bolinhos de bacalhau

Bacalhau is the Portuguese word for cod, specifically dried and salted cod. In Portugal some say there are more than 365 ways to cook bacalhau, one for every day of the year; others say there are 1,001 ways. However you look at it, bacalhau is an iconic and ubiquitous ingredient of Portuguese cuisine. It was once a cheap ingredient…… Continue reading bolinhos de bacalhau

roasted stuffed butternut

This stuffed and roasted butternut pumpkin (squash) is a beautiful thing to behold and delicious too! An excellent centrepiece for a vegetarian/vegan feast or as part of a celebration. Cindy cooked this one for just such an occasion. A winning recipe from the book RECIPETIN EATS: DINNER by Nagi Maehashi. Preheat your oven to 200°C…… Continue reading roasted stuffed butternut

halloumi chips + grilled asparagus

Halloumi (haloumi) is a traditional Cypriot cheese usually made from goat’s and sheep’s milk or sometimes cow’s milk. Because it has a high melting point, it can easily be fried or grilled. In this recipe, from Donna Hay, the cheese is coated with polenta and baked resulting in deliciously crunchy chips. Cindy served ours with aioli and sweet…… Continue reading halloumi chips + grilled asparagus

slow roasted lamb

If you want to be prepared ahead of time, here’s a VERY slow-roasted lamb recipe from recipetineats. Fifi cooked it overnight! Mix together 2½ teaspoons of finely chopped fresh rosemary, 1 tablespoon of dried oregano, 2 minced cloves of garlic, ¾ of a teaspoon of salt, ½ a teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper and ¼ of a cup of good olive…… Continue reading slow roasted lamb

perilla (shiso) granita

Cultivated in ancient China, the herb purple perilla is known in Chinese as zǐsū (紫蘇), which is the origin of the Japanese name shiso. It’s used extensively in Japanese cuisine as well as in Korea, Laos and Vietnam. The flavour is vibrant and herbaceous and reminiscent of mint or basil, with hints of cinnamon, anise and coriander (cilantro)…… Continue reading perilla (shiso) granita

grilled lemongrass pork cheeks

Pork cheeks or jowls are fatty and delicious. You’ve probably heard of guanciale, a smoked Italian meat similar to bacon, which is made from this cut. In Thailand pork cheeks are popular marinated and grilled over hot charcoal. In a food processor combine 6 cloves of garlic, 5–6 stalks (without leaves) of coriander (cilantro), 2 tablespoons of chopped…… Continue reading grilled lemongrass pork cheeks