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  • Japanese gohan rice

    Japanese gohan rice

    Category: Side

    Area: Japanese

    Ingredients:

    • 300g Sushi Rice
    • 1 tbs Mirin
    • Garnish Pickle Juice
    • Garnish Spring Onions

    Instructions:

    STEP 1
    Rinsing and soaking your rice is key to achieving the perfect texture. Measure the rice into a bowl, cover with cold water, then use your fingers to massage the grains of rice – the water will become cloudy. Drain and rinse again with fresh water. Repeat five more times until the water stays clear.

    STEP 2
    Tip the rinsed rice into a saucepan with 400ml water, or 200ml dashi and 200ml water, bring to the boil, then turn down the heat to a low simmer, cover with a tight-fitting lid with a steam hole and cook for 15 mins. Remove from the heat and leave to sit for another 15 mins, then stir through the mirin. Remove the lid and give it a good stir. Serve with any or all of the optional toppings.

  • Grilled Mac and Cheese Sandwich

    Grilled Mac and Cheese Sandwich

    Category: Pasta

    Area: American

    Ingredients:

    • 8 ounces (230 grams) Macaroni
    • 1/3 cup Plain Flour
    • 3/4 teaspoon Mustard Powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
    • 1/8 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
    • 6 tablespoons (85 grams) Butter
    • 1 1/2 cups (360 milliliters) Whole Milk
    • 1 cup (240 milliliters) Heavy Cream
    • 1 pound (455 grams) Monterey Jack Cheese
    • 4 tablespoons (55 grams) Butter
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 16 slices square Bread
    • 8 slices mild Cheddar Cheese
    • 8 slices Colby Jack Cheese
    • 4 tablespoons (55 grams) Butter

    Instructions:

    Make the mac and cheese

    1. Bring a medium saucepan of generously salted water (you want it to taste like seawater) to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes, or according to the package directions. The pasta should be tender but still chewy.
    2. While the pasta is cooking, in a small bowl, whisk together the flour, mustard powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
    3. Drain the pasta in a colander. Place the empty pasta pan (no need to wash it) over low heat and add the butter. When the butter has melted, whisk in the flour mixture and continue to cook, whisking frequently, until the mixture is beginning to brown and has a pleasant, nutty aroma, about 1 minute. Watch carefully so it does not scorch on the bottom of the pan.
    4. Slowly whisk the milk and cream into the flour mixture until everything is really well combined. Cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce is heated through and just begins to thicken, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Gradually add the cheese while stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula and keep stirring until the cheese has melted into the sauce. Then stir in the drained cooked pasta.
    5. Line a 9-by-13-inch (23-by-33-centimeter) rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Coat the paper or foil with nonstick cooking spray or slick it with butter. Pour the warm mac and cheese onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it evenly with a spatula. Coat another piece of parchment paper with cooking spray or butter and place it, oiled or buttered side down, directly on the surface of the mac and cheese. Refrigerate until cool and firm, about 1 hour.

    Make the grilled cheese
    6. Heat a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-low heat.
    7. In a small bowl, stir together the 4 tablespoons (55 grams) butter and garlic powder until well blended.
    8. Remove the mac and cheese from the refrigerator and peel off the top layer of parchment paper. Carefully cut into 8 equal pieces. Each piece will make 1 grilled mac and cheese sandwich. (You can stash each individual portion in a double layer of resealable plastic bags and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze it for up to 1 month.)
    9. Spread 3/4 teaspoon garlic butter on one side of each bread slice. Place half of the slices, buttered-side down, on a clean cutting board. Top each with one slice of Cheddar, then 1 piece of the mac and cheese. (Transfer from the baking sheet by scooting your hand or a spatula under each piece of mac and cheese and then flipping it over onto a sandwich.) Place 1 slice of Jack on top of each. Finish with the remaining bread slices, buttered-side up.
    10. Using a wide spatula, place as many sandwiches in the pan as will fit without crowding it. Cover and cook until the bottoms are nicely browned, about 4 minutes. Turn and cook until the second sides are browned, the cheese is melted, and the mac and cheese is heated through, about 4 minutes more.
    11. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Cut the sandwiches in half, if desired, and serve.

