Traditional British food has a reputation for stodge. But a new generation of chefs and cooks show how to take a no-suet approach, with ingredients such as herrings and oats, so that typically British dishes can be healthy, too.
When I came to prepare the fish they were still stiff (a sign of a truly fresh fish). A classic dish of pan-fried trout with a squeeze of lemon and some buttery browned almonds seemed ideal. My copper pan outperformed the usual non-stick pans; it was faster and the fish was crisper.
Not very sweet, these can be enjoyed with coffee or tea or as a cocktail nibble.
Lamb shanks come from either the forelegs or the lower hind legs of a lamb, which get a lot of exercise, and therefore are great cuts for stews and slow-cooked braises. The long cooking time is needed to break down the tough connective tissue in the muscles. At the end of cooking the meat should just fall off the bone.
Once peas are plucked, the sugars convert to starch relatively quickly, so they should be cooked as soon as possible. If not, rather than being soft, sweet and succulent, they will be firm and mealy and have to be cooked a long time before they soften. I would encourage anyone with a garden or planter boxes to grow peas simply for the pleasure of eating them in spring.
These recipes are new-ish:
Brandy Snap Basket
Broad Bean Paté
Butternut Squash Kebabs
Roasted Beetroot
Croque Monsieur
Leek and Cheezly Gratin
John Weldon crosses the West Gate Bridge in search of the best delis and diners ... Following is Epicure's guide to fine food and wine well worth travelling west for.
1. St Albans Market, corner St Albans Road and Princess Street, St Albans
2. Little Saigon, Nicholson Street, Footscray
3. The Chilean Sausage Man, Laverton Market, 8-18 Leakes Road, Laverton, Sat and Sun
4. Sunbury wineries, www.sunburywines.com.au
5. Joseph's, Mansion Hotel, Werribee Park, K Road, Werribee
6. Aqua e Vino, 18A Anderson Street, Yarraville
7. The Morning Star Hotel, 3 Electra Street, Williamstown
8. Heather Dell, 7 Anderson Street, Yarraville
9. The Good Room, 148 Victoria Street, Seddon
10. Bharat, 580 Barkly Street, West Footscray
# Spicy Garlic Ginger Roti
# Kashmiri Roti
# Kulcha
# Moongdi
# Roghni Naan
# Sheermal
# Palak (Spinach) Phulka
# Tandoori Roti (Without Tandoor)
# Crisp Jaadi (Fat) Roti
# Naan
# Phulka
# Spicy Roti
# Puffy Roti
# Layered Roti
Like many true comfort food classics, a grilled cheese sandwich comes trailing clouds not of glory precisely, but of memory.
Fresh herbs are not only tasty, but they can also be exciting when used in a dish with some conviction and a bit of attitude!
