Kumquat Blackberry Salad
Thursday, April 11, 2024Asparagus, 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.
Roasted Red Onion Salad with Honey Pecans and Apple Vinaigrette
Sunday, April 07, 2024This is an utterly simple, yet quite unlike any other salad. The humble onion gets a makeover with honey glazed pecans and apple vinaigrette. I have roasted them in oven, but if you are blessed with a grill, then grill them on medium for 7-8 minutes until lightly softened and charred. The recipe works just as well with other types of onions, but red one looks prettier. Walnuts, hazelnuts or pine nuts are great substitutes for pecans. They are excellent with grilled fish, or kebab and flat bread.
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.
Roasted Purple Carrots with Sriracha Yoghurt and Chives
Wednesday, April 03, 2024These roasted heirloom purple carrots are naturally sweet, tender and earthy and they are hands down the easiest side dish ever with less than 10 minutes preparation. Creamy spicy sriracha yoghurt and sweet tangy pomegranate molasses help balance the dish. For a spicier sauce, use 2 tablespoons (or more) of sriracha and 1 tablespoon if you prefer it milder.
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.
Chocolate Sourdough Beer Bread
Saturday, March 30, 2024This sourdough bread, adapted from tastecooking, is made with plain wheat flour, freshly milled kamut and Dutch-processed cocoa powder. Like any sourdough bread, this one takes time too. Plan to make it over two days, mixing the dough on day one, letting it ferment overnight, then baking it the following morning. The combo of beer and chocolate might sound a little strange, but the bitterness in the two play well off each other. I used lager beer, but you can use whatever beer you like. If you prefer it bitterer, richer, use stout or other dark beer. It is perfect for grilled cheeses, nut butters, homemade jam and pate. Use rice flour to dust the banneton if you it on hand as it's less sticky and won't burn easily.
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.
Kumato Puttanesca Salad
Friday, March 22, 2024Inspiration for this simple salad comes from the flavours of a popular Neapolitan puttanesca sauce, which usually contains tomatoes, anchovies, garlic and capers. You can make this all year round with any kind of tomatoes you like, but it would make a really good summer salad when tomatoes and fresh herbs are in abundance.
Kumato tomato is a unique product of natural crossbreeding among several varieties, including some wild Mediterranean specimens. It is succulent, sweet and slightly tart and has a strong distinctive taste that changes as the tomato colour moves from green to brown to dark red.