Spiced Chicken Traybake with Pine Nuts
Wednesday, December 13, 2023There is just something so relaxing about throwing everything into a roasting pan and then popping into the oven where the chicken drumsticks bake merrily away until golden, juicy and tender without any input from you. Big on flavour, low on effort, ready in an hour and there is much less washing up at the end, too. If desired, add some chopped sweet potatoes or pumpkins at the bottom of the roasting pan, so they soak up all the juices from the spices, lemon and chicken as they cook.
Green Beans with Coconut Curry Dressing
Monday, December 11, 2023The creamy and flavourful Indian-inspired salad dressing with uniquely warming spices and coconut cream livens up the green beans and works great with other vegetables too. Nigella seeds add an herby-oniony flavour while pink pepperberries add a floral note and a gorgeous pop of colour and subtle crunch. This easy salad takes less than 30 minutes to pull together and makes a versatile side dish or starter. Feel free to add some crispy bacon or nuts if desired.
Salmon Tart
Saturday, December 09, 2023This savoury salmon tart is perfect for a light meal served with some bitter arugula salad and lemon wedges, to take to a picnic or as a lunch box filler. It transports well and can be enjoyed warm or cold. You can use ready-to-roll butter puff pastry in place of keto crust or shortcrust as the base for this quiche, though making your own pastry is far easier than you might think. If you use ready-made pastry, the tart can be ready in about 30 minutes.
Spiced Carrots with Cashew Ajo Blanco
Thursday, December 07, 2023Ajo blanco, literally translated as white garlic, is a traditional cold Spanish almond bread soup whose origin dates back to the 8th century. Raw garlic, combined with sherry vinegar, is used to give this creamy soup an unusual kick. This recipe is turning the soup to into a creamy and delicious dip by reducing the amount of water usually added. It is a versatile dressing for seafood, meat, roasted vegetables and a wide variety of salads. Sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
Lamb Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Harissa Sauce
Tuesday, December 05, 2023These richly spiced lamb meatballs are quick and easy to make but are packed full of flavour thanks to the fruity, sweet, and tart pomegranate molasses and garlicky and spicy harissa. They have Mediterranean vibes and with a richly flavoured and aromatic harissa sauce. Harissa is essentially a Tunisian chilli pepper paste, and there are lots of variations. You can make your own or use ready-made. Pomegranate molasses can be found in Turkish stores or online.
Lamb Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Harissa Sauce
adapted from OlivemagazineChriststollen Traybake
Sunday, December 03, 2023Loaded with dried cranberries, apricots and chunks of marzipan, this well spiced holiday traybake is quick and easy to make, perfect for sharing and gifting. Those stollen bites have all the wonderful festive flavours of German Christstollen without going to the effort of making the real thing. A festive and delightful treat that is sure to please and impress. I used less sugar than the original recipe calls for and used more orange juice, so the batter won't be too dry. You can also replace some sugar with applesauce.
Sauerkraut Chocolate Loaf Cake
Friday, December 01, 2023Sauerkraut as the secret ingredient for ultra-juicy chocolate cake? Sounds kind of strange, but it really works. Don't worry, you won't taste the sauerkraut. Generally I prefer cakes with vegetables in them. Whether it's a carrot cake or zucchini cake, cake with beet, etc. Vegetables turn cakes into a special and very moist treat. If you like your cake a little healthier and nuttier, you can also replace the white spelt flour with wholegrain spelt flour. Leave the chocolate cake to stand in the fridge for at least a day, preferably two days, before eating. It tastes wonderful with whipped cream.
Golden Egg Curry
Wednesday, November 29, 2023This simple and comforting egg curry recipe, adapted from taste, made with curry leaves, ginger, mustard seeds, turmeric and coconut milk would make an excellent breakfast with Indian flatbreads or rice or can be enjoyed at any time of the day. If you want to make this spicy, add 1/2-1 teaspoon of chilli powder.
Effortless Overnight Rye Loaf
Monday, November 27, 2023It's not typical to bake a good rye bread without using sourdough starter, and it can be quite challenging as the gluten in rye does not develop into strong and stretchy dough the way wheat gluten does, so the dough is more fragile, sticker, and the crumb is usually tighter and denser due to its low gluten content. And it also takes ages to rise, sometimes it could take up to 3-4 days before the bread is done. But it's undoubtly more delicious, flavourful and nutritious. This is why I am so excited to share this effortless overnight 100% rye bread recipe with you. We will use exclusively two grams of fresh yeast and an overnight rest of the dough to make the bread even more digestible and aromatic. Due to the long fermentation, sugar molecules that are difficult to digest and cause bloating and discomfort are broken down. Besides that, fiber and starch swell better, which also ensures better digestibility. If desired, you can also add 1 tablespoon of caraway or anise seeds to help with the digestion and for an even earthier flavour.
Unlike wheat breads which are best eaten shortly after cooling or right out of the oven, both the texture and flavour of rye bread improves after a rest of 12-24 hours. Once the bread has cooled completely, place it in a paper bag or wrap it loosely in foil and slice it the next day. If you can't wait, then allow it to rest at least 3 hours before slicing.
Marinated Steak with Labneh and Pul Biber Butter
Saturday, November 25, 2023It's quick, easy, and bursting with bold, tantalizing Turkish Doner Kebab flavours. The creamy labneh pairs perfectly with the well-spiced meat and pul biber butter help infuse the dish with that 'yum and rich' effect without much effort. Pul biber, also known as Aleppo Pepper, or Turkish Red Pepper Flakes, is a variety of crushed chilli flakes used in Turkish and Cypriot cuisine that has a fruity tang, smoky flavour and a moderate heat level.
Hazelnut, Rosemary and Maple Syrup Cake
Thursday, November 23, 2023A decadent and unique blend of healthy hazelnuts, rich maple syrup and fragrant rosemary, this earthy flavoured and buttery cake is a real treat for a special gathering at coffee time. Serve the cake with crème fraîche or ice cream if desired. I have used organic Canadian maple syrup for this recipe, as it has rich and deep dark maple flavour that makes it ideal for baking. The nuttiness of the hazelnuts really complements the maple syrup and rosemary flavours in this butter cake as well has giving the cake a lovely crunch.
Ginger Crunch
Tuesday, November 21, 2023Ginger crunch or ginger slice is a classic New Zealand bar that's basically just a delicious shortbread base topped with a smooth ginger icing. They are best enjoyed with a nice hot cup of tea or coffee. The sea salt atop is completely optional. However, I would have topped the icing with some sliced crystallised ginger if I had them.