

½ red chilli, finely chopped

½ bunch of fresh coriander,

roughly chopped

1 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp stem ginger syrup

Black pepper

Chunky Autumn Veg Soup

Getting in your five a day has never been easier,
or more delicious with this fantastically rustic soup.
A steaming thermos on a crisp country walk will
keep everyone toasty warm inside.

Take a 9 litre AGA stockpot and put in the leek, carrots, onion, celery,
potato, courgette, tomatoes, water or stock and a piece of Parmesan
rind, season.

Bring to the boil on the boiling plate and then simmer for about
45 minutes on the simmering plate. Add the drained borlotti beans,

Simmer

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spinach leaves and pasta to the stockpot, stir and simmer for another
6-8 minutes.

Remove the Parmesan rind and serve in bowls accompanied by
crusty bread.

Alternative cooking method

Make as above and bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
Transfer the covered stockpot to the floor of the simmering oven and
cook for 1 hour. Complete as above. Alternatively, use the roasting
or baking oven when on slumber.

Serves 6-8 as a main dish

Ingredients

1 large leek, sliced

2 carrots, diced

1 onion, chopped

2 sticks celery, diced

1 potato, diced

1 courgette, diced

450g (1 lb) tomatoes diced or

use a can of chopped tomatoes

2 litres (3½ pints) water or stock

Piece of Parmesan cheese rind

Salt and black pepper

1 x 410g can of borlotti

beans, drained

50g (1¾ oz) spinach

leaves, sliced

75g (2½ oz) tiny pasta shapes,

such as farfalline

Salt and black pepper

Thai Green Curry

This curry is delicious as a vegetarian meal,
however, if like a few people we know, dinner
doesn’t count unless there’s meat involved, a diced
chicken fillet can easily be added when frying
the paste or add prawns towards the end of the
cooking time. It’s a dish that works any time of year.

Place the oil into a pan to heat on the boiling plate and fry off the
curry paste for a minute, then add the coconut milk and stock, stir
then add the red pepper and potato cubes. Simmer uncovered for
10 minutes then add the broccoli florets, mangetout, chillies, lemon
grass, salt and sugar. Simmer for a further 10 minutes or until the
vegetables are tender.

Casserole

Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh coriander and slices of red
chilli. Serve with rice.

Serves 2-3

Ingredients

1 tbsp oil

2 tbsp green Thai curry paste

1 x 400ml can of coconut milk

350ml (12 fl oz) vegetable stock

1 red pepper, sliced

1 large potato, cubed

1 head of broccoli,

broken into florets

225g (8 oz) mangetout,

topped and tailed

1-2 red chillies, sliced

1 stalk lemon grass, finely sliced

Pinch of salt

Pinch of sugar

14

Garnish

Fresh coriander

Chilli slices

Quick Berry Jam

A dollop of this delicious jam spread on a slice
of AGA toast, scone or stirred into your porridge
is guaranteed to brighten up a grey morning.
Plus any pots you can bear to part with make
perfect presents when dolled up with a pretty

Boil

bit of fabric or ribbon.

Place the fruits into the AGA maslin pan and squash with a potato
masher, add the butter.

Bring to the boil on the boiling plate. Add the jam sugar, dissolve
on the simmering plate then return to the boiling plate and boil for
4 minutes. Allow to rest for 5 minutes then pour into sterilised jam jars.
Cover, cool and label.

Tip: Wash the jam jars in hot water then place in the simmering

oven, to dry.

16

Makes 1.5 kg (3 lb 5 oz )

Ingredients

800g (1 lb 12 oz) frozen

red fruits, thawed

Knob of butter

1 kg (2.2 lbs) jam sugar

The Ultimate Roast Chicken

A family favourite that’s truly succulent when
cooked in a cast iron oven. There’s the added
benefit of not needing any butter or oil, if you
turn the bird over during cooking. However, if
you prefer, smear a little butter over the breast
or cover with 2 or 3 rashers of bacon.

Roast

18

Take the chicken out of the refrigerator an hour before cooking.
Remove any string, the legs should be free to allow heat to circulate
properly. Cut two of the onions into slices and place in the base of the
half size AGA roasting tin – this will give good flavour to the gravy.
Put the chicken onto the onion. Stuff the cavity of the chicken with
sprigs of thyme and parsley and the remaining onion cut into quarters.

Slide the roasting tin onto the lowest set of runners in the roasting oven
and roast for 25 minutes. Take the chicken out of the oven and turn the
whole bird over, return to the oven and roast for another 20 minutes.
Then turn the bird back to its original position and continue cooking
for a further 15-20 minutes. The chicken is cooked when juices from a
pricked thickest part of the thigh run clear, or use a meat thermometer.

Allow the chicken to rest for 20 minutes before carving.

