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 â…“ 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

purple sweet potato noodle salad

I found noodles made from purple sweet potatoes in my local Asian supermarket. Not only did they inspire this pretty salad but they also turned out to have a delightfully chewy texture. First cook the noodles according to instructions or just test until you like them. Cool them under cold water then cut them into shorter lengths…… Continue reading purple sweet potato noodle salad

rice with onions, chick peas and currants + butternut salad

Here are another two inspired Yotam Ottolenghi recipes from his book Jerusalem. This dish is made with a cup of basmati rice and ¼ of a cup of wild rice both pre-cooked separately. Heat some sunflower oil in a saucepan and add 2 teaspoons of cumin seeds and 1½ teaspoons of curry powder. After only a few seconds…… Continue reading rice with onions, chick peas and currants + butternut salad

chicken with prunes and olives + spinach salad + yellow rice

A veritable Mexican feast cooked by David. The chicken recipe comes from The Art of Mexican Cooking by Diana Kennedy and the rice and salad from MEXICAN healthy ways with a favourite cuisine by Jane Milton. Season 8 chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a heavy casserole and brown the chicken pieces until golden.…… Continue reading chicken with prunes and olives + spinach salad + yellow rice

fish larb + cucumber salad

Having finally banished the local wildlife from our garden, our fresh produce is thriving. Thai holy basil and kaffir lime leaves are both so deliciously fragrant that I was inspired to create a Thai fish salad. And for a refreshing accompaniment a fresh cucumber salad. I served both with coconut rice. I used rock ling…… Continue reading fish larb + cucumber salad