Tag: Recipe

“Learning to like it” (with recipes)

It is no revelation to say that I like food. Really really like food.

Not only do I spend a large proportion of my time dreaming about, cooking, recipe developing for, and, of course, consuming food, I also read and write a lot about food. Food gives us energy, and it is safe to say that I expend a fair chunk of that energy by pouring it back into food. I consider myself a fairly adventurous eater, and the list of things I won’t eat is pretty small.

But it certainly wasn’t always the case.… Read More “Learning to like it” (with recipes)

ShahedahLeave a comment

Recipe: Spanakopita (season finale)

The recipe for this delectable pie comes from years of research (read: eating a piece of every spanakopita I came across) and months of recipe testing. It’s not a wholly authentic recipe, as I have zero Greek heritage or cultural connections, but it is as close as I felt I could get to the perfect genuine Greek spanakopita. It’s the perfect balance of a golden, flaky, buttery crust, that is sturdy enough to hold its own against a rich, robust and flavoursome filling of spinach, herbs and cheese.… Read More Recipe: Spanakopita (season finale)

ShahedahLeave a comment

Spanakopita series: episode 3

You could be forgiven for thinking that, after the success of my second pie, there wouldn’t be any more recipe attempting or tinkering.

But I was still itching to try my hand at homemade pastry and, in the interests of being thorough in my research, I still had at least three other recipes I wanted to try to experiment with for the filling.

Feeling invigorated by my recent success, I had another scan of my options.… Read More Spanakopita series: episode 3

Shahedah1 Comment

Spanakopita series: episode 2

There were many moments during episode 1 of this series where I honestly believed there would be no episode 2. After clearing out the final piece of my first spanakopita, it was nearly two months before I could gather my strength to try again.

I reviewed my shortlist of recipes again and, though I had decided commercial phyllo wasn’t fit for purpose here, I still had half a pack in the freezer, and its unorthodox use by Nagi of Recipe Tin Eats caught my eye. Everything from Nagi’s recipe was unorthodox, in fact…… Read More Spanakopita series: episode 2

Shahedah1 Comment

Spanakopita series: episode 1

Where I last left you, I had just finalised my shortlist of contenders for the perfect spanakopita. Yasmin Khan’s latest book Ripe Figs was already open on my kitchen cookbook stand, so her recipe seemed the natural place to start. If my first Spanakopita post has given you any indication of how long it took me to reach this particular point, you can likely understand that, once I had settled on the recipes, I wanted to jump right in. Nothing could deter me.… Read More Spanakopita series: episode 1

ShahedahLeave a comment

Spanakopita series: prologue

If you will allow me to wax nostalgic for a moment, let me tell you about the first time I discovered spanakopita (Greek spinach pie).

It was, of course, in Greece, on a trip with my sisters some 10 years ago. In Thessaloniki, we walked past a roadside shop with humongous trays full of the stuff sitting innocuously in the window.

Encased in a flaky yet tender, crumbly yet moist, golden crust, was a filling of hearty, bitter greens with the zip of an abundance of herbs, delicately balanced with the sweetness that only comes from slow-cooked alliums and peppered with salty white cheese. The rich indulgence of the cheese offset the earthy, herbaceous greens beautifully. The two pie elements were married perfectly, neither overpowering the other; the perfect ratio of pastry to stuffing.

Spanakopita had our hearts and our tastebuds.… Read More Spanakopita series: prologue

Shahedah1 Comment

Recipe: Tahini cheesecake with oat crumble crust

This tahini cheesecake is wholly inspired by the delectable sesame crumble recipe from Falastin by Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley. I whipped up a batch of this spiced, complexly flavoured sesame crumble and, as it roasted, my kitchen was filled with the tantalising scent of brown butter, toasty oats, sesame, rosewater and cardamom.

Eaten with Greek yoghurt, tahini and date syrup, the nutty savouriness of the tahini paired with creamy tang of the yoghurt was perfectly balanced and absolutely addictive. It made me think of the best kind of cheesecake. This cheesecake.… Read More Recipe: Tahini cheesecake with oat crumble crust

ShahedahLeave a comment

Recipe: #LifeHack gnocchi

As many parents will tell you, cooking changes after you have a child. Today I want to talk to you about a secret weapon that I now keep in my back pocket: packet gnocchi.

I know what you’re thinking. Packet gnocchi is not gnocchi. They’re spongy, doughy lumps of what feels like reconstituted potato dusted in a fine grainy substance (what is that? Is it semolina? Is it another flour? What?), that is little improved by the cooking process. But packet gnocchi is not just packet gnocchi when you know the trick to cooking it… Read More Recipe: #LifeHack gnocchi

Shahedah1 Comment