Author: Andy

Plum and Ginger Glazed Christmas Ham

Plum and Ginger Glazed Christmas Ham

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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 5-6 kg smoked ham on the bone
  • 1 jar plum jam
  • 1/3 cup lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • Salt to season

Method
 

  1. Using a sharp knife, score the skin around the knuckle. Starting at the opposite end, lift the skin with your fingers and gently separate between the skin and the fat layer. Trim and score the ham fat in a diamond pattern.
  2. Line a large baking tray with baking paper and place a wire rack on the tray to elevate the ham.
  3. In a saucepan, mix together the plum jam, lime juice, mustard and ginger, gently heat to combine. Season to taste.
  4. Generously brush ham with glaze, place uncovered ham into a pre-heated oven (140°C).
  5. Baste the ham with glaze at 15 minutes intervals. Total cooking time – allow 30 minutes per kilo.
  6. Allow the ham to rest for 10 -15 minutes before slicing.
  7. Garnish the knuckle with herbs and a festive ribbon.

Lime and Chilli Roasted Pork Shoulder

Lime and Chilli Roasted Pork Shoulder

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Servings: 8
Course: Main Dish, Platter
Cuisine: Sth American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 10 cloves garlic
  • 2 shallots sliced (white and green parts)
  • 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
  • 1 large green chilli
  • 2 tablespoons hot chilli sauce
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 2 - 2.5 kg pork shoulder
  • 4 wide strips fresh lime zest
  • 1 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice
  • 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cinnamon sticks broken up

Method
 

  1. Pulse the garlic, shallots, coriander, chilli, cumin, 2 tablespoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a food processor to make a thick paste. Trim the fat on the pork shoulder, leaving only a thin layer of fat. Make deep incisions with a paring knife, at about 10cm intervals, all over the meat. Rub the garlic and spice mixture into and all over the meat.
  2. Combine the lime zest and juice, orange juice, chilli sauce, olive oil, and cinnamon in a nonreactive stainless steel or glass bowl. Add the meat, cover tightly with plastic wrap, making sure the meat is submerged. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up 2 days. Bring to room temperature about 1 hour before roasting.
  3. Preheat the oven to 220C. Put the pork, fat-side up, in a large Dutch oven.* Roast the meat, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Add the marinade to the pot and cover with the lid. Lower the temperature to 170C. and roast for 2 hours more. Uncover and continue to cook, basting occasionally, until an instant read thermometer inserted into the meat registers 90 degrees C and the meat is a rich burnished brown, 1 1/2 to 2 hours more. Set aside on a cutting board to rest for 20 minutes before slicing.
  4. For the sauce: Strain the pan drippings through a fine mesh sieve into a gravy separator and discard all excess fat. In a small saucepan, mix the pan drippings with 1/2 cup water and bring to a vigorous boil. Slice the meat and serve with the pan drippings.

KOREAN STYLE HOT DOGS WITH KIMCHI, SLAW & KICKIN’ KETCHUP

KOREAN STYLE HOT DOGS WITH KIMCHI, SLAW & KICKIN' KETCHUP

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Servings: 8 Hot Dogs
Course: Main Dish, Platter
Cuisine: Asian, Modern Australian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

FOR THE HOT DOGS
  • 8 don skinless franks
  • 8 top sliced buns
  • 450 g of your favourite store-bought Kimchi
  • FOR THE SLAW DRESSING:
  • 1/2 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon chili sauce use Sriracha
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon ½ salt and pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
FOR THE SLAW
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 1/2 head purple cabbage
  • 1/2 head savoy cabbage
  • 2 large carrots
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 3 jalapeño or green chilies julienned
  • 1/2 red onion thinly sliced on a mandolin
FOR THE KICKIN' KETCHUP
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
  • 2 tablespoons low salt tamari
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
FOR THE KICKIN' MUSTARD
  • 1 cup yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon low salt tamari
  • 3 tablespoons Kickin’ Ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Method
 