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 x 1.5kg (3 lb) free

range chicken

3 onions

Thyme

Parsley

Salt and black pepper

The Victoria Sponge Cake

The Victoria Sandwich, named after and a
favourite cake of Queen Victoria, represents classic
English baking and in our opinion should only be
made with butter for the best flavour. It can be
surprisingly therapeutic to mix by hand once in
a while, but do use an electric mixer if you wish.

Bake

Place the butter and sugar into a large bowl and cream well together
with a wooden or silicone spoon until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Gradually add the beaten egg, beating well between each addition.
Add a little flour when beating in the final stages of the egg as this will
help stop the mixture curdling.

Gently fold in the sieved flour and divide between two 20cm (8 inch)
shallow cake tins, which have been buttered and base lined.

20

Place the two cake tins on the oven grid shelf slid on the fourth set of
runners down in the baking oven. Cook for 20-25 minutes until risen
and golden brown. The top of the cake should spring back when
lightly pressed with a finger.

Let the cakes rest in the tins for 5 minutes then turn out onto a wire
cooling rack, removing the lining paper. Sandwich together with a
generous amount of raspberry jam and decorate the top with sieved
icing sugar or sprinkle with caster sugar.

Cuts into 6 or 8 slices

Ingredients

225g (8 oz) soft butter

225g (8 oz) caster sugar

4 free range eggs, at room

temperature, beaten

225g (8 oz) self raising flour

Filling

Raspberry jam

Topping

Sieved icing sugar or

caster sugar

AGA Tips

Steamed Banana
Pudding drizzled in
Butterscotch Sauce

The idea of steamed puddings may take you back
to your school days and this one certainly tends to
be a hit with the kids. Using very ripe blackened
bananas gives it an amazing flavour and delicious
with the butterscotch sauce.

Steam

To make the butterscotch sauce, place the brown sugar, butter and cream
into a saucepan and bring gently to the boil, stirring until thick and
smooth. Remove from the heat. Butter a 1.2 litre (2 pint) pudding basin.

Place the butter, caster sugar, eggs, flour and bananas into a basin
and beat well together. Pour half the butterscotch sauce into the base
of the prepared basin and carefully spoon over the pudding mixture.
Cover with a disc of baking parchment and place a double thickness
of foil over the top of the basin. Tie the foil on with string, leaving
enough to be able to lift the pudding out of the saucepan.

Put the basin in a large saucepan and pour in boiling water to come
half-way up the side of the basin, steam for 15 minutes - moving the
saucepan partially of the boiling plate if necessary to maintain a
gentle boil.

Serves 4

Ingredients

Sauce

25g (1 oz) brown sugar

25g (1 oz) butter

125ml single cream

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4.

5.

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7.

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9.

from Richard Maggs the AGA cookery doctor

Place a lemon in the roasting oven for three minutes before squeezing to extract the most juice.
Organic lemons give a far superior flavour and are worth the extra cost.

To fry eggs without using a frying pan, use a piece of Bake-O-Glide placed on the simmering plate.
Crack the egg into the centre of the sheet, and lower the lid to speed up the cooking. It’s fat free and
no washing-up.

To revive a slightly stale loaf of bread, cut off a slice from the ‘open’ end of the loaf and discard.
Hold the loaf, cut-side down, for a few moments under a running cold tap, and then place it in the
roasting oven for four minutes for warm, crusty bread.

When making pancakes, cook the first side in the usual way in a pan on the boiling plate, but then
flip it over to cook the second side on the lightly greased simmering plate. You can then start another
pancake in your pan, and double your production speed.

Leave jars of jam or syrup for 30 minutes on the back of the top plate of the AGA, with their lids
loosened, to soften for easy spreading when baking.

To loosen tight metal screw-top jars, simply place the lid side down on the simmering plate for 30
seconds. The metal lid expands and then is easily twisted off using a cloth.

When your AGA Total Control top plate is warm you can keep a mug of coffee hot whilst chatting on
the phone by leaving it on the top plate in front of and between the lids.

For pizzas to die for, cook directly on the floor of the roasting oven. Keep the oven floor clean by
brushing out with a wire brush.

Dry awkward-shaped metal cooking utensils and kitchen gadgets, graters, etc., on the warm top
plate so they don’t go rusty in storage.

22

Transfer the covered saucepan, complete with water and pudding
to the simmering oven. Steam for about 1½ hours in the simmering
oven until the pudding is cooked through.

Turn the pudding out onto a serving dish, gently reheat the
remainder of the sauce and pour over the top.

Pudding

115g (4 oz) soft butter

115g (4 oz) caster sugar

2 free range eggs

140g (5 oz) self raising flour

2 ripe bananas, mashed

10.

Use the gentle warmth of the top of the AGA to soften, melt or warm ingredients for cooking.
Soften butter, melt chocolate and warm bread flour in the bowl for brilliant bread making.

Taken from The Little Book of AGA Tips by Richard Maggs

Why it’s time for

AGA TOTAL CONTROL

total flexibility

great food

ambient warmth

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economical to run

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