Saturday, May 3, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
Mediterranean Sea Bass
Recipe for 4 people:
• 4 chunks of sea bass
• 2 eggplant
• cumin powder
• virgin olive oil
Coriander cappuccino:
1 cup (200 ml) prawns stock
½ cup (100 ml) liquid cream
2 oz (50 g) butter
½ bunch fresh coriander
dash of lemon juice
salt and pepper
Decoration: a Parmesan lollypop
On ovenproof paper, sprinkle some grated Parmesan, put a toothpick in the center and microwave 15 seconds.
Let cool on the paper.
Method:
Make eggplant caviar, cut eggplant in half, salt and bake (140 °C = 285 °F oven) with a little olive oil.
Remove the pulp after cooking, using a spoon.
Chop the pulp with a knife, add cumin powder and chopped fresh coriander, a little cream.
Coriander cappuccino sauce:
Reduce the prawn stock, cream and whisk with butter. Add a dash of lemon juice.
Pour fresh coriander, washed and crushed, bring to a boil.
Mix in a blender and strain through a fine sieve.
Remove.
Emulsify cappuccino in blender just before serving.
• Cook the fillets of sea bass a la plancha seasoned with a dash of olive oil. Heat quickly and brown on the skin side.
• Place on warmed plates the compote of eggplant, place the fish fillet over it and top with Parmesan lollypop.
• Place a spoonful of fresh coriander cappuccino
CRAB, NECTARINE AND FETA SALAD
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 30min
Cooking time: none
CRAB, NECTARINE AND FETA SALAD
-1 large Alaskan crab leg
-2 yellow flesh nectarines, ripe
-1 green tomato
-1 cucumber
-1 green shallot, thinly sliced
-60g (4 tbsp.) feta
-30ml (2 tbsp.) extra virgin olive oil
-The juice of half a lime
-Fleur de sel and freshly ground black pepper
MINT PESTO
-Half a sprig of fresh mint
-Quarter garlic clove, crushed
-125ml (½ cup) olive oil
-40g (2 tbsp.) almond powder
Salad: In a large bowl, mix together the crab meat cut into large rings, the nectarines, tomato, cucumber, and green shallot. Add the olive oil and lime juice. Season and toss.
Pesto: Place all the ingredients in a mixer and process at full speed for 2 minutes.
Tip: You may replace the crab with steamed shrimp
Thursday, April 17, 2014
معمول عيد الفصح
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
لفائف السجق المقرمش
كبة العدس الارمنية
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Too Much Chocolate Cake
Saturday, December 14, 2013
chocolate ‘soil tiramisu
They look like your everyday garden pots, right? But take a closer look… Nope, that’s not dirt you see, it’s chocolate ‘soil’! Inspired by the incredible British chef and culinary inventor Heston Blumenthal, I had a fun little foray into the world of deceptive desserts this weekend. After seeing him make a version of this pudding on TV, I took a trip to Bunnings to acquire some cute little terracotta pots and I put together these delicious tiramisu pots. Underneath the layer of soil (made with crystalised dark chocolate, toasted white chocolate, cocoa and macadamia oil) there are layers of creamy mascarpone and coffee- and marsala-drenched sponge fingers, finished off with discs of dark chocolate. It was quite a treat and went down well with a pile of luscious raspberries. I used Heston’s chocolate soil recipe with a couple of adjustments, then made up my own version of tiramisu inside. If you’re interested in following his full recipe
| Chocolate tiramisu pot |
| Just take a spoon … |
| …dig in. Now you see it… |
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Feijoada
- 1 lb dry black beans
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb pork shoulder, left whole and shredded at the end of cooking, or cut into chunks
- 2 large onions, sliced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ pound fresh Italian or other spicy sausage, casings removed and crumbled
- ½ pound smoked sausage, such as linguica or kielbasa, sliced
- ½ pound thick sliced bacon, cut into small pieces
- 1 smoked ham hock
- 4 bay leaves
- Water
- 2 beef bouillon cubes
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Salt to taste
- Hot sauce, according to heat preference
- Orange, washed and cut into slices
- Soak the beans in a large bowl of water overnight.
- In a large Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and brown the pork shoulder until caramelized on each side. Remove the pork and set aside. In the same pan, add the bacon and cook until slightly crispy. Add the onions, stir to combine, and cook the onions until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the crumbled spicy and smoked sausage and cook until the spicy sausage is no longer pink.
