Inspired by chilly weather I decided, instead of pea and ham soup, to adapt this recipe by Colin Fassnidge of Four in Hand in Sydney which appeared in Gourmet Traveller magazine in 2010. First cover a large or 2 small ham hocks with cold water and add an onion, a carrot, a celery stalk or 2, some whole peppercorns,…… Continue reading barley with smoked ham hock
Category: grains
koftas + harissa + fragrant couscous
These beef and lamb koftas are simple to make and taste great cooked on a BBQ. Combine lamb mince with double the amount of beef mince. Add crushed garlic, cumin powder, mild paprika, parsley, a handful of breadcrumbs and salt and pepper to taste. Shape into long meatballs and cook over medium heat until just cooked…… Continue reading koftas + harissa + fragrant couscous
prawn and broccolini risotto
A great combination of prawns (shrimps) and broccolini with saffron, chilli, capers and lemon. As usual I cooked this risotto in a pressure cooker. If you don’t have a pressure cooker you can achieve the same result by traditional methods. I used 400g (14 oz) of arborio rice and 4 cups of chicken stock. First…… Continue reading prawn and broccolini risotto
seafood and couscous salad
Lovers of seafood will appreciate this salad. The two kinds of couscous create a wonderful texture and it’s easy to prepare ahead of time. A great alternative to pasta marinara on a hot day. In a medium to large saucepan boil water with a drizzle of oil and some salt and add a 250g (8¾ oz) packet…… Continue reading seafood and couscous salad
roasted vegetable and couscous platter
Serve this as a stand-alone vegetarian meal, an accompaniment to meat or a colourful addition to a buffet. The vegetables in this dish are chopped and roasted together. The choice of vegetables can be a little flexible depending on what you have to hand but must include fennel, tomatoes and black olives. I would normally…… Continue reading roasted vegetable and couscous platter
super fast risotto
If you have a pressure cooker this recipe makes wonderful creamy risotto and can be adapted for different ingredients. Here’s a bacon and vegetable risotto. In your pressure cooker add a little olive oil and fry a diced onion, 2 finely diced cloves of garlic and 6 short pieces of bacon (also finely sliced) until…… Continue reading super fast risotto
tomatoes stuffed with couscous + roasted vegetables with feta
These two dishes make an excellent vegetarian meal or they can be served as side dishes. First the tomatoes: For the filling, squeeze half an orange into a small saucepan, adding a little water. Place a handful of sultanas in the juice with an equal amount of chopped dates. Heat gently and remove from the…… Continue reading tomatoes stuffed with couscous + roasted vegetables with feta
bi bim bap
This Korean rice dish is traditionally served in heated stone bowls, making the rice crispy around the edges. For my version the ingredients you will need from a Korean or Japanese store are rice (short grain sushi quality), dried sliced Shitake mushrooms, toasted nori strips, black sesame seeds, chilli paste and white miso. Measure the rice into…… Continue reading bi bim bap
michelle picker cooks 