  • Wontons

    Wontons

    Category: Pork

    Area: Chinese

    Ingredients:

    • 1lb Pork
    • 3 chopped Garlic Clove
    • 1 tsp Ginger
    • 1 tbs Soy Sauce
    • 1 tsp Sesame Seed Oil
    • 3 finely chopped Carrots
    • 3 finely chopped Celery
    • 6 chopped Spring Onions
    • 1 Packet Wonton Skin
    • Fry Oil
    • Bottle Water

    Instructions:

    Combine pork, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and vegetables in a bowl.
    Separate wonton skins.
    Place a heaping teaspoon of filling in the center of the wonton.
    Brush water on 2 borders of the skin, covering 1/4 inch from the edge.
    Fold skin over to form a triangle, sealing edges.
    Pinch the two long outside points together.
    Heat oil to 450 degrees and fry 4 to 5 at a time until golden.
    Drain and serve with sauce.

  • Shawarma

    Shawarma

    Category: Chicken

    Area: Egyptian

    Ingredients:

    • 1 kg Chicken Thighs
    • 1 tbs Coriander
    • 1 tbs Cumin
    • 1 tbs Cardamom
    • 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
    • 2 tsp Paprika
    • 2 tbs Lemon Juice
    • 3 tbs Olive Oil
    • 1 cup Greek Yogurt
    • 1 Garlic Clove
    • 1 tsp Cumin
    • Splash Lemon Juice
    • Sliced Lettuce
    • Sliced Tomato
    • 6 Pita Bread

    Instructions:

    Combine the marinade ingredients in a large ziplock bag (or bowl).
    Add the chicken and use your hands to make sure each piece is coated. If using a ziplock bag, I find it convenient to close the bag then massage the bag to disperse the rub all over each chicken piece.
    Marinate overnight or up to 24 hours.
    Combine the Yoghurt Sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix. Cover and put in the fridge until required (it will last for 3 days in the fridge).
    Heat grill/BBQ (or large heavy based pan on stove) on medium high. You should not need to oil it because the marinade has oil in it and also thigh fillets have fat. But if you are worried then oil your hotplate/grill. (See notes for baking)
    Place chicken on the grill and cook the first side for 4 to 5 minutes until nicely charred, then turn and cook the other side for 3 to 4 minutes (the 2nd side takes less time).
    Remove chicken from the grill and cover loosely with foil. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes.
    TO SERVE
    Slice chicken and pile onto platter alongside flatbreads, Salad and the Yoghurt Sauce.
    To make a wrap, get a piece of flatbread and smear with Yoghurt Sauce. Top with a bit of lettuce and tomato and Chicken Shawarma. Roll up and enjoy!

  • Soy-Glazed Meatloaves with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes & Roasted Carrots

    Soy-Glazed Meatloaves with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes & Roasted Carrots

    Category: Beef

    Area: American

    Ingredients:

    • 5 Potatoes
    • 12 ounces Carrots
    • 1 Scallions
    • 2 cloves Garlic
    • 1 Slice Bread
    • 1 Garlic Powder
    • 2 Soy Sauce
    • 1 Ground Beef
    • 1 tsp Vegetable Oil
    • 2 tsp Sugar
    • 2 tbsp Butter

    Instructions:

    1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash and dry all produce. Dice potatoes into 1/2-inch pieces. Trim, peel, and cut carrots on a diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick pieces. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens; finely chop whites. Peel and finely chop garlic.