- Return the pork roast to the pot along with the smoked ham hock. Drain, rinse, and add the black beans to the pot. Add the bay leaves, black pepper, and beef bouillon cubes. Cover the contents of the pot with water until the meat is just barely covered (about 2 quarts). Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and let cook for 2 hours, or until the beans are soft. About 1½ hours into the cooking time, if using whole pork roast, remove it, shred it, and return it to the pot. If the feijoada is too liquidy, uncover the pot and continue to cook for another 20 minutes or so to allow some of the liquid to evaporate. Add more salt to taste, if needed. Add some hot sauce, like Tabasco, according heat preference. Discard the bay leaves.
- Serve with rice and orange slices.
Darn Good Chili
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1-2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
- 16 oz bag of dried kidney beans, soaked overnight
- 2 (14 oz) cans tomato sauce
- 2 (14 oz) cans petite diced tomatoes
- 1 can Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup (do not add water)
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons masa harina
- Sour cream
- Cheddar cheese, shredded
- Chili Seasoning Mix:
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed dried red pepper (or cayenne pepper)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon dried minced garlic (or 1 teaspoon fresh)
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Cayenne pepper (according to desired heat level)
- Heat some oil in a large Dutch ovenand brown the ground beef, adding the onions and jalapeno peppers while the beef is still a little pink. Cook until the onions are tender and transparent. Combine the chili seasoning mix and add it to the ground beef and onions. Stir to combine.
- Add the remaining ingredients (except for the sour cream and cheddar cheese), bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cook until the beans are tender, or about one hour, stirring occasionally to prevent bottom from burning. Add more chili powder and salt to taste.
- Serve with a dollop of sour cream and some shredded Cheddar cheese along with cornbread. See recipe below.
- Note: Chili is often best reheated the following day after the ingredients have had time to thoroughly blend. Great make-ahead meal.
Darn Good Cornbread
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cornmeal
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2/3 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
East-West Lentil Stew
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ lb Mexican chorizo
- 2 cups butternut squash, diced
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 1 cup lentils
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp curry powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup Swiss chard, thinly sliced
- In a Dutch oven, saute the onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent, add the chorizo and brown, add the squash and celery and saute for another 2 minutes, add the lentils, stock, bay leaf, curry powder, and salt and pepper. Bring to a slow boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until the lentils and vegetables are soft. Add the Swiss chard and cook for another 3 minutes. Serve hot.
Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Shredded chicken from 1 large chicken breast (1-1½ pounds)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small yellow onions, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons masa harina
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups good quality chicken broth (see pictured instructions for making homemade chicken broth out of the chicken breast)
- 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
- 1¼ cup salsa
- 1 (15 oz) can whole kernel corn
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans (drained and rinsed to prevent soup discoloration)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1½ teaspoons ancho chile powder
- 1½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ freshly ground black pepper
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, cilantro and tortilla chips for topping
- Heat the butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and saute the onion until tender, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for another minute.
- Add the masa harina and flour and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute. Gradually add the broth, whisking constantly to prevent clumping. Add the evaporated milk and simmer until slightly thickened.
- Add the shredded chicken, salsa, corn, beans, and all the spices. Stir to combine, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the shredded cheese, sour cream, and cilantro, stir to combine and warm through for another minute. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot topped with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped fresh cilantro and crumbled tortilla chips.
- Note: Leftovers will be thicker when reheated. Add some extra chicken broth or milk accordingly.
Chop the onions, mince the garlic.
Saute the onions in the butter until tender, about 7 minutes, then add the garlic and saute for another minute. Add the flour and the masa harina and stir until incorporated with the onion mixture, cook for 1 minute.
Add the chicken stock gradually, whisking constantly to prevent clumps, then add the evaporated milk. Simmer until slightly thickened.
Add the shredded chicken and stir to combine.
Add the corn, beans, and salsa (I used my own “Restaurant Style Mexican Salsa” – recipe soon to come!)
Add all the spices.
Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and the fresh cilantro and stir until the cheese is dissolved and the soup is heated through, another minute. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Note: Leftovers will be thicker when reheated. Add some extra chicken broth or milk accordingly.
Serve hot topped with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, some fresh chopped cilantro, and crumbled tortilla chips.








