The nationwide competition, which challenges school cooks to create a nutritionally balanced one pot recipe containing at least one product from the McCain Simply range, resulted in Khan’s recipe of chicken Bolognese and potato cakes win over the judging panel at the ‘Masterchef’-style final at the Eckington Manor Hotel in Worcestershire on May 25.
Khan said: “The secret to a great one pot meal is to think outside the box. I took McCain Simply diced potatoes, mashed them and then created the potato cakes. These were served on a bed of chicken Bolognese, which is leaner than beef, adding to the dish’s nutritional value.
Leroy Cyrus, catering operations manager for Barking and Dagenham, commented: “We are incredibly proud of Rose for taking home the top prize in the third annual McCain Simply One Pot Meal competition and we’re delighted that students at Ripple Primary School, who enjoy her food on a daily basis, will be part of the trophy presentation.
“We are pleased that, through competitions like this one, McCain acknowledges the importance of recognising the cooking talent in school kitchens across the UK.”
Prizes for all five finalists included dinner and overnight stay at Eckington Manor Hotel and they will have their recipes published on McCain Foodservice’s website. Overall winner Rose Khan also received an all-expenses paid culinary trip for two to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage HQ and will be showcasing her winning dish at the LACA Main Event in July.