    2. In a medium bowl, soak bread with 2 TBSP water (4 TBSP for 4 servings); break up with your hands until pasty. Stir in beef, sriracha, scallion whites, half the garlic, salt (we used 3/4 tsp kosher salt; 11/2 tsp for 4), and pepper. Form into two 1-inch-tall loaves (four loaves for 4). Place on one side of a baking sheet. Toss carrots on empty side of same sheet with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. (For 4, spread meatloaves out across whole sheet and add carrots to a second sheet.) Bake for 20 minutes (we'll glaze the meatloaves then).

    3. Meanwhile, place potatoes in a medium pot with enough salted water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and cook until very
    tender, 12-15 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup potato cooking liquid, then drain. While potatoes cook, in a small bowl, combine soy sauce, garlic powder, 1/4 cup ketchup (1/2 cup for 4 servings), and 2 tsp sugar (4 tsp for 4).

    4. Once meatloaves and carrots have baked 20 minutes, remove from oven. Spoon half the ketchup glaze over meatloaves (save
    the rest for serving); return to oven until carrots are browned and tender, meatloaves are cooked through, and glaze is tacky, 4-5 minutes more.

    5. Meanwhile, melt 2 TBSP butter (4 TBSP for 4 servings) in pot used for potatoes over medium heat. Add remaining garlic and cook
    until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add potatoes and 1/4 tsp wasabi. Mash, adding splashes of reserved potato cooking liquid as necessary until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. (If you like things spicy, stir in more wasabi!)

    6. Divide meatloaves, mashed potatoes, and roasted carrots between plates. Sprinkle with scallion greens and serve with remaining ketchup glaze on the side for dipping.

  • Tuna Nicoise

    Tuna Nicoise

    Category: Seafood

    Area: French

    Ingredients:

    • 450g Potatoes
    • 2 tblsp Olive Oil
    • 4 Eggs
    • 1 tbls Red Wine Vinegar
    • 2 tblsp Capers
    • 50g Sunflower Oil
    • ½ Red Onions
    • 100g Spinach
    • 400g Tuna

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Toss the potatoes with 2 tsp oil and some seasoning. Tip onto a large baking tray, then roast for 20 mins, stirring halfway, until crisp, golden and cooked through.
    Meanwhile, put eggs in a small pan of water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 8-10 mins, depending on how you like them cooked. Plunge into a bowl of cold water to cool for a few mins. Peel away the shells, then cut into halves.
    In a large salad bowl, whisk together the remaining oil, red wine vinegar, capers and chopped tomatoes. Season, tip in the onion, spinach, tuna and potatoes, then gently toss together. Top with the eggs, then serve straight away.

  • Tunisian Orange Cake

    Tunisian Orange Cake

    Category: Dessert

    Area: Tunisian

    Ingredients:

    • 1 large Orange
    • 300g Caster Sugar
    • 75 ml Olive Oil
    • 280g Flour
    • 1 tbs Baking Powder
    • 4 large Eggs
    • 2 tsp Vanilla Extract

    Instructions:

    Preheat oven to 190 C / Gas 5. Grease a 23cm round springform tin.
    Cut off the hard bits from the top and bottom of the orange. Slice the orange and remove all seeds. Puree the orange with its peel in a food processor. Add one third of the sugar and the olive oil and continue to mix until well combined.
    Sieve together flour and baking powder.
    Beat the eggs and the remaining sugar with an electric hand mixer for at least five minutes until very fluffy. Fold in half of the flour mixture, then the orange and the vanilla, then fold in the remaining flour. Mix well but not for too long.
    Pour cake mixture into prepared tin and smooth out. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 160 C / Gas 2 and bake again for 30 minutes Bake until the cake is golden brown and a skewer comes out clean. Cool on a wire cake rack.

