These lamb racks are moist and tender with a delicious Middle Eastern flavour. Rub the lamb racks with some Greek style yoghurt and allow to marinate for at least one hour. Before cooking preheat the oven to 200C (400F). Mix ½ a cup of almond meal with 2 tablespoons of za’atar (store bought or home made)…… Continue reading lamb racks with almond and za’atar crust + cauliflower tarator
Category: vegetable sides
green beans
Here are two ways to prepare green beans. This is a simple Spanish-style salad. First steam the beans for 6 minutes and then drain and rinse them briefly in cold water to stop them cooking any further. For the dressing combine 4 tablespoons of good olive oil, 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons…… Continue reading green beans
ginger chicken + vegetable stir-fry
Serve these two simple stir-fries with rice for a quick and delicious meal. This stir-fry was taught to me by a good friend and has only 4 ingredients: fresh ginger, sesame oil, chicken and oyster sauce. Cook shredded ginger briefly in a hot dry wok until fragrant. Next the sesame oil and then the diced chicken. When the chicken is…… Continue reading ginger chicken + vegetable stir-fry
steamed fish + vegetable stir-fry
Fish steamed in this way retains all it’s flavour and moisture. Place the fish in a shallow dish and sprinkle with a little fish sauce. Top with sliced spring onion tops, coriander, fresh chilli and kaffir lime leaf. Place the dish over boiling water and cover, steaming for approximately 10 minutes until the fish is…… Continue reading steamed fish + vegetable stir-fry
ratatouille
Ratatouille used to be such a fashionable dish, but somehow I had memories of a mushy mix of overcooked vegetables that just wasn’t inspiring. This time I tried the real French method – what a difference! Heat some olive oil in a large wide frypan and add 2 onions sliced into 1cm (½ inch) rings. Cook…… Continue reading ratatouille
celery stir-fry
Never a favourite of mine, I used to leave celery off my shopping list. That was until I travelled to China. There I ate some simple celery stir-fries, usually with only one other ingredient such as onion, lotus or even macadamia. Since then, I’ve added celery to my repertoire, sometimes with onion or with tomato segments and…… Continue reading celery stir-fry
michelle picker cooks 