After seeing this Chengdu recipe in Fuchsia Dunlop’s The Food of Sichuan, I bought green Sichuan peppercorns. This unripened version of the red Sichuan peppercorn has become popular in Sichuan cuisine over the last century. The flavour is brighter and fruitier than the red peppercorns. Altogether delicious. First cut 325g (11½ oz) of fish fillets…… Continue reading fish with green sichuan peppercorns
cured pork belly
This is a type of salumi which is generally thinly sliced and eaten as is. The method is the same as for lardo (cured pork fat) which has been made in Italy since Roman times. Traditionally, lardo was cured in Carrara marble boxes for six months. The method I used comes from CHARCUTERIE: THE CRAFT…… Continue reading cured pork belly
chicken with sumac, lemon and za’atar
This super flavoursome recipe for tray-baked chicken is easy to prepare any night of the week. From Yotam Ottolenghi’s first cookbook The Ottolenghi Cookbook, it was also published in The Guardian. The original recipe uses a whole chicken cut into pieces. I used bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. In a large bowl, combine 2 thinly sliced…… Continue reading chicken with sumac, lemon and za’atar
saffron and honey ice cream
Saffron is the dried stigma of crocus flowers and has been used and traded for thousands of years. At US$5K per kilo it’s the world’s most expensive spice. It’s thought to have originated in Iran and is widely used throughout the Middle East as well as Europe and South East Asia in both savoury and…… Continue reading saffron and honey ice cream
ricotta gnocchi
Light and fluffy, these ricotta gnocchi are served in a rich tomato sauce. To make the gnocchi, combine 340g (12 oz) of fresh full-fat ricotta with 2 whole eggs, ¾ of a cup of plain flour and ⅓ of a cup of finely grated parmesan. I find a pastry cutter works well, otherwise use a…… Continue reading ricotta gnocchi
whole grain bread
I decided to revisit my childhood with a German-style bread. It’s a heavy, satisfying and tasty bread full of grains and seeds. In a small bowl combine 2 teaspoons of dry active yeast, 6 teaspoons of sugar and 2 cups of warm water and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a stand mixer or…… Continue reading whole grain bread
moussaka
The Greek version of Moussaka was created by Nikolaos Tselementes, a French-trained chef, in the 1920s. Somehow I’ve managed to post two vegetarian versions without ever posting the classic one that David loves to cook. Here is his adaptation of a recipe from The Complete Middle Eastern Cookbook by Tess Mallos. Preheat your oven to…… Continue reading moussaka
burnt Basque cheesecake
From San Sebastien, in Basque Country northern Spain, comes a cheesecake like no other. Invented three decades ago by Santiago Rivera, the owner of the pintxos bar and restaurant La Viña, the cake is so popular that La Viña makes 20 a day and the cake has become famous globally. It’s a deliciously creamy baked…… Continue reading burnt Basque cheesecake
scallops and cauliflower
Scallops and cauliflower make a fabulous pair. Cauliflower is often served as a purée with scallops but here it retains its integrity. This wonderfully well-balanced and complex recipe, by Chris Blanchard and Richard Reddington for Food & Wine, is quick and easy to cook. What more could you ask? First cut a cauliflower into florets…… Continue reading scallops and cauliflower
socca
Socca is a thin unleavened bread or pancake made from a batter of chick pea flour, water and oil. A speciality of the area around Nice in southeast France, variations known by other names and cooked by different methods can be found in many countries. This version is most closely related to the bordering Italian…… Continue reading socca
michelle picker cooks 