  • Rappie Pie

    Rappie Pie

    Category: Chicken

    Area: Canadian

    Ingredients:

    • 2 tbs Butter
    • 2 chopped Onions
    • 4 qt Chicken Stock
    • 1.5kg Chicken Breast
    • 4kg Potatoes
    • 2 tbs Salt
    • 1tbsp Black Pepper

    Instructions:

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 10x14x2-inch baking pan.
    Heat margarine in a skillet over medium heat; stir in onion. Cook and stir until onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook and stir until onion is very tender and dark brown, about 40 minutes more.
    Bring chicken broth to a boil in a large pot; stir in chicken breasts, reduce heat, and simmer until chicken is no longer pink at the center, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Remove chicken breasts to a plate using a slotted spoon; reserve broth.
    Juice potatoes with an electric juicer; place dry potato flesh into a bowl and discard juice. Stir salt and pepper into potatoes; stir in enough reserved broth to make the mixture the consistency of oatmeal. Set remaining broth aside.
    Spread half of potato mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Lay cooked chicken breast evenly over potatoes; scatter caramelized onion evenly over chicken. Spread remaining potato mixture over onions and chicken to cover.
    Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 1 hour. Reheat chicken broth; pour over individual servings as desired.

  • Prawn & Fennel Bisque

    Prawn & Fennel Bisque

    Category: Side

    Area: French

    Ingredients:

    • 450g Tiger Prawns
    • 4 tbs Olive Oil
    • 1 large Onion
    • 1 large Fennel
    • 2 chopped Carrots
    • 150ml Dry White Wine
    • 1 tbs Brandy
    • 400g Chopped Tomatoes
    • 1L Fish Stock
    • 2 pinches Paprika
    • 150ml Double Cream
    • 8 Prawns

    Instructions:

    Shell the prawns, then fry the shells in the oil in a large pan for about 5 mins. Add the onion, fennel and carrots and cook for about 10 mins until the veg start to soften. Pour in the wine and brandy, bubble hard for about 1 min to drive off the alcohol, then add the tomatoes, stock and paprika. Cover and simmer for 30 mins. Meanwhile, chop the prawns.
    Blitz the soup as finely as you can with a stick blender or food processor, then press through a sieve into a bowl. Spend a bit of time really working the mixture through the sieve as this will give the soup its velvety texture.
    Tip back into a clean pan, add the prawns and cook for 10 mins, then blitz again until smooth. You can make and chill this a day ahead or freeze it for 1 month. Thaw ovenight in the fridge. To serve, gently reheat in a pan with the cream. If garnishing, cook the 8 prawns in a little butter. Spoon into small bowls and top with the prawns and snipped fennel fronds.

  • Beef Asado

    Beef Asado

    Category: Beef

    Area: Filipino

    Ingredients:

    • 1.5kg Beef
    • 1 Beef Stock Concentrate
    • 8 ounces Tomato Puree
    • 3 cups Water
    • 6 tablespoons Soy Sauce
    • 1 tbs White Wine Vinegar
    • 2 tbs Pepper
    • 4 Bay Leaf
    • 1/2 Lemon
    • 2 tbs Tomato Sauce
    • 3 tbs Butter
    • 1/2 cup Olive Oil
    • 1 chopped Onion
    • 4 cloves Garlic

    Instructions:

    0. Combine beef, crushed peppercorn, soy sauce, vinegar, dried bay leaves, lemon, and tomato sauce. Mix well. Marinate beef for at least 30 minutes.
    1. Put the marinated beef in a cooking pot along with remaining marinade. Add water. Let boil.
    2. Add Knorr Beef Cube. Stir. Cover the pot and cook for 40 minutes in low heat.
    3. Turn the beef over. Add tomato paste. Continue cooking until beef tenderizes. Set aside.
    4. Heat oil in a pan. Fry the potato until it browns. Turn over and continue frying the opposite side. Remove from the pan and place on a clean plate. Do the same with the carrots.
    5. Save 3 tablespoons of cooking oil from the pan where the potato was fried. Saute onion and garlic until onion softens.
    6. Pour-in the sauce from the beef stew. Let boil. Add the beef. Cook for 2 minutes.
    7. Add butter and let it melt. Continue cooking until the sauce reduces to half.