Table of contents for September 2018 in Taste.com.au

When winter turns to spring it’s like the culinary equivalent of getting a brand-new box of Derwent pencils, with a lovely fresh batch of flavours to play with. And it’s great to see that we’re all thinking and eating this way – in tune with the harvest, when food’s at its most delicious, nutritious and crave-worthy. As we throw open the doors and let the sunshine in, who doesn’t want to tuck into big beautiful salads layered with fresh green leaves, crisp buttery asparagus spears and lightly steamed snow peas? The best of spring produce is right here in these pages, along with loads of new ways to enjoy it. We’ve reinvented your favourites with lashings of fresh ingredients, from fried rice to pad Thai, meatballs to curried chicken and…

update your kitchen with this stylish 624L stainless-steel, French-door fridge from Sharp. It has a host of high-tech features to make life easier in the kitchen, including Sharp’s J-Tech Inverter, which gives it improved energy efficiency, faster freezing, quiet operation and advanced temperature control. There’s plenty of well-organised shelving and an in-built deodoriser to keep things smelling sweet, too. “ I’ ll be looking for beauti ful colours and even layers.” matt preston CELEBRITY JUDGE SEND IN YOUR ENTRIES BY 12 SEPTEMBER Terms and conditions: Entries open 00:01 (AEST) 16/08/18 and close 23:59 (AEST) 12/09/18. Open to Australian residents only. Winners determined 14:00 (AEDT) 14/09/18 at NewsLifeMedia Pty Ltd, 2 Holt Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010. Winners’ names published in taste.com.au magazine November 2018. Total prize pool valued at $2599.…

Need a simple side for dinner? You can’t beat this simple Gratin – loaded with irresistible Frico Gouda cheese, creamy spinach and potato. Gouda is a classic Dutch cheese and takes this recipe to another level. Serve as a tasty side dish or make it the hero for meat-free Monday, either way it won’t let you down. “Gouda is made traditionally with fresh cow’s milk, is soft and creamy, with balanced intensity.” CREAMY SPINACH & POTATO GRATIN SERVES 4-6 2 tablespoons butter 4 medium potatoes, peeled & thinly sliced 8 Frico Gouda cheese slices 2 teaspoons oregano 2 handfuls spinach (about 80g) 2 medium garlic cloves, minced 250ml milk 250ml cooking cream 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1 bay leaf Preheat…

This zesty salsa is the perfect way to dress up chicken, steak, pork, seafood, haloumi or grilled veg. Did we mention it’s no-cook and vegan, too? Finely chop 1 /2 cup firmly packed fresh continental parsley leaves, 1 /2 cup firmly packed fresh basil leaves, a small bunch of fresh chives and 2 tbs baby capers. Place in a bowl and add 1 /2 cup extra virgin olive oil, the finely grated rind of 1 lemon and 2 tbs lemon juice. Stir to combine, then it’s ready to go. (Keep salsa, covered, in the fridge for up to a week.)…

healthy pad thai  serves 4 | prep 20 mins | cooking 17 mins 100g thin rice stick noodles 1 tsp tamarind paste 1 tbs gluten-free tamari 1 tbs fresh lemon juice 1 tsp brown sugar 250g firm tofu, cut into 1.5cm pieces 200g peeled green prawns, tails intact 1 white onion, halved, thinly sliced 3 garlic cloves, crushed 1 red capsicum, deseeded, thinly sliced 1 bunch broccolini, cut into 3cm lengths 400g carrots, peeled, cut into noodles using a spiraliser 55g (1 cup) bean sprouts 2 tbs chopped roasted unsalted peanuts, to serve Lime wedges, to serve 1 Place rice noodles in a large heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water. Set aside for 3 minutes or until softened. Drain. 2 Combine tamarind, tamari, lemon juice and sugar in a small…

hollandaise vs mayonnaise Hollandaise may have four times as much saturated fat as mayonnaise, but mayo typically has over 10 per cent more cals and total fat, eight times the sugar and one-sixth of the protein. Plus, hollandaise has more than five times the calcium and four times the iron. It also has more zinc, folate and vitamin A. Whichever you choose, make it at home and you’ll be ahead. winner: hollandaise plain scone vs fruit muffin Brands and recipes vary, but fruit muffins tend to have 30 per cent more calories than plain scones, as well as twice the fat and over four times the sugar. But that’s without any jam and cream added to the scone, which increases sugar and fat content. Make either of them at home…

“The ultimate chocolate cake.” “Choc hazelnut perfection.” Want a rich, fudgy cake? Just add sour cream to the batter. hooray! The search is finally over for the ultimate chocolate cake. Melted 70% dark chocolate, sour cream and dark muscovado sugar create a dense, moist cake with a fudgy crumb. And instead of regular chocolate buttercream icing, I’ve whipped cream cheese into the mix to create a decadent frosting to slather on top. It combines the light tang of the cream cheese with the bitter roasted notes of the cocoa powder, and is the perfect pairing for the sweetness of the cake. This is the cake for all you chocaholics out there. Serve it for birthdays or even as a show-stopping dessert at your next dinner party, sprinkled with fresh raspberries…

sichuan pepper chinese vegies with cashews  serves 6 (as part of a banquet) | prep 10 mins | cooking 15 mins 1 bunch snake beans 2 tbs coconut oil 1 onion, sliced 4 garlic cloves, sliced 2 tsp finely grated fresh ginger 1 /2 tsp Sichuan pepper 300g Lebanese eggplant, halved 150g mixed mushrooms 60ml ( 1 /4 cup) Lee Kum Kee Chinese Braising Sauce 2 tbs soy sauce 2 tsp Yeo’s Pure Sesame Oil 55g ( 1 /3 cup) unsalted roasted cashews, toasted Fresh mint leaves, to serve 1 Tie 2 snake beans together into a knot. Repeat with remaining snake beans. Heat the coconut oil in a wok over high heat. Cook onion, garlic, ginger and Sichuan pepper for 3 minutes or until the onion begins to colour.…

“There are just two techniques to master for this French classic – baking the silky custard and caramelising the topping – both of which are simple with our step-by-step guide.” Michelle Southan you’ll need… let’s go! vanilla bean crème brûlée  serves 4 | prep 15 mins (+ cooling & 4 hours chilling time) | cooking 40 mins 300ml pouring cream 250ml (1 cup) milk 1 vanilla bean, split 5 egg yolks 70g ( 1 /3 cup) caster sugar 1 tbs raw caster sugar 1 Preheat oven to 150°C/130°C fan forced. Bring cream, milk and vanilla bean almost to the boil in a