Peruvian Chicken Kebabs with Ají Verde
Thursday, September 21, 2023Juicy, 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, 2023This 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.
Cucumber Spaghetti Salad with Dill Dijon Dressing
Sunday, September 17, 2023Classic Buttery Hamantaschen
Friday, September 15, 2023Hamantaschen, triangular-shaped cookies stuffed with any of a variety of fillings, are a traditional treat often served during the Jewish holiday Purim. But you can always bake them any time when those cravings hit. They are most often filled with fruit preserves, chocolate, or poppy seed fillings.
The dough is easy to make and yields a rich, buttery, lemon-scented cookie that is full of flavour. It keeps the shape during the baking, as long as you don’t overfill your cookies and your filling has the proper thick texture. Another tip to keep hamantaschen in shape is to CHILL them overnight before baking. You can use any hamantaschen filling you like, poppy filling is our favourite.
Pistachio and White Bean Dip with Tomato Salad
Thursday, September 14, 2023Don't underestimate the power of a simple can of beans. Blended with pistachios, parsley, garlic, cumin, olive oil, and lemon, they effectively transform into a creamy, luscious dip. Topped with a vine-ripened cherry tomato salad and sprinkled with dukkah and extra pistachios, this quick and delicious dip makes a simple yet impressive starter or a light lunch.
Ricotta Fritters with Coffee Sugar
Tuesday, September 12, 2023These airy crunchy fritters are a mix of drained ricotta, blanched almond flour, lemon zest, egg and panko breadcrumbs. They are then fried to beautifully golden and crispy with a tender, fluffy centre, served scattered with some espresso sugar. If desired, serve those delicacies with some extra berry coulis or coffee syrup.
Smoked Paprika Prawns Cucumber Bites with Green Goddess Cream
Sunday, September 10, 2023Accordion Cucumber Salad
Friday, September 08, 2023The Asian salad dressing is terrific for all salads, but it pairs particularly well with cucumbers for a spicy, crunchy, and refreshing salad. I like to accordion slice the cucumber for fun, but cut the cucumbers as you prefer. It's gluten-free and keto friendly. If you are looking for a soya-free option, then use tamari or coconut aminos instead.