Pan-fried White Asparagus with Green Tahini Sauce
Thursday, May 09, 2024The usual preparation of white asparagus is usually simmered in water or steamed and served with hollandaise sauce or/and butter. Here we are going to try pan-frying them until beautifully charred and tender but still al dente. It tastes fabulous with a herby tahini sauce.
Unlike their green and purple counterparts, white asparagus are pale from end to tip because they are grown underground. White asparagus must always be peeled, thin or thick, or else they will be bitter and stringy.
Cheesy Baked Asparagus with Mascarpone and Parmesan
Tuesday, May 07, 2024This dish is a delicious and fuss-free way to showcase this spring's favourite veggie. The green asparagus still retains its texture and flavour, but it's enveloped in a rich, creamy, cheesy custard-like sauce. It's is surprisingly simple with a very short list of ingredients, but so flavourful and decadent. Use medium asparagus for this recipe, as delicate, thin spears will overcook. Mascarpone has 55% fat, if it is too rich for you, then substitute with ricotta or crème fraîche.
Prosciutto-wrapped Halibut Loin with Asparagus Sauce
Saturday, April 27, 2024The delicate white fish works amazingly well with the earthy, subtly sweet and nutty flavour of the traditionally cured prosciutto. You can substitute with Serrano ham or even smoky bacon. I used cod, but any other white fish (hake, cod or haddock) would work too. The loin of fish is much better in this recipe because it is much more uniform in thickness. I didn't salt the fish because there's enough salt in prosciutto.
Asparagus with Black Forest Ham and Bolzano Sauce
Tuesday, April 23, 2024Spring is a prime time of renewal and detoxification. Asparagus supports this spring cleanse unlike any other vegetable! Seize the asparagus season and enjoy this delicious vegetable as much as you can.
Bolzano sauce is a traditional sauce from the Bolzano area in German-influenced Alto-Adige and goes perfectly with cooked asparagus. It is similar to Hollandaise sauce, but is firmer and richer in consistency. The sauce has a long tradition in Bolzano and was prepared by South Tyrolean farmers over two hundred years ago. It's made with a combination of hard-boiled eggs, olive oil, white vinegar, mustard, chives, and beef broth. Once cooked, the eggs are simply chopped and mashed with the other ingredients.
Fried Sprats with Tomato Salad
Sunday, April 21, 2024Sprats, aka brislings or spratus spratus, are a small oily fish and rich in high quality protein and beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. Like whitebait, these small oily fish can be eaten whole including head, fins, bones and innards-EVERYTHING. However, it's a matter of personal preference how you prepare them. If you like, you can cook your sprats gutted or with or without head. If you ain't on keto or low-carb, then try dusting the fish with some seasoned flour or dipping them with a beer batter before frying.
One-pan Chicken with Bay, Garlic and White Wine
Friday, April 19, 2024Blanched Asparagus with Caviar Cream Sauce
Wednesday, April 17, 2024Caviar Cream Sauce is an ultimate sign of decadence and deliciousness. This sauce is incredibly rich and to cut through the richness, I balanced the sauce out with a simple blanched asparagus. I used dry white wine for the sauce, but if you have some Champagne or dry sparkling wine, feel free to use it. If using alcohol is not an option, you can try using sparkling cider, but the sauce will taste sweeter then. It's important to fold caviar into the sauce after it has cooled a bit or it would ruin the caviar.
Asparagus, Soft-Boiled Eggs and Caviar
Tuesday, April 09, 2024Caviar goes very well with different kinds of vegetables. Gently blanched fresh green asparagus with soft boiled egg pairs perfectly with rich creamy caviar that adds a touch luxury to every bite.
Argan oil, a specialty oil produced in Morocco, extracted from the seeds of the argan tree, known as Argania spinosa, has a distinctive nutty and robust flavour, but not overpowering, and it's best enjoyed as a finishing oil. It is hard to come by, so you may use hazelnut or walnut oil instead, or simply use olive oil.
Baked Fish with Anchovy Crust and Sauce Vierge
Friday, April 05, 2024The sauce vierge (which translates to “virgin sauce”) is a classic tomato-based French vinaigrette filled with olives and fresh herbs that will go perfectly with many dishes for the warmer days. It can be served at room-temperature or warm and goes perfectly with fish and other seafood. It was created in 1976 by the great French chef Michel Guérard. The sauce is fresh, bright and versatile and can be prepared up to a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Allow the sauce to come to room temperature before serving.
White Asparagus with Summer Truffle
Monday, April 01, 2024In Germany, the king of vegetable is WHITE asparagus. It's like a national treasure and you will find it on menus nationwide from April April to June.
Tender, sweet, and loaded with earthy flavour, these blanched white asparagus with browned butter and summer truffle make for a great spring party appetizer. The skin of white asparagus can taste very bitter and fibrous, so make sure to peel it off completely before blanching. White asparagus are delicate and brittle, so lay each spear flat on a work surface to peel. This way ensures they won't snap during peeling.
Griddled Asparagus with Serrano and Pine Nuts
Thursday, March 28, 2024Tender crispy charred green asparagus, toasty pine nuts and dry-cured Jamon Serrano with a garlicky, tangy and zesty wild garlic dressing create a spring salad that is naturally gluten free, high in fiber, delicious and just bursting with flavour. It makes the perfect Easter side dish for a relaxed brunch. Use other fresh herbs, such as arugula, parsley, scallions or basil, if you can't find wild garlic, aka ramson.
Uova al Pomodoro Piccante (Eggs in Spicy Tomato Sauce)
Tuesday, March 26, 2024This is a quick and delicious comfort meal in which the eggs are poached in spicy tomato sauce. It's very similar to North African Shakshuka and Mexican Huevos Rancheros. So versatile and adaptable and all you need are pantry staples and a couple of fresh eggs gently poached in tomato sauce. It's really that basic and simple, but if you like, you can add some pancetta and parmesan for extra flavour. Serve it with some homemade bread to mop up the sauce.
Slow Cooker Leg Of Lamb
Sunday, March 24, 2024This is truly the easiest way to prepare a leg of lamb – simply season the meat with garlic, roseamry, salt and pepper and let your slow cooker work its magic for 8-10 hours until the flesh falls off the bone! The slow cooker maximises the flavour of the lamb by locking in all of the aromas of the beef broth and spices that keep the flesh succulent and tender during cooking. The lamb is ready to be served once it's done in slow cooker. Browning in the oven is optional.
I have used the cooking juice to make a gravy to serve with lamb. However, if you ain't fancy for gravy, then serve them with some browned lemon and garlic halves. Enjoy with some roasted or steamed vegetables or a simple salad.