Recipes (my own and from reviewed recipe books), reviews of cookery books and cookery classes, food and kitchen equipment product reviews – if it’s about cooking or eating at home, it’s here!

Taiwanese Scallion Pancake | 蔥油餅, Cōng You Bˇıng

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Scallion Pancake

Crispy, soft and flaky scallion (spring onion) pancakes are a popular street food in Taiwan. Made from a wet, unleavened dough rather than a batter, they are often eaten for breakfast, but can be enjoyed at any time of the day, with or without an egg. Fried fresh for each customer, vendors usually roll them ... Read more »

Made In Taiwan by Clarissa Wei with Ivy Chen

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Made In Taiwan by Clarissa Wei with Ivy Chen

“Taiwanese food, that’s basically the same as Chinese, isn’t it?” That’s the refrain I heard from quite a few people when we planned our two holidays to Taiwan. The answer is “yes and no“, but that “no” is no small thing at all. Yes, a large swathe of Taiwanese cuisine has similarity to Chinese dishes ... Read more »

Slow Cooker Beef Joint in Pedro Ximinez and Red Wine (Two Ways)

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Slow Cooker Beef Joint in Pedro Ximinez and Red Wine

A joint of beef cooked slowly in a braising liquid of beef stock, red wine and Pedro Ximinez sherry with whole shallots, sliced onions and carrots makes a perfect winter warmer and also fits the bill whenever you’re seeking comfort. This recipe can be served two ways: cook the beef joint until it’s tender but ... Read more »

Vietnamese Lime Soda with Strawberries

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Lime Soda with Strawberries

This refreshing lime soda with strawberries is a perfect summer drink featuring fresh strawberries, lime juice, brown sugar or maple syrup, and an unexpected pinch of black pepper. It’s from food writer and photographer Uyen Luu’s latest book, Vietnamese: Simple Vietnamese Food to Cook at Home In the recipe’s introduction Luu remembers her first taste ... Read more »

Vietnamese Quick and Lazy Drenched Cold Noodles

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Quick and Lazy Drenched Cold Noodles

This quick and simple cold noodle recipe is immensely satisfying and perfect for a quick lunch or dinner when you’re short on time but craving great flavours. It’s also a handy way to use up ingredients from your fridge or store cupboard. Read our full review of Vietnamese Vegetarian by Uyen Luu. This is a ... Read more »

Vietnamese Black Bean Aubergines

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Vietnamese Black Bean Aubergines

This beautiful black bean aubergine recipe from Uyen Luu’s Vietnamese Vegetarian cookery book delivers maximum flavour for very little effort, taking only 10 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to cook. If you like, you can also make the sauce ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve Read our full review of Vietnamese ... Read more »

Vietnamese Vegetarian: Simple Vegetarian Recipes from a Vietnamese Home Kitchen by Uyen Luu

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Cover of Vietnamese Vegetarian by Uyen Luu

Vietnamese Vegetarian by Uyen Luu follows on from her two previous books Vietnamese: Simple Vietnamese Food to Cook at Home and My Vietnamese Kitchen. I looked through both of these very beautiful books when they first came out but as a vegetarian, I found that even those recipes that looked as though they might be ... Read more »

Chetna Makan’s Chicken Tikka Masala

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Chicken Tikka Masala

A British curry house favourite, chicken tikka masala is a delicious dish of marinated and grilled (or oven-baked) chicken in a rich, creamy, spicy sauce. As well as following the recipe in full to make the popular restaurant classic, you can enjoy the chicken tikka pieces on their own (great for a barbecue) or jazzed ... Read more »

Chetna Makan’s Masala Spatchcock Chicken

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Masala Spatchcock Chicken

Meat, fish and vegetables marinated in Indian spices make great barbecue dishes, the smoke from the barbecue melding beautifully with the masala flavours. This whole Masala Spatchcock Chicken recipe from Chetna’s Indian Feasts by Chetna Makan is a perfect example, and makes a great centre-piece for your barbecue table. Spatch-cocking the chicken makes it quicker ... Read more »

Chetna Makan’s Paneer Do Pyaza

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Paneer Do Pyaza

I am a huge fan of paneer, it being an ingredient I grew up with and have always loved; the fresh Indian cheese is a regular choice for vegetarian nights in our house. This Paneer Do Pyaza recipe is from Chetna’s Indian Feasts by Chetna Makan and features onions and shallots alongside the paneer. Read ... Read more »