These lamb shanks, adapted from this NYTimes recipe by David Tanis, are braised with a subtle mix of Persian spices and citrus and served with the soup-like braising liquid. Generously salt four meaty lamb shanks. Mix together 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of grated nutmeg, 1 teaspoon of ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper…… Continue reading lamb shanks + pilaf
Category: grains
congee with pork and corn
Congee is a staple dish in China which varies from region to region. White rice is boiled in 10-12 times its weight in water until it breaks down and becomes a thick porridge. Considered the ultimate comfort food, congee is eaten at any time of day. Savoury congee is often cooked with flavourful ingredients and…… Continue reading congee with pork and corn
beef larb + sticky rice
Larb is an authentic and ubiquitous Laotian dish, a spicy beef salad which is packed with fresh herbs and chilli and served with steamed sticky rice. Make a marinade for 250g (1 lb) of beef steak (we used sirloin) by combining 2 tablespoons of Thai fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of…… Continue reading beef larb + sticky rice
saffron rice cake
This rice cake, called Tahchin, is a speciality of Iran. The long-grained rice is usually enriched with saffron, yoghurt and egg yolks and can also include fruit or vegetables. The crispy crust which is called tahdig (Persian for bottom of the pot) is often made with rice, bread or potato. In this version, from recipetineats,…… Continue reading saffron rice cake
green couscous + roasted tomatoes
A great way to eat your greens. Slightly adapted from a recipe in PLENTY by Yotam Ottolenghi. Soak 150g (5⅓ oz) of couscous in 160ml (5½ fl oz) 0f boiling water or stock. While it’s soaking, heat some olive oil in a frypan. Fry 1 finely sliced onion and ¼ of a teaspoon each of…… Continue reading green couscous + roasted tomatoes
leek, butternut and pea risotto with tarragon
One of France’s fines herbs, tarragon is traditionally used with fish, chicken or eggs. Fragrant, bittersweet and with a mild anise flavour it shines in this vegetable risotto. I like to make my risotto in a pressure cooker. To cook the rice, first toast it lightly in a good olive oil before adding double the…… Continue reading leek, butternut and pea risotto with tarragon
warm vegetable and quinoa salad
Here’s a quick, delicious and satisfying meal. Rinse some quinoa allowing approximately ½ a cup per person. In a medium saucepan bring some water to boil. Add the quinoa and cook until it still has some texture but is no longer crunchy. Meanwhile prepare the vegetables of your choice – I cooked leeks, pumpkin, parsnip,…… Continue reading warm vegetable and quinoa salad
kohlrabi, quinoa, radish and apple salad
This lovely crunchy salad goes well with any smoked meat or fish and is an excellent addition to any smorgasbord. We ate it with smoked duck. Rinse ½ – ¾ of a cup of white quinoa and boil in a generous amount of water until cooked but still retaining some texture. Rinse with cold water and…… Continue reading kohlrabi, quinoa, radish and apple salad
hainanese chicken rice
Adapted from early Chinese immigrants from Hainan province in Southern China, Hainanese Chicken Rice is a popular street food in Singapore and Malaysia. There are many different cooking methods and the dipping sauces seem to be a personal choice. I chose to follow Rosemary Brissenden’s recipe from her book South East Asian Food. The chicken is steeped…… Continue reading hainanese chicken rice
barley, lentils and mushrooms with fried onions
Once again Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipe imparts amazing flavours to a vegetarian meal. In a small bowl cover 20g (¾ oz) of dried porcini with 1¾ cups of boiling water and leave to stand for an hour. After an hour, remove the mushrooms and strain the liquid through a very fine sieve to remove any grit, then return…… Continue reading barley, lentils and mushrooms with fried onions
