If you love mushrooms, this is for you. The recipe is from PLENTY by Yotam Ottolenghi. The original recipe uses shimeji and chestnut mushrooms but since I didn’t plan ahead, I used button mushrooms. Slice 450g (1 lb) of mushrooms and put them in a large bowl. For the marinade whisk together 75ml (2½ fl…… Continue reading marinated mushrooms with tahini yoghurt
Category: salad
squid and water spinach salad
Water spinach (water morning glory, water convolvulus or in South East Asia kangkong) is a semi-aquatic plant which grows in tropical climates and is eaten as a vegetable all over Asia. I’ve used it in many cooked dishes but I also like it raw. Here it’s paired with tender poached squid in a salad with a…… Continue reading squid and water spinach salad
three sichuan salads
More cold dishes from The Food of Sichuan by Fuchsia Dunlop: “A Sichuan feast always begins with a teasing spread of cold dishes to arouse the senses and set the mood for the meal to come.” These three salads are all easy to make and delectable. Spicy steamed eggplant (aubergine) salad. For this salad, cut…… Continue reading three sichuan salads
two cooked salads
These two Middle Eastern style salads make an excellent accompaniment for fried halloumi cheese, or grilled meat, chicken or fish. You could also serve them as part of a mezze (appetiser) first course. In this salad the combination of sweet onions and peas is balanced by salty preserved lemon. Heat some olive oil in a…… Continue reading two cooked salads
cucumber and coconut salad
Here’s a simple and wonderfully refreshing salad to serve with any South-East Asian dish. First, and most importantly, buy a young coconut with very soft flesh. These can generally be bought already peeled and wrapped in plastic. Make 2 holes in the coconut and drain the water into a container. Break open the coconut and…… Continue reading cucumber and coconut salad
ayam taliwang + asinan
This recipe, from Fire Islands: Recipes from Indonesia by Eleanor Ford, hails from Lombok and definitely lives up to being “everything you could hope for in grilled chicken”. Despite a few substitutions, the marinade, which also becomes the sauce, had flavour and heat from garlic and many chillies; sourness from lemon; fragrance from curry and…… Continue reading ayam taliwang + asinan
gado gado 2.0
My first version of gado gado is a little westernised (not such a bad thing) and makes a great meal on it’s own. This recipe, from Fire Islands: Recipes from Indonesia by Eleanor Ford, is a lighter version with a fresher peanut dressing which is served underneath the other ingredients in the traditional manner. It makes…… Continue reading gado gado 2.0
roasted cauliflower with tahini sauce + tomato salad
Cauliflower has found new popularity for good reason. Here it’s roasted, leaves and all, with Middle Eastern flavours and served with tahini sauce. Wash and cut your cauliflower into quarters. Place them in a lightly oiled oven tray and drizzle with olive oil, rubbing it all over every surface. Sprinkle with salt, ground cumin, sumac…… Continue reading roasted cauliflower with tahini sauce + tomato salad
red lentil pasta + salad
Red lentils are an excellent source of protein and this vegetarian pasta is satisfying and so full of flavour. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 finely diced onion, 1 finely diced carrot and an equivalent amount of finely diced celery. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent. Add…… Continue reading red lentil pasta + salad
bún-chả with bbq pork balls
These Vietnamese pork balls are packed with flavour and wonderful when served as a complete meal with a fresh and delicious rice vermicelli salad and Nuoc Cham. I could eat this any time. For the pork balls, you will need 450g (1 lb) of pork mince. Place ¼ of the mince in a small food…… Continue reading bún-chả with bbq pork balls
michelle picker cooks 