Two fragrant dishes from JERUSALEM by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. This one-pot chicken and rice dish is wonderfully spiced, rich with caramelised onions, tangy with barberries and fresh with herbs. First put 2-3 tablespoons of sugar into a small saucepan with an equal amount of water and heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat, add…… Continue reading chicken with cardamom rice + spinach salad with dates
Category: salad
salade niçoise
I’m enjoying a sojourn in Provence, in the south of France, where the local produce and hot weather make this salad a perfect choice for a meal. Of course, fresh tuna would be fantastic but this version is the kind you can make with ingredients you have to hand. First prepare some potatoes and place them in a saucepan…… Continue reading salade niçoise
freekeh salad with lamb
Freekeh (or farik) is roasted green wheat which derives it’s name from being rubbed (farīkor) or threshed. The wheat is harvested when the grains are yellow and the seeds soft and is first sun-dried then carefully set on fire so only the straw and chaff burn. The high moisture content of the seeds prevents them from burning.…… Continue reading freekeh salad with lamb
duck salad
A perfect summer meal or even a Christmas Day appetiser, this dish of crispy duck breast over a salad of buckwheat noodles and fresh vegetables has a variety of Asian influences. Rub some Hoisin (Chinese bbq) sauce onto the flesh of the duck breasts. Lay them on a plate flesh side down and score the…… Continue reading duck salad
spicy sticky pork ribs + iceberg wedge salad
Juicy, spicy, sticky and wonderfully complex, these baked ribs are from a recipe by Gary Mehigan of Masterchef Australia. Combine ½ a finely chopped brown onion, 2 minced cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of chilli powder, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon of mustard powder, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin and 1 teaspoon of dried oregano leaves. Rub this mixture…… Continue reading spicy sticky pork ribs + iceberg wedge salad
pork and pomelo salad + apple and green bean salad
Pomelo (citrus maxima) is an original fruit which not only looks like a very large grapefruit but tastes like a mild and slightly sweet one too. It’s a native to Southeast Asia, hence this deliciously salty and sweet Thai style salad. The pomelo I bought weighed 1.13 kilos (2½ lbs)! Heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and fry 2 finely diced brown shallots and…… Continue reading pork and pomelo salad + apple and green bean salad
marinated tomatoes teruel
The remote and mountainous Spanish town of Teruel is not only known for it’s Moorish architecture but is also renowned for it’s jamón serrano (cured ham). This salad would make a fitting accompaniment. Slice 3 very large ripe tomatoes and arrange them in a single layer in a shallow serving dish. In a bowl combine ⅓ of a cup of olive…… Continue reading marinated tomatoes teruel
pumpkin wedges + grilled zucchini salad
Butternut pumpkin wedges served with sour cream and a zucchini hazelnut salad with blue cheese. Both of these vegetarian delights were inspired by and adapted from Yotam Ottolenghi recipes. Preheat your oven to 200ºC (390ºF). Peel and slice a small butternut pumpkin into thin wedges and lay them onto a baking sheet. Combine 50g (1¾ oz) of…… Continue reading pumpkin wedges + grilled zucchini salad
sichuan chilli chicken + smashed cucumber salad + peanuts in vinegar
Sichuan (or Szechuan) pepper from northern China has a unique aroma and flavour with slight lemony overtones which creates a tingling numbness in the mouth that sets the stage for hot spices. This traditional chicken dish demonstrates Ma la (麻辣) literally “numbing and spicy”, a combination of Sichuan pepper and chilli which is common in Sichuan cooking. Cut 650g (1½ lbs) of chicken…… Continue reading sichuan chilli chicken + smashed cucumber salad + peanuts in vinegar
whole barramundi in banana leaves + asparagus salad
David treated us to this wonderful Thai meal recently. For the marinade process these ingredients in a food processor: 1 brown shallot, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 sliced thumb-size piece of galangal (or ginger), 2 teaspoons of ground coriander, a handful of basil leaves, ½ a can of coconut milk, 2 finely sliced kaffir lime leaves, 1…… Continue reading whole barramundi in banana leaves + asparagus salad
michelle picker cooks 