Featured Recipe
Pan Seared Scallops with Butternut Squash and Brown Butter Hazelnuts
Sunday, September 24, 2023| |
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This is an elegant meal that is really easy to prepare. Scallops take only 3-4 minutes to cook until caramelized yet succulent. The trick to achieving that golden crust without overcooking the scallops is to heat your cast iron or stainless steel skillet over high heat for a few minutes until very hot and the scallops should be dry when they hit the pan. Pairing the plump, juicy and perfectly browned sea scallops with creamy butternut squash puree (parsnip puree would be fabulous too) that's roasted with garlic and thyme and brown butter hazelnuts is simply heavenly.
Carnival Squash with Parmesan and Honeycomb
Friday, September 22, 2023| |
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A hybrid between sweet dumpling squash and the acorn squash, the carnival squash (or carnival pumpkin) is nutty and sweet in flavour. They are excellent in salads, soups, or roasted as a side dish. The skin of carnival squash is bright, has so many varied patterns and completely safe to consume.
Roasting brings out the best in this squash. And honeycomb and freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano are just really special touches that take this autumn squash to the next level. This definitely deserves a place on your dinner table this season.
Peruvian Chicken Kebabs with Ají Verde
Thursday, September 21, 2023| |
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Juicy, succulent and bursting with vibrant flavour, these Peruvian chicken skewers are easy to prepare and perfect for grilling outside in the summer. But you can always make it in a grill pan any time you want. Serve them alongside a delicious, creamy ají verde, a spicy Peruvian green sauce.
Ají Verde is made with plenty of cilantro, scallion, lime, ají amarillo (Peruvian yellow chillie), mayonnaise, garlic, cotija cheese and huacatay (Peruvian black mint).
Since I can't find huacatay and ají amarillo, so I replaced some cilantro with fresh mint leaves, and used jalapeño chilli pepper instead. Ají Verde sauce is terrific served alongside roasted chicken or grilled meats, and it's equally good with grilled seafood. You can even use it as a salad dressing.
Salted Duck Eggs
Tuesday, September 19, 2023| |
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This salted egg recipe made with fresh duck eggs using the brine method is a great way to preserve eggs and super easy to make. They take about 30 minutes to prepare and the result is definitely worth the wait! YES, you have to wait for at least 30 days (up to 60 days), depends on the size of eggs. Chicken eggs will require less (2 weeks at least). Once the duck eggs reached the ideal state, remove them from the brine to avoid them becoming too salty. Store them, uncovered, in a plastic box, and use them within 2 weeks. Hard-boiled duck eggs still in the shell can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Salted eggs work great as part of a meal. In China, the boiled ones are often enjoyed with congee as a breakfast. Salted duck eggs are all about the YOLKS. The egg whites taste very similar to uncured one, but the yolks taste like salted roasted chestnuts. A perfect well salted duck egg should have a a firm white that's not too salty and a rich egg yolk that's CREAMY, OILY and golden orange in colour. You can use the yolks to fill the Chinese rice dumplings and mooncakes, or to make stirfries.


