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.
Carrot and Chickpea Salad with Honey Coriander Dressing
Monday, April 15, 2024Wild Garlic Cheddar Soda Bread
Saturday, April 13, 2024Make the most of this antibacterial and antifungal spring herb and try this delicious wild garlic Cheddar soda bread that the whole family will enjoy. The bread has a deep brown crust with a dense, but quite tender crumb. The crust is lovely crunchy when it comes out of the oven and becomes a little chewy next day. Serve warm out of the oven with lots of butter or/and homemade wild garlic pesto.
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.