Asparagus with Black Forest Ham and Bolzano Sauce
Tuesday, April 23, 2024Spring is a prime time of renewal and detoxification. Asparagus supports this spring cleanse unlike any other vegetable! Seize the asparagus season and enjoy this delicious vegetable as much as you can.
Bolzano sauce is a traditional sauce from the Bolzano area in German-influenced Alto-Adige and goes perfectly with cooked asparagus. It is similar to Hollandaise sauce, but is firmer and richer in consistency. The sauce has a long tradition in Bolzano and was prepared by South Tyrolean farmers over two hundred years ago. It's made with a combination of hard-boiled eggs, olive oil, white vinegar, mustard, chives, and beef broth. Once cooked, the eggs are simply chopped and mashed with the other ingredients.
Blanched Asparagus with Caviar Cream Sauce
Wednesday, April 17, 2024Caviar Cream Sauce is an ultimate sign of decadence and deliciousness. This sauce is incredibly rich and to cut through the richness, I balanced the sauce out with a simple blanched asparagus. I used dry white wine for the sauce, but if you have some Champagne or dry sparkling wine, feel free to use it. If using alcohol is not an option, you can try using sparkling cider, but the sauce will taste sweeter then. It's important to fold caviar into the sauce after it has cooled a bit or it would ruin the caviar.
Asparagus, Soft-Boiled Eggs and Caviar
Tuesday, April 09, 2024Caviar goes very well with different kinds of vegetables. Gently blanched fresh green asparagus with soft boiled egg pairs perfectly with rich creamy caviar that adds a touch luxury to every bite.
Argan oil, a specialty oil produced in Morocco, extracted from the seeds of the argan tree, known as Argania spinosa, has a distinctive nutty and robust flavour, but not overpowering, and it's best enjoyed as a finishing oil. It is hard to come by, so you may use hazelnut or walnut oil instead, or simply use olive oil.
Roasted Purple Carrots with Sriracha Yoghurt and Chives
Wednesday, April 03, 2024These roasted heirloom purple carrots are naturally sweet, tender and earthy and they are hands down the easiest side dish ever with less than 10 minutes preparation. Creamy spicy sriracha yoghurt and sweet tangy pomegranate molasses help balance the dish. For a spicier sauce, use 2 tablespoons (or more) of sriracha and 1 tablespoon if you prefer it milder.
White Asparagus with Summer Truffle
Monday, April 01, 2024In Germany, the king of vegetable is WHITE asparagus. It's like a national treasure and you will find it on menus nationwide from April April to June.
Tender, sweet, and loaded with earthy flavour, these blanched white asparagus with browned butter and summer truffle make for a great spring party appetizer. The skin of white asparagus can taste very bitter and fibrous, so make sure to peel it off completely before blanching. White asparagus are delicate and brittle, so lay each spear flat on a work surface to peel. This way ensures they won't snap during peeling.
Griddled Asparagus with Serrano and Pine Nuts
Thursday, March 28, 2024Tender crispy charred green asparagus, toasty pine nuts and dry-cured Jamon Serrano with a garlicky, tangy and zesty wild garlic dressing create a spring salad that is naturally gluten free, high in fiber, delicious and just bursting with flavour. It makes the perfect Easter side dish for a relaxed brunch. Use other fresh herbs, such as arugula, parsley, scallions or basil, if you can't find wild garlic, aka ramson.
Cumin and Fennel Hasselback Carrots
Saturday, March 16, 2024This healthy, budget-friendly carrot side dish, adapted from tesco, is fun to make and so flavourful with a lovely tender and sweet interior. They are one of the best side dishes to add on your dinner table and re-heat well too, so they're great for making ahead!
Brown Butter Carrots with Hazelnuts
Friday, March 08, 2024Tossed with browned butter and topped with crunchy toasted hazelnuts and fresh parsley, these deliciously tender and sweet heirloom carrots would make a sensational side dish for a celebratory Sunday roast. They are great served as a snack too. I would recommend using baby heirloom carrots, so you can just leave them whole.
Bacon-Wrapped Carrots with Cholula Maple Glaze
Sunday, February 25, 2024These maple cholula glazed carrots are easy to make yet extremely delicious. Cholula is a Mexican hot sauce. You can use sriracha instead or tabasco if you want it more spicy. These bacon wrapped carrots are best enjoyed fresh right out of the oven, but you can wrap the carrots with bacon ahead of time. Peel the carrots if they ain't organic.
Parsnip Muffins
Wednesday, February 21, 2024Fresh grated parsnips add a nutritious boost and lend a lovely subtle earthy taste to these tasty tender muffins, made extra moist with full-fat Greek yogurt, raisins for the sweetness that complements the other ingredients perfectly, and topped with almonds for crunch. Enjoy for weekend mornings, breakfast on the go, or an afternoon snack when you crave something sweet.
Fennel and Anchovy Gratin with Parmesan
Thursday, February 15, 2024It’s so easy to make and put together this rich, flavourful and delicious side dish, which is perfect to serve with just about anything. First the fennels were blanched, then drained and baked with anchovy, heavy cream, nutmeg, thyme and Parmesan. If you want this keto and gluten free, replace the breadcrumbs with ground pork rinds or simply leave it out all together. Don't want to use Parmesan? Feel free to use other hard cheese like Grana Padano or Pecorino Romano.
Honey Harissa Carrots and Chickpeas with whipped Feta
Monday, February 05, 2024Delicious, harmoniously balanced spicy-sweet-smoky roasted carrots and chickpeas on a bed of creamy whipped feta and Greek yoghurt. This Middle-Eastern inspired, restaurant-worthy side dish is a real crowd-pleaser and a great option for last-minute entertaining. If you don’t have carrot tops for the salsa verde, simply use fresh parsley. Use rainbow carrots if you could find them. Great to serve with flatbreads to scoop up the feta sauce.