FOR THE SLAW DRESSING
  1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a pint jar, screw on the lid tightly and shake it until mixed together thoroughly.
FOR THE SLAW
  1. Toast sesame seeds for 2 minutes, until slightly golden in colour, and set aside.
  2. Thinly slice the purple & savoy cabbage, and place in a very large bowl
  3. Peel & shred carrots, and add to bowl.
  4. Remove seeds & veins from jalapeño peppers, then julienne and add to the bowl.
  5. Add thinly sliced red onion and gently fold all ingredients together until well-mixed.
  6. Prior to serving, add the Slaw Dressing to the bowl and gently fold it into the slaw.
FOR THE KICKIN' KETCHUP
  1. Combine ketchup, sriracha, tamari, and minced ginger, and mix thoroughly
FOR THE KICKIN' MUSTARD
  1. Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly
TO GRILL AND ASSEMBLE
  1. Heat up griddle pan or BBQ to medium heat
  2. Score each hot dog 3-4 times on one side
  3. Grill dogs for 8 minutes, rotating every 2 minutes (this will allow hot dogs to heat thoroughly without over-cooking or drying out).
  4. If desired, toast hot dog buns, cut side down on the grill for 30-45 seconds, watching them closely.
  5. Place around 50g of kimchi in each bun, then the hot dog, then top with Slaw. Drizzle the dogs with Kickin' Ketchup and Kickin' Mustard, and serve warm.

Mexican Street Corn and Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos

Mexican Street Corn and Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos

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Servings: 4
Course: Entree, Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 8 corn tortillas
  • 3 ears fresh corn kernels sliced from cob
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 30 ml lime juice
  • 1/2 onion peeled and minced
  • 1 clove garlic peeled and minced
  • 8 g fresh cilantro chopped
  • 225 g cotija cheese (or hard feta) grated or crumbled
  • 4 sweet potatoes peeled and diced
  • 1 avocado peeled and sliced
  • olive oil
  • sea salt
  • black pepper

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 180C.
  2. Toss sweet potatoes in light coating of olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer on baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, or until softened and just beginning to caramelize.
  3. Meanwhile, heat drizzle of olive oil in large non-stick pan, over medium heat.
  4. Add onion, and cook for 3-4 minutes, until softened and slightly browned. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
  5. Add corn. Stir, and spread into a single layer. Cook - without stirring - for 5 minutes or until browned on underside. Stir, spread into single layer again, and cook for additional 3 minutes.
  6. Add 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 cup cheese, chili powder, lime juice, and cilantro. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Remove from heat, and set aside the Mexican Street Corn.
  7. Warm tortillas on a baking sheet in the oven for 3-5 minutes.
  8. Assemble the sweet potato tacos! Top each corn tortilla with a layer of roasted sweet potatoes, a scoop of Mexican Street Corn, and several slices of fresh avocado. Top with a sprinkle of cheese. Serve.
  9. Nutrition

Whole Roasted Spicy Cauliflower

Whole Roasted Spicy Cauliflower

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Servings: 4
Course: Entree, Main Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 head cauliflower
For marinade
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons thick yogurt
  • 2 teaspoons ginger garlic paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon chaat masala
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1-2 tablespoons chopped coriander
For the Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 medium red onion chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
  • 1 medium tomato chopped
  • 1/4 cup tomato puree store bought
  • 1 cup water divided
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chilli powder or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon chopped coriander

Method
 

  1. To a bowl add all the ingredients listed under "to marinate". Make sure the yogurt that you use here is thick. Whisk to combine everything together.
  2. Trim the outer leaves and stalks of the cauliflower but make sure the head remains intact.
  3. Pour the mixture over the cauliflower head and coat the entire cauliflower with the marinade. Use you hands to spread the marination all over, going to sides and also to the back of the cauliflower.
  4. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour. If you have time, you can even marinate 4-6 hours or even overnight.
  5. Once you have marinated the cauliflower with the masala for a desired amount of time, roast it in the oven at 200C for 40-45 minutes on until tender [a smaller head might get done in less time and a bigger one will take more time so adjust accordingly].
  6. Meanwhile make the sauce. Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Then add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes till soft and translucent.
  7. Add ginger garlic paste and cook for another minute or two till the raw smell goes away. Add the chopped tomatoes along with store bought tomato puree, salt and 1/4 cup of water. Let the tomatoes cook for 3 minutes.
  8. Add red chilli powder, curry powder, sugar and let the masala cook for 2 more minutes.
  9. Once the masala is nicely cooked, add the remaining 3/4 cup water to the pan. Mix everything well and then blend the mixture to a smooth paste.
  10. Transfer the pureed mixture back to the pan and add butter and chopped coriander. Let it all simmer for 2 minutes.
  11. Place the roasted cauliflower in the centre of the serving plate and pour the prepared sauce all around the cauliflower.

