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Greek Lamb Burgers with Creamy Feta Dressing

Lamb patties with sizzled onions and a creamy feta dressing is just the ticket for a spring al fresco feast… that is somehow also fitting for a late autumn (fall) indoor dinner too. Why keep all the good stuff until summer!

Roasted Potatoes with Chorizo – Scrumptious!

You know these are going to taste spectacular … so get on to them!

Chicken Thighs with Tamarind Dressing

You won’t need to whistle in the the troops for this dish – they’ll smell it and come running.

Tamarind

It may look like something scraped off the forest floor, but tamarind is a stunning ingredient to give food a sour zing

Shallots – what you need to know

There’s nothing more annoying than a recipe that calls for 1 shallot (or 2, 3, 4…).

How much is that?

Oranges in season now!

Oranges, fresh or squeezed? Learn which does what best!

Tomato & Orange Salad

This is so simple it hardly calls for a recipe. Peel and slice juicy oranges, top with sliced vine tomatoes, sprinkle with small mint leaves and finely sliced green chilli, sprinkle with flaky sea salt, grind over black pepper and drizzle with a fruity extra virgin olive oil. Done! A striking, sweet and zingy salad […]

Stuffed Baked Pasta

Baked pasta – it tastes as good as it looks.

Why pay more for pasta

Update on dried pasta On my radio slot with Jesse Mulligan on Radio NZ last week I took in three samples of pasta to try and explain why it is worth buying Italian pasta rather than the cheapest brand on offer, which will most definitely not be Italian. I took in a locally made brand, […]

Puttanesca Sauce

This is a stalwart of the Italian kitchen – spectacular on pasta, fab to layer with vegetables like eggplant and zucchini, and great with polenta or to jazz up bruschetta …

How salty should the water be to cook pasta?

The Italians say it needs to be as salty as the Mediterranean. How do you know how salty that is if you’ve never swum in it?

Labneh Cheesecake with Roasted Apricots, Honey & Cardamom

Rich and succulent, creamy and nutty, Falastin’s Labneh cheesecake with roasted apricots, honey and cardamom is a spectacular dessert.

Aubergine, Chickpea & Tomato Bake – Musaqa’a

Echoes of the Greek dish moussaka are correctly heard here, both in the name and the feel of the dish

Falastin: A Cookbook

Looking for new ideas to titillate your taste buds? Try Falastin: A Cookbook.

My Favourite Sweet & Sour Meatballs

I’m not sure when I first made these – but at least 40 years ago. To say they achieved cult status is an understatement.

Apple & Rhubarb Crumble Crisp

Who said you can’t have crumble for breakfast? Not in my house! Oats, cornflakes and fruit sounds good to me.

Lamb Rack with Cardamom Crust

Exotic cardamoms, pistachio nuts and pomegranate seeds with roasted lamb rack is as good to eat as it sounds.

Speckled and cute!

Undeniably cute, quails’ eggs are good to eat, too!

Pork Burgers with Grilled Pineapple & Avocado

Here’s the ‘died and gone to Heaven’ version of pork patties. Live dangerously and just make them!

Pineapple – Easy to prepare when you know how

Removing the eyes (little pesky bits) from a pineapple, and the core, ensures a tender mouthful of juiciness with every slice.

Baked Spiced Eggplants with Tomatoes

Like eggplant but unsure how to make them sing? Try this easy method.

Apple Galettes

You got 10 minutes? That’s all it takes to assemble these irresistible morsels.

Spiced Yoghurt

This is a revolutionary way of flavouring yoghurt. Add smoked paprika flakes or ground cumin, or make a sweet version with ground cinnamon and mixed spice. Or for another take, scatter with chopped herbs. See Lentils & Cavolo Nero with Spiced Yoghurt for a serving idea.