Recipes

Recipes

Okonomiyaki – Japanese Savoury Pancakes

  Ingredients For the batter 4 bacon slices, sliced, fat & rind removed ⅔ cup plain flour / all purpose flour 2 tbsp cornflour ½ cup warm water 1 tsp dashi powder, dissolved in the warm water 3 eggs ¼ cabbage, wombok  – finely shredded 1-2 spring onion / green onion, sliced (half for batter & half for garnish) ½ cup corn, tinned 1 tbsp vegetable oil, for cooking For the toppings  2 tbsp kewpie mayonnaise 2 tbsp okonomiyaki sauce 1 tsp seaweed flakes / aonori 1 tsp bonito flakes / katsuobushi Method Fry the bacon until cooked through and crispy, then set aside to cool. No need to use oil here, as the bacon will release its own oil as you cook it. To make the batter, combine the eggs and dashi powder dissolved in the warm water in a small mixing bowl and beat gently. In a separate large mixing bowl add your all purpose flour and cornflour, then pour over with the egg and dashi stock mixture. Stir and combine until smooth. Next, add the shredded cabbage, half of the spring onion, cooked bacon and corn into the batter mixture. Mix until all the dry ingredients are evenly coated (but don’t overmix, we want to keep that cabbage nice and fluffy). There shouldn’t be much excess batter liquid at the bottom – if there is, just add a little more chopped cabbage and mix through gently. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add in the vegetable oil and allow to heat up. Scoop out the mixture onto the pan, aiming for a circle shape about 10 cm / 4 inches wide. Cook each pancake for a few mins per side, until lightly browned on both sides. Transfer your freshly cooked pancakes to serving plates, then top with drizzles of kewpie mayonnaise and okonomiyaki sauce. For even better tasting okonomiyaki, top with sprinklings of dried seaweed flakes, bonito flakes and a few slices of green onion to taste. You can also optionally top with the pickled ginger and Japanese 7 spice here.

Recipes

Spicy Korean BBQ Chicken – Dak Bulgogi

  Ingredients 500 g chicken thighs boneless skinless chicken pieces sliced into small strips or minced 2 spring onion / green onion, green sections only to garnish (white sections in marinade) ½ tbsp sesame seeds, to garnish 6 perilla leaves / shiso leaves, sliced into strips, sub spinach leaves, lettuce, rice or omit. 1 tbsp vegetable oil For the marinade 1/2 onion, chopped finely 2 spring onion / green onion, white sections only, chopped finely 2 garlic, chopped finely 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp cooking rice wine / cooking sake 1 tbsp Korean hot pepper flakes / gochugaru 1 tbsp Korean hot pepper paste / gochujang, double to make it extra spicy 1 tbsp honey, sub brown sugar or maple syrup 1 tbsp cornstarch, sub all purpose flour or potato starch 1 tsp sesame oil ½ tsp ginger grated Method Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl then add in your marinade ingredients (onion, spring onion, garlic, soy sauce, rice wine, gochugaru, gochujang, honey, cornstarch, sesame oil and ginger). Mix everything together until combined and the chicken is coated well. Pop a silicone lid over the top and place in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes (up to overnight). Cut the green portions of the spring onions in half, then slice thinly lengthways and place the strips into a small container of water. This will help curl them for your garnish. Alternatively, you can just slice them small and sprinkle over the top – it’s up to you! Pour the vegetable oil into a large frying pan or skillet over a medium high heat. Add in your marinated chicken and spread it right out to the edges. Allow to cook for a few minutes before flipping all the chicken pieces over. Keep frying for another few minutes, then flip again. Note: Avoiding moving the chicken around too much helps the meat cook through and the sauce to thicken. Fry for another 5 or so minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. To serve, place the perilla / spinach strips on the bottom of a plate and layer with the chicken. Top with your spring onion curls and a sprinkling of sesame seeds, then dig in! Alternatively, serve with lettuce and rice to make cups.

