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
pavlova roulade
Christmas is upon us and here in Australia pavlova is one of our most popular celebration cakes. Traditionally pavlova consists of a round meringue base, usually quite high and ideally with a crisp crust and chewy centre, which is slathered with cream and covered with fresh fruit. And as it’s summer here and fruit is…… Continue reading pavlova roulade
pork rib roast
If you have a charcoal barbcue, there’s no better way to cook a pork roast. The pork stays moist, crackling is almost guaranteed and you get that added hint of smokiness. Perfect for the festive season. Take the pork out of the fridge at least one hour before cooking and score the skin. Season the…… Continue reading pork rib roast
baked eggs with yoghurt and chilli
A delightful brunch made with open range eggs and home-grown roquette and spinach. Adapted from a recipe by Yotam Ottolenghi from his cookbook Plenty. Preheat your oven to 150ºC (300ºF). In a large pan heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and cook 300g (10½ oz) of roquette and spinach with a sprinkling of salt. When…… Continue reading baked eggs with yoghurt and chilli
turbot with brown butter and capers
Turbot is a fish that’s not often available where I live so I was keen to try it. The fish has a firm texture, large flake and mild flavour. This (slightly adapted) Bobby Flay recipe was perfect. Sprinkle the turbot on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat some mild vegetable oil in a large…… Continue reading turbot with brown butter and capers
red wine sorbet with strawberries
This recipe from River Café Green by Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers called for a Valpolicella wine. The region produces largely red wines which range from light-bodied young Novello to full-bodied Amarone made from dried grapes. I chose a full-bodied Ripasso which uses a traditional technique that promotes a second fermentation through contact with warm dried grape…… Continue reading red wine sorbet with strawberries
spinach and ricotta gnocchi
Another fabulous River Café recipe. Light and airy fresh ricotta dumplings swimming in a butter and sage sauce. What’s not to like? Blanch 1kg (2¼ lbs) of spinach in boiling water until wilted. Squeeze the cooked spinach dry and chop it roughly. In a pan melt a ¼ of a cup of unsalted butter and…… Continue reading spinach and ricotta gnocchi
beef carpaccio
Here is a fantastic way to serve really good quality beef. For those of you who think they’d rather not eat raw meat, take heart from two of my dinner guests who felt the same but left empty plates. Eye fillet of beef is ideal for this recipe but it must be absolutely fresh. To…… Continue reading beef carpaccio
lemon panna cotta with oranges in syrup
This zingy lemon panna cotta pairs beautifully with the sweetness of orange segments in a honey and cardamom syrup. It’s an impressive dessert that can be made ahead of time. To make the panna cotta, first place 3 sheets of gelatine (15g or .53 oz) in some cold water for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, place 300ml…… Continue reading lemon panna cotta with oranges in syrup
michelle picker cooks 