Recipes where fresh herbs play a starring role
Portuguese Clams in White Wine Clams are very popular in Portugal. Amêijoas com vinho branco (Portuguese clams in white wine) are typically cooked over an open fire in a traditional cataplana, a metal vessel made of two concave halves that clip together to tightly enclose and steam the ingredients. Pork is often added in the […]
Guangxi-Style Smoked Trout Salad This Guangxi-style smoked trout salad is inspired by a versatile pork salad by Spice Temple chef Andy Evans. It’s more a concept than a recipe; Andy usually makes it with char siu (see video below) and it’s just as delicious with cooked prawns, barbecued squid or even sashimi salmon or tuna. […]
Baked Herb & Lemon Leatherjacket Baked herb & lemon leatherjacket trunks are a great introduction to whole fish. The coarse skin and large head (with its threatening spike) have been removed, and the thick white flakes of flesh lift easily off the bone. It’s also a very forgiving fish, remaining succulent even if you leave […]
Snapper Baked in Salt Crust Snapper baked in salt crust is a wonderful dish for entertaining – it’s easy to prepare as most of the work is done ahead of time and it’s so impressive when unveiled at the table. Janni Kyritsis taught me all about baking in salt crust when we wrote his cookbook […]
Baked Rainbow Trout With their colourful skin, baked rainbow trout make a gorgeous centrepiece for any table. I developed this recipe for Christmas Day to go with Matt Moran’s rough mint sauce (see video below), and versatile rainbow trout are just as good served with salsa verde or Cheong Liew’s cumquat sambal, depending on whether […]
Rice with Fried Garlic & Shallot This simple side dish of rice with fried garlic & shallot is a vegetarian take on the rice served with classic Hainanese chicken rice. The fried shallot and garlic add plenty of flavour without using stock; just remember to salt it well. It’s delicious with trout that’s steeped in […]
Churri Churri is the traditional accompaniment to Indian biryani and roasted meats, the fresh herbs and tangy yoghurt and buttermilk brighten up the slow-cooked meat and rich onion. Use a natural pot set yoghurt if possible, like the buffalo yoghurt from Vannella Cheese, and a natural buttermilk like Pepe Saya’s. Churri keeps well in the […]
Baked Ocean Trout with Mushrooms Catching freshwater fish (like trout) and foraging for mushrooms are both popular pastimes in northern Italy, and the fruits of these activities come together deliciously in this simple dish of baked ocean trout with mushrooms. Use whatever mushrooms are available just as they would in Italy, I love wild pine […]
Tuna Biryani Tuna biryani is my pescatarian take on the more traditional Indian classic, lamb biryani. Tuna has great flavour, but a tendency to dry out quickly, so it’s best cooked in large chunks. At the table, encourage diners to flake the tuna through their rice so they aren’t eating whole chunks of it, and […]
Salmon Bisteeya Bisteeya is a classic Moroccan pie, traditionally made with pigeon and other poultry. It lends itself beautifully to seafood too, especially gorgeous pink salmon – and a seafood version is even quicker and easier to make as there’s no need to poach the fish before assembling the pie. Traditionally the egg is scrambled […]