Recipes

Glazed Lamb Chops with Winter Veg

  Ingredients ½ cup  pure maple syrup (preferably dark syrup for its robust taste) 2 tsp  ground ginger 2 tsp dried tarragon 1 tsp  ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground fennel seeds ½ tsp ground black pepper ½ tsp chilli powder 1 tsp  garlic powder ½ tsp salt 12 lamb chops 2 tbsp olive oil 1 cup feta cheese   Method In a medium bowl, mix the maple syrup, ginger, tarragon, cinnamon, fennel, pepper, chilli powder, garlic powder and salt until well combined. Rub lamb chops with olive oil and place on a plate. Preheat griddle over a high heat. Brush griddle lightly with oil and cook for 5 minutes on each side then rub chops with glaze until evenly coated. Remove to a plate and leave to rest for a few minutes. Crumble over the feta and serve seasonal vegetables with the lamb chops.

Recipes

Beef Cheek Massaman Curry

  Ingredients FOR THE BEEF MASSAMAN CURRY: 3 tbsp vegetable oil 2 brown onions, sliced 3 ¼ cups potatoes, peeled and chopped into small pieces 3 ⅓ lbs beef cheeks 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tbsp tamarind paste 6 tbsp massaman curry paste 1 ⅗ cups coconut milk 5 cups beef stock 3 tbsp fish sauce 1 tbsp salt 1 cinnamon stick 3 tbsp pure maple syrup (preferably amber syrup for its rich taste) 1 tbsp smooth peanut butter Juice of one lime TO SERVE: ½ cup roasted peanuts, chopped 2 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped Jasmine rice Roti Method Heat the oil in a large pot over a medium-low heat. Add the onion and sauté for a minute until softened. Add the potatoes and cook for another minute. Add the beef cheeks, garlic, massaman and tamarind pastes and sauté for a further 5 minutes. Add the coconut milk and beef stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer on low for 1 hour and 15 minutes until the beef is tender and falling apart. Stir in the fish sauce, salt, cinnamon stick, maple syrup, peanut butter and lime juice and simmer for 10 more minutes. Top with fresh coriander and roasted peanuts and serve with the jasmine rice and roti.

Recipes

Winter Vegetables with Maple

  Ingredients 8-10 multicoloured carrots 4-5 parsnips sliced into quarters 3-4 small beetroot scrubbed and sliced into halves 1 large onion sliced into quarters 1 garlic bulb Olive oil Salt and pepper 100ml pure maple syrup (preferably golden colour for its delicate flavour) Fresh thyme and rosemary to serve   Method Place your oven on 200°C to heat up, drizzle 2-3 tbsp olive oil into your oven dish and place in the oven. Meanwhile prep the veg. Once the oven is up to temperature, remove the oven dish and place all the veg into the tray along with olive oil and generous pinches of salt and pepper and maple syrup. Place in the oven for 20 mins before roughly turning the veg and place back in the oven for 5-10 mins. Top with fresh rosemary and thyme and an extra pinch of salt before serving.

Recipes

Bread and Butter Pudding

  Ingredients 2tbsp pure maple syrup (preferably amber syrup for its rich taste) 100g maple sugar maple sugar 100g butter 6 apples, peeled and sliced 250ml double cream 250ml milk 3 eggs Seeds from 1 vanilla pod 450ml brioche loaf, sliced   Method Preheat the oven to 120C. Melt the sugar and butter in a pan. Add the apples and stir until the apples have softened. Whisk cream and milk together with the eggs and pure amber maple syrup. Add the vanilla pod seeds. In a buttered ovenproof dish, layer the slices of apple and brioche. Pour the milk mixture over the brioche and apple and leave to soak for 30 minutes. Once soaked, cook for 1 hour. Brush dark pure maple syrup over the brioche and apple. Place under the grill until golden brown.

Recipes

Mushroom, Spinach and Ham Pastries

  Ingredients 150g white cup mushrooms, sliced 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped 100g ham. diced 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp plain flour 1 cup milk Freshly ground black pepper 1 cup swiss cheese, grated 3 sheets puff pastry 1 egg Preheat oven to 200° and line 2 baking trays with greaseproof paper. Prepare mushrooms, spinach and ham as indicated in the ingredients list. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat Add the flour to the saucepan and stir until combined. Cook the mixture for 1-2 minutes until golden and foaming slightly. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Slowly add milk to the saucepan, stirring to combine then return to the heat and bring to a slow simmer. Cook, stirring continuously for 5 minutes until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat. Add prepared mushrooms, spinach, ham and half of the grated cheese to the mixture. Season with cracked pepper. Mix to combine then set aside to cool slightly. In the meantime, cut each sheet of puff pastry into quarters so that you get 4 squares from each sheet. Place a dollop of the mushroom mixture in the center of each pastry square Top with extra grated cheese. Carefully fold the tip of each square towards the center to partially enclose the filling. Transfer filled pastries to the prepared baking trays. Lightly whisk the egg. Using a pastry brush, glaze the top of each pastry.. Bake for 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden and crisp and the cheese is melted. Serve warm.

