Recipes

Well, not so much a traditional salad as an unfamiliar, quite wonderful combination of hot stir-fried chicken and noodles with cool cucumber, lettuce and carrots.

Just when I thought there was nothing new to learn about cooking chicken, along came a totally unexpected roasting method. Not only that, but I received this recipe from a total stranger in a queue at our local supermarket. Thank you, ma’am!

The invention of pasta is almost as important as the discovery of bread. And the genius of both is their ability to trigger so many different flavour combinations.

There comes a time when the amateur braai mechanic realises that not all protein is red nor are all steaks beef. Here’s a magnificent fish braai procedure that I learnt from a friend, Derek van Heerden.

Grilled chicken, as endless retail outlets prove daily, is an all-time favourite. Here’s my way of producing damn fine grilled chicken at home.

Dukkah is an Egyptian snack, designed to be crunchily consumed with crusty bread, limpid olive oil and the Ethiopian coffee of your dreams.

Powerful. That’s the only word for this fish soup. Explosive taste, delicious aromas and great texture.

Whenever I visit my brother in Cape Town, I know I am in for superlative dining. And when the big item on the menu is bobotie, this Durban boykie renews his delight in the mild heat and soaring spiciness of a Cape Malay classic.

Spring is the ideal time to pick vine leaves for this traditional Greek delicacy and Strandveld’s soft, young Pinot noir leaves proved to be the perfect ingredient for Suzán, winemaker Conrad Vlok’s wife who decided to try her hand at this rather adventurous savoury delight.

Vietnamese food is probably even more exciting than Thai. While Thai-based foods and the condiments that go with them have made it to South African kitchens and supermarkets, Vietnamese food is just a couple of steps behind …

There are times in a braai connoisseur’s life when he or she gets to wondering what to serve after the boerewors, chops and well-aged rump steak, but before the ice cream with honey and whisky sauce. Well, here’s the answer: tomato tarts. Yes, you heard right.

Cooking is more than following a recipe. Those who grow their own vegetables or keep fowls understand this. But becoming expert in the basic aspects of food production is a highly fulfilling skill. Pasta-making is an example. Here’s how you do it.