I haven’t tried much Jamaican food but a newly found appreciation of all things cooked over coal led to this delicious meal. Jerk is a style of cooking in which meat is dry-rubbed or wet marinated with a very hot spice mixture which always includes allspice (pimento in Jamaica) and Scotch bonnet chillies. We used Tasting Tables’s…… Continue reading jerk chicken + coconut rice and beans
fresh rice noodles with egg sauce
This dish is almost Char Ho Fun, a traditional Malaysian dish, with a few slight alterations. The noodles were made by the Vietnamese method of steaming, leftover after making phổ. If you don’t want to make the noodles you can buy fresh rice noodles at Asian stores. Separate the noodles and set aside and have your prawns…… Continue reading fresh rice noodles with egg sauce
banana sesame walnut loaf
This delicious variation on banana bread is wholemeal, full of walnuts and not too sweet. The recipe (published in Gourmet Traveller) is by Dan Lepard. Preheat your oven to 180ºC (350ºF) and line a loaf tin with baking paper. Mash 4 bananas with 200g (7 oz) of dark muscovado sugar or unrefined molasses sugar until smooth then stir in the juice…… Continue reading banana sesame walnut loaf
roasted beetroot and chèvre stack with walnut crumb + roasted leek
Fresh chèvre and beetroot are a great match. Paired with the walnut crumb and roasted leeks this dish has a wonderful combination of flavours and textures. Preheat your oven to 180ºC (350ºF). Peel and slice 2 large beetroots and lay them onto baking sheets. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and roast until soft. Wash…… Continue reading roasted beetroot and chèvre stack with walnut crumb + roasted leek
fish and green mango curry + dhal with spinach
Inspired by the gift of a new cookbook Before it’s all forgotten by Shivahari Sellamuttu, David cooked this delicious Sri Lankan style meal. In a frypan over low heat dry roast 1½ tablespoons of chilli powder, 1 tablespoon of ground coriander seeds and 2 teaspoons of ground cumin until aromatic then set aside. In a heavy…… Continue reading fish and green mango curry + dhal with spinach
saffron poached pear with yoghurt and pistachios
A deliciously fragrant dessert with amazing colour. Peel 6 – 8 pears leaving their stems intact, removing the hard core at the bottom and slicing a little off the bottom to help them sit straight. In a saucepan heat 2 cups of water, 2 cups of white wine, 1 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of…… Continue reading saffron poached pear with yoghurt and pistachios
corn and sweet potato muffins
Try these as a savoury snack with cheese, in a lunchbox or as a side dish with chilli or spicy sticky pork ribs. Peel and steam a medium sweet potato and 2 corn on the cob (or an equivalent amount of frozen corn kernels). When cool, mash the sweet potato, cut the corn from the…… Continue reading corn and sweet potato muffins
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
brandied prune dessert
Here’s a classic French dessert. When made with cherries you might recognise this as a clafoutis but it seems that flaugnarde is the correct name when made with other fruit. I’m not sure of the nomenclature when alcohol is involved. Brandied prunes are a staple here as they improve over weeks and months. If you want to make this sooner soak 1 cup of…… Continue reading brandied prune dessert
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
michelle picker cooks 