Recipes

Aussie Crunch – Chocolate Coconut Slice

Indulge in the Aussie Crunch – Chocolate Coconut Slice Recipe with simple ingredients and a delicious, easy method.  Ingredients For the slice base 200 g butter salted  ½ cup caster sugar / 100g  2 tbsp golden syrup  1 cup desiccated coconut, heaped / 80g  3 cups cornflakes, crushed / 90g  1 cup self raising flour, heaped / 150g  1.5 tbsp cocoa powder    For the chocolate top 1 block Cadbury milk chocolate / 180g     Method  Preheat your oven to 180°C / 360°F.  Pop a large saucepan on low heat. Add in the butter and melt first. Then pop in your sugar, golden syrup, coconut, cocoa and self-raising flour. Mix well until combined, then add in the crushed cornflakes last and mix again. Finally, pour into a slice tray or glass baking tray 20 x 30 cm / 8 x 12 inches.  Using the back of a spoon or spatula, press firmly and flatten (especially into the corners) then pop in the oven and bake for around 25 minutes.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool.  Once cooled, break up the chocolate in a bowl and melt in 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring between each session. Once completely melted, layer with a spatula on top of the slice and place in the fridge to set.  Allow to set for a minimum of 15 minutes, before removing and slicing into squares, triangles or slices, ready to eat straight away or pack for a lunch snack.  You may also like

Recipes

Easy Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients 2 cups thickened cream / 500 ml / 1 pt, sub cold coconut cream ⅓ cup sugar / 70 g / 2.46 oz 2.5 tbsp cocoa powder, unsweetened Optional – 3 tbsp desiccated coconut as garnish Method Add the cream, sugar and cocoa powder into a large mixing bowl. Beat with a hand mixer for 1-2 minutes until stiff peaks form – pull the beater out and the mixture holds its shape without collapsing in on itself. The mousse should be nice and thick at this point. Spoon or pipe into individual serving bowls or glasses. Garnish with optional desiccated coconut. Serve!

Recipes

Chocolate Weetbix Slice

Ingredients For the slice  60 g Weetbix biscuits 4 pieces  180 g butter melted, sub with coconut oil  ¼ cup brown sugar / 30 g  1 cup desiccated coconut / 85 g  1 cup self raising flour / 120 g / sub plain flour + 1 tsp baking powder  2 tbsp cocoa powder    For the icing  1 cup icing sugar / 120 g  1 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder, not drinking chocolate  1 tbsp milk  50 g butter, softened slightly  2 tbsp desiccated coconut to garnish  Method  Weetbix Slice Base  Preheat the oven to 180C / 360F.  Blend Weetbix biscuits in a blender until broken up into a fine powder. Transfer to a large bowl and mix in the remaining dry ingredients (self raising flour, sugar, desiccated coconut and cocoa powder).  Pour in the melted butter and mix until well combined. Press the mixture out into a 24 x 24 cm (9 x 9 in) square pan lined with baking paper.  Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and allow to cool down slightly while you make the icing. Tip: Leave the slice in the tin to avoid it crumbling as it cools. If you make the mistake of taking it out while too hot and it crumbles, use a spoon to press it back down while it’s still warm and you’ll be able to salvage it – no stress!    Chocolate Icing  In a small bowl mix together the icing sugar, cocoa powder, butter and milk with a spoon. Tip: Add 1-2 tsp of extra milk or warm water as required to loosen the icing if you find it’s sticking to the spoon instead of the slice and it’s too hard to spread.  Pour icing onto the still warm slice and spread out over the surface using the back of the spoon. Garnish with extra desiccated coconut. Pop into the fridge to cool for at least an hour (or overnight) before slicing. The firmer the slice, the easier it will be to cut without it crumbling!