Makrut (kaffir) limes and their leaves are an essential ingredient in Thai kitchens. The rind of these small gnarled limes are used to brighten curry pastes and the leaves add a wonderful fragrance to many dishes, including salads. The juice, which is very sour and bitter, is not used in cooking as much. My makrut…… Continue reading makrut marmalade
Tag: recipe
corn fritters + cucumber peanut salad
These Thai corn fritters are easy to make and absolutely delectable. Adapted from Marion’s Kitchen. For this recipe use 400g (14 oz) of fresh or frozen corn kernels – I used a mixture. Take 1 cup of the corn kernels and blitz them in a food processor to a fine consistency. Mix them back in…… Continue reading corn fritters + cucumber peanut salad
salsa verde
Salsa verde (green sauce) covers a wide variety of uncooked sauces made from chopped herbs. The Italian version is made with parsley and anchovies, the Spanish version with coriander (cilantro), the French version adds chervil, a German version involves seven herbs and then there’s British mint sauce and Argentinian Chimichurri. This is a vegetarian version to make with leftover soft herbs. It doesn’t really…… Continue reading salsa verde
lion’s head meatballs
Lion’s head meatballs (Shizi Tou 獅子頭) originated in Yangzhou and Zhenjiang but travelled to Shanghai with migrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries and is now considered a classic of Shanghai cuisine. These meatballs are thought to have acquired their name due to a similarity in appearance to the head of Chinese garden lions.…… Continue reading lion’s head meatballs
Oloroso cake
Oloroso (Spanish for sweet-smelling) is a style of sherry. This sherry is fortified early which suppresses the flor yeast and exposes the wine to air through the wooden casks it matures in. As it ages (some are aged for decades) the alcohol level rises and the sherry becomes dark and nutty in flavour. This is…… Continue reading Oloroso cake
tortilla de patatas
This is the ubiquitous Spanish dish, tortilla Español, made from potatoes and eggs. Some purists leave it at that but others, including Thomas who followed this Serious Eats recipe, add onions. This dish is so versatile – it can be served hot or cold, as a snack with drinks, for breakfast, lunch or dinner. In…… Continue reading tortilla de patatas
bread with tomato
Pan con tomate is a Spanish tapa, or small portion of food, usually served at bars. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this recipe – it’s a flavour bomb! Thomas made these delicious morsels following this recipe from Serious Eats. Make sure you choose the best ingredients for the best result. Cut ripe, sweet…… Continue reading bread with tomato
pork loin roast with onions and honey
Here’s a simple but impressive roast recipe that yields tender juicy pork with a delicious sauce to boot. Dry the pork sirloin. For a 2kg (4 – 5lb) roast combine 1 tablespoon of oil with 2 teaspoons of sweet paprika, 1 teaspoon of brown sugar, ½ -1 teaspoon of chilli powder, 1 teaspoon each of garlic and onion powder, 2 teaspoons of salt…… Continue reading pork loin roast with onions and honey
flourless almond apricot cake
Apricots and almonds are both members of the same family of plants which is probably why they complement each other so well. This cake is easy to make, flexible (you can use fresh stewed apricots, canned apricots or stewed dried apricots) and very yummy. Preheat your oven to 160ºC (320ºF). In a food processor combine…… Continue reading flourless almond apricot cake
ricotta gnocchi, gorgonzola, butternut and spinach
This one is for all you cheese lovers. 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. Mix with a pastry cutter or fork. When the mixture is well combined, flour a work…… Continue reading ricotta gnocchi, gorgonzola, butternut and spinach
michelle picker cooks 