Pure pistachio tart
“Ever since the wider public rediscovered the true flavour of pistachio – a prized, naturally sweet nut far removed from the artificially coloured pastes flavoured with bitter almond oil – it has become an undeniable smash hit of a flavour. This tart celebrates pistachio in its purest form, layered in a spectrum of natural green tones: matcha-infused pastry, luxurious pistachio…”
Yuzu meringue pie
“This lemon and yuzu meringue pie is all about balance – bright, citrusy sharpness mellowed by a delicate sweetness. Yuzu, the incredibly fragrant Japanese citrus, brings a depth of flavour that goes beyond just tartness, offering floral and almost spicy notes that make this pie stand out from a classic lemon tart. The filling is silky and vibrant, nestled in a crisp pastry case…”
Prawn cheung fun
Prawn cheung fun is a dim sum staple of silky rice noodles wrapped around plump, juicy prawns (shrimp). This recipe gives you the cheat’s way to make these delicious rolls, perfect for re-creating that authentic dim sum experience at home.
Pork and prawn wontons
Pork and prawn wontons are a classic Chinese dish, combining juicy pork and succulent prawns wrapped in delicate wonton skins. Whether served in soup or fried until crispy, these flavourful bites are a comforting favourite.
Ricotta berry tart
“This pretty sweet treat is so easy to whip up that the hardest part is waiting for the pastry to defrost!” - Nabula El Mourid
Egg white cake with mascarpone
Have you got a bunch of egg whites sloshing around after dutifully making hollandaise sauce or creme anglaise? Or is it just us that ends up with an accumulation of whites from time to time? Given the price of eggs, we don’t like to waste any part of a single one, but we don’t always want to bake meringue or pavlova, either…
Millionaire’s shortbread
“It’s not clear whether the reference to wealth here relates to the caloric value of this chocolate-topped caramel slice, or the fact that sugar and chocolate were out of reach for the average Scottish peasant back in the day. Let’s just settle on the fact that this is R I C H. And delicious. A small piece, savoured slowly, is perfect….” – Michael & Pippa James
Rhubarb-strawberry tray bake
Need an afternoon tea treat? Something to take to a family gathering? A cake/slice/dessert hybrid to serve with ice-cream for pudding? Taa-daa. Buttery, crumbly and fruity, this strawberry-rhubarb tray bake is exactly the simple pleasure you’re craving...
Biscuits without Borders: Pistachio Biscotti by Giapo
This recipe is from Naples native Giapo Grazioli of Auckland’s Giapo, who makes fabulous home-made ice-cream and gelato. This is a gluten-free interpretation of a biscotti recipe his grandmother, Francesca, made – the biscuits are twice-baked...
Braised gochujang chicken and vegetables
You’d think, wouldn’t you, that this kind of a bung-together-and-forget simmered recipe would be made for the slow cooker, wouldn’t you. So did we. But THREE tests and many chicken legs later (many bloody legs), we can hand-on-heart report that it is, in fact, way better and far less hassle to just simmer it on the stove…
Spicy air fryer lamb skewers
Salty, spicy, meaty and juicy – here’s the ultimate beer food. These are inspired by some of the delicious-est street food we’ve ever eaten; namely the lamb skewers you get in parts of northern and western China, where they’re cooked with plenty of cumin and chilli over smoky coals, then eaten with even more spice scattered over...
Cumin lamb with homemade noodles
We wish we had the skill and dexterity to make the famous pulled wheat flour noodles of China's west and north – it’s mesmerising watching these being made. Cooks start by stretching their dough and folding it in a way that apparently lines up the gluten strands…
Date molasses and spice cake
Like having a Little Black Dress in your wardrobe, every baking repertoire needs an easy, gingery, spicy cake recipe in the mix. (Well, we think it does anyway, and what we say generally goes. We’re not running a benevolent dictatorship here)…
Chocolate pistachio meringues
“Experts Resoundingly Say a No-Sugar Diet is No Good” ** declared an article headline we read over breakfast the other day, as we shoveled jam-mounded refined carbs and syrupy coffee down our throats with abandon…
Pandan coconut cream pie
Coconut and pandan might as well be soulmates. They belong together. It’s a partnership revered across Southeast Asia and one I re-create again and again throughout this book…
Banana cream pie with sesame toffee crunch
“This is the kind of pie that gets me. The kind I fall head over peel in love with. The buckwheat crust is the ‘edible bowl’ I love and the earthy, toffee sesame crunch is the pie accessory you never knew you needed…
Apple fritters with caramel
A popular dish from the cookbook Bao Family by Céline Chung. Granny Smith apples are a great choice, as they’re firm and slightly tart, which balances out the sweet sugar coating…
Kakiage tempura fritters
These delectable crunch-parcels are one of the most popular toppings for udon and soba in Japan, and it’s easy to understand why. They start off crunchy and sweet, and over time the batter absorbs the broth to make for fabulously juicy mouthfuls…
Stir-fried lamb with leeks and coriander
We love the old-world, gruff charm of Kao Rou Ji restaurant in Beijing’s Houhai precinct. This gorgeous area is right on the lake and although it has been hijacked somewhat by souvenir shops and pizza joints, it still speaks of a time when life was a little less polished and a lot less Westernised. The dining room is filled with the smells of cumin and lamb and barbecued meat and this dish reminds us of being there…
Rosemary and semolina shortbread
Ovens can be dodgy bastards. See that thermometer dial on yours? If your oven’s calibration slips, which it inevitably will, the dial is not necessarily the most reliable indicator of the exact temperature your oven is at. Bummer. But there’s a simple workaround…