The colourful world of fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses and funghi provides a wealth of possibilities for delicious dishes. While some dishes listed here are vegetarian containing animal products, they’re easily adapted to a vegan diet by omitting or replacing eggs or dairy with a vegan-friendly alternative. Likewise dishes containing anchovies or non-vegan seasoning can be adapted.
Chilli sin Carne Chilli sin carne is my vegetarian play on the famous Texan dish, chilli con carne. Since there’s no carne (Spanish for ‘meat’), it’s ‘sin carne’ (without meat). The idea would be an abomination to any self-respecting Texan, so why not go a step further and serve it with brown rice – I […]
Raw Artichoke Salad Insalata de carciofi is one of my favourite ways to serve artichokes – simply thinly sliced with a tangy lemon dressing and a little salty cheese. Celery heart adds crunch and a few baby rocket leaves give colour but don’t use too much, let the artichoke be the star, and only use […]
Pumpkin Soup Pumpkin soup is an Aussie classic, so quick and easy that it’s a staple on pub menus and family dinner tables across the land. I find many versions too sweet, so spice mine up with a dash of ginger and cumin and add tang with a swirl of Pepe Saya crème frâiche, though […]
There’s nothing like bubbles to get everyone in a party mood. While Champagne is the traditional fizz of choice, sparkling wines from other French regions, Italy, Australia and New Zealand can also do the job – often at a fraction of the cost – especially in these five popular cocktails. Keep the snacks French by […]
Artichoke & White Bean Dip This artichoke & white bean dip is a simple way to enjoy artichokes when you don’t want to go to all the fuss of trimming, removing leaves and scraping out chokes. Use good quality bottled artichokes, preferably stored in oil or acidulated water, not vinegar as that makes the taste […]
There’s nothing like a cocktail or two to get everyone in the mood for a party. While purists might argue that mixing Sherry with other ingredients is a waste of good wine, Sherry cocktails have been around since the 17th century. There were simple blends with vermouth and/or bitters (Adonis); or raw egg and sugar […]
Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino Like this recipe?You’ll love my online Italian cooking class featuring the food of southern Italy! The simplest recipes are often the favourites, the ones with the most views on this website are croque monsieur (a.k.a. toasted ham & cheese sandwich) and affogato (ice cream ‘drowned’ in coffee and liqueur), hardly […]
Asian Rice Bowl We always want to eat well, but don’t always want to spend hours in a hot kitchen. That’s when throw-together-dishes like this Asian rice bowl are welcome, using whatever’s on hand. This recipe for seasoned Asian rice topped with a fried egg came about one evening when Muriel Chen from Blue Eye […]
Ratatouille Like this recipe? You’ll love my online French cooking class featuring the Food of Provence! This versatile Provençal dish is delicious hot or cold, as a standalone vegetarian meal, or an accompaniment to grilled meat, poultry or seafood. There aren’t any hard and fast rules, it’s a quick, one-pot combination of eggplant, capsicum, onion, […]
Summer Pudding I’ve long been intrigued by summer pudding, the classic British dessert made in the height of summer when berries are abundant and very ripe. It’s ideal for warm weather and the colour is perfect for the Australian festive table. There are many variations using all sorts of berries, but raspberries and red currants […]