Lamb Shanks W. Red Wine Sauce & Gremolata

 

Lamb Shanks W. Red Wine Sauce & Gremolata

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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Servings: 4
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 4 lamb shanks around 2kg
  • 1 large brown onion
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 1 large carrot
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 250 ml red wine
  • 3 400 g canned diced tomatoes
  • 500 ml chicken stock
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 fresh bay leaves
  • 1 large orange peel
  • sea salt & freshly cracked pepper
For the Gremolata
  • 1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove finely chopped
  • zest of 1 lemon

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) (without fan).
  2. Heat the oil in a large oven-proof pot which will fit all of the ingredients comfortably.
  3. Sear the lamb shanks in batches until they are golden brown on all sides.
  4. While you are searing the lamb shanks, place the onion, celery and garlic into a food processor until finely chopped.
  5. Remove the lamb shanks to a plate & turn down the heat. Add the onion mixture and cook for a few minutes until the vegetables have softenend.
  6. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for a few more minutes. Add the red wine and let the mixture bubble away for a few minutes to allow the alcohol to cook off.
  7. Add the tomatoes, stock, sugar, bay leaves, and orange peel. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer gently for a few minutes.
  8. Return the lamb shanks to the pan, together with any meat juices on the plate. Make sure the shanks are well-submerged in the sauce. Place the lid on the pan, and place the pan into the oven for 2 hours to braise. Check the pan every 30 minutes or so to give it a stir.
  9. After 2 hours, place the pan back on the stove on low heat. Remove the lid.
  10. Skim off and discard as much fat as you can from the sauce. At this stage, the sauce should look quite thin.
  11. Let everything simmer gently, without the lid, for about 1 hour, or until the sauce has thickened nicely and the meat is very tender. Stir the sauce occasionally to make sure that it is not sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  12. Taste the sauce for seasoning, and add salt and pepper. If it tastes too tart or sour, you might need more sugar.
  13. Make the gremolata by mixing together the parsley, garlic and lemon zest.
  14. Serve the lamb shanks with mashed potatoes and top with gremolata.
Author Posted on Categories Lamb

Garlic Butter Thyme Roast Chicken

 

Garlic Butter Thyme Roast Chicken

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Servings: 4
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Garlic Butter
  • 4 teaspoons butter softened
  • 2 cloves garlic pressed or finely grated
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper
Gravy
  • 4 teaspoons butter softened
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup low salt chicken stock
  • pinch pepper
Roast Chicken
  • 1 whole chicken 1.5 kg
  • 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper
  • 1 small onion quartered
  • 4 fresh thyme
  • 1 fresh rosemary

Method
 

  1. Garlic Butter - In small bowl, stir together butter, garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper.
  2. Roast Chicken - Sprinkle cavity of chicken with salt and pepper; fill with onion, thyme and rosemary. Rub chicken all over with Garlic Butter. Place, breast side up, on greased rack in roasting pan.
  3. Roast in 190°C oven for 45 minutes, baste and continue to roast, basting occasionally, until instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 85°C, about 30 more minutes. Discard contents of cavity. Using tongs, tip chicken to pour juices into pan. Remove chicken to platter; cover loosely with foil. Let rest for 20 minutes before carving.
  4. Gravy - Meanwhile, tilt pan so juices collect at 1 end. Skim fat from surface, reserving 1 tbsp. In small bowl, stir together butter, flour and reserved fat; set aside. Place pan over medium heat; whisk in wine. Cook, whisking and scraping up browned bits, until reduced by half, about 1 minute.
  5. Whisk in stock, bring to boil. Gradually whisk in butter mixture, 2 tsp at a time, until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Strain through fine-mesh sieve; stir in pepper. If necessary, stir in enough boiling water to loosen and yield 1 cup gravy. Serve with chicken.
Author Posted on Categories Chicken

Sweet Strawberry Focaccia With Basil

Sweet Strawberry Focaccia With Basil

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Servings: 1 loaf
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian, Modern Australian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g plain four
  • 100 g fine semolina
  • 2 g sea-salt flakes
  • 380 ml warm water
  • 7 g dried yeast
  • 1 tsp ⁄2caster sugar
  • 1 cup ⁄4extra virgin olive oil
  • Extra plain flour to dust
  • Extra olive oil to grease
  • Extra semolina to dust
  • 2 x 250g punnets strawberries hulled, sliced into rounds
  • 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 cup ⁄3icing sugar mixture
  • 1 cup ⁄2basil leaves

Method
 

  1. Combine flour, semolina and salt in a large bowl. In a medium jug, combine warm water, yeast, sugar and oil. Set aside for 3 minutes or until foamy.
  2. Make a well in centre of flour mixture and gradually pour in yeast mixture. Using your hands, gradually combine ingredients to form a dough.
  3. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes or until smooth. If dough is too sticky to work with, add up to 100g extra flour.
  4. Lightly grease a large bowl with extra oil. Transfer dough to bowl, then cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm and dry place for 45-60 minutes or until dough has doubled in size.
  5. Dust an oven tray with extra semolina. Turn out dough onto prepared tray and shape into a rough oval. Dust with a little more extra semolina, cover with a clean dry tea towel and set aside to prove for 20 minutes.
  6. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 180°C. Toss strawberry rounds with vinegar and 2 Tbsp of the icing sugar in a large bowl.
  7. Stud dough with strawberry rounds, poking into indentations to stop dough from rising while baking. Dust with 1 Tbsp of the remaining icing sugar and drizzle over a little of the bowl juices from strawberries. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden.
  8. Dust with remaining sugar and scatter over basil leaves. Slice into pieces and serve.

Perfect Pork Loin Roast

Perfect Pork Loin Roast

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Prep Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1.8-2 kg pork loin roast
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 tablespoon sea salt
To serve:
  • Roasted vegetables potatoes pumpkin, carrots and parsnip
  • baby peas
  • gravy
  • apple sauce

Method
 

  1. Remove pork loin roast from packaging taking note of weight and pat dry with paper towel.
  2. Place roast onto a wire rack in the kitchen sink and pour over a jug of boiling water. Pat the rind dry with paper towel.
  3. Place pork skin side up in a plastic dish and put it back in the fridge uncovered overnight to dry the skin out
  4. When ready to cook remove the pork from the fridge an bring to room temperature.
  5. Rub the rind well with oil and sea salt massaging well into the scored areas.
  6. Place the pork loin roast on a wire rack in a deep roasting pan, then place in preheated oven at 240⁰C for 40 minutes. Do not open oven door during this period.
  7. Reduce oven temperature to 180⁰C for the remaining cooking time allow 30-35 minutes per kg. (Roast prepared vegetables now).
  8. Remove pork from the oven and allow to rest in the roasting pan for 10-15 minutes prior to slicing.
  9. Slice loin and serve with roasted vegetables, freshly cooked peas, gravy and apple sauce.
Author Posted on Categories Pork

Roast Lamb Leg & Port Gravy

 

Roast Lamb Leg & Port Gravy

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Servings: 8
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 kg bone in leg of lamb
  • 8 garlic cloves thickly sliced
  • 2 leaves rosemary sprigs picked
  • 1 lemon zest only
  • 1 tin of Anchovies
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion cut into wedges
  • 350 ml Port
  • 40 g unsalted butter
  • 2 tsp Cornflour
  • Sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 200C
  2. Make incisions all over the lamb and stuff a garlic slice with an anchovy and pinch of rosemary leaves (use half of what you have and keep the rest of the rosemary aside) into the incisions. Rub the lemon zest and olive oil all over the surface of the lamb. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Put the onion wedges into a roasting tin, sit the lamb on top and roast for 1 hour. Pour 200ml of the port and 300ml water into the tin and return to the oven for 30 minutes.
  4. Remove from the oven, transfer the lamb to a warmed serving dish, cover with kitchen foil and leave to rest for at least 30 minutes.
  5. Tip the contents of the roasting tin into a saucepan, together with the remaining rosemary, Port and another 300ml water. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes until slightly reduced. Strain everything through a sieve into a jug, pressing through as much liquid as possible.
  6. Melt the butter in a frying pan over a low heat. Stir in the cornflour until you have a smooth paste and cook, stirring all the time, for a minute. Slowly whisk in the strained liquid, a little at a time, until smooth. Simmer for 10 minutes over a low heat, stirring frequently, until thickened. Add any juices that have come out of the lamb while resting and stir well. Carve the lamb and serve with the gravy and your favourite sides.
Author Posted on Categories Lamb