Firm Bosc pears, poached whole in a spiced honey syrup with ginger, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon until just yielding. Served with crème fraîche, a dusting of cinnamon, and the reduced poaching liquid poured over. Elegant and effortless. ✦ ✦ ✦ Ingredients Ingredients 4 firm Bosc pears 4 cups water ⅓ cup honey ⅓ cup […]
Russet potatoes boiled briefly with bicarb to soften the exterior, then tossed in a lemon-oregano-garlic marinade and slow-roasted in a covered dish for an hour before the lid comes off. The result: crispy edges, fluffy interiors, and deep flavour all the way through. Don’t skip the extra lemon at serving. ✦ ✦ ✦ Ingredients Ingredients […]
Eggplant baked until soft, then folded into a thick, deeply spiced paste of onion, garlic, turmeric, paprika, cumin, and cardamom with coconut oil. These are Aisha’s personal notes — a reminder of a dish she knew by feel. The sauce should taste strong; the eggplant softens everything once it goes in. ✦ ✦ ✦ Ingredients […]
A smooth, golden corn soup with leeks, red potatoes, and a gentle kick of curry powder. Puréed, sieved until silky, and chilled before serving. Finished in the bowl with blanched corn, sour cream, and lemon. Serve it cold — it’s worth the wait. ✦ ✦ ✦ Ingredients Ingredients 2 leeks, finely chopped 2 small red […]
A bright, herby blended chutney — fresh cilantro and mint with jalapeño, ginger, garlic, and yogurt. Tangy and green and versatile. Serve alongside grilled meats, as a dip, or with samosas and pakoras. Keeps in the fridge for several days. ✦ ✦ ✦ Ingredients Ingredients ½ cup yogurt 3 tbsp lemon juice 1 bunch fresh […]
Brussels sprouts cooked stovetop until golden, then finished in the oven until deep brown and tender, and tossed hot in a bright fish sauce-lime-chilli dressing loaded with cilantro and mint. Optional puffed rice on top for crunch. A serious side dish. ✦ ✦ ✦ Ingredients Ingredients 2½ lbs (1.1 kg) Brussels sprouts, halved, tough outer […]
Mexican green rice, coloured and flavoured by a blended purée of fresh cilantro, spinach, and chicken broth. The rice toasts in butter before the liquid goes in, and then steams off the heat until every grain is perfectly tender. A stunning side for anything grilled. ✦ ✦ ✦ Ingredients Ingredients ½ cup tightly packed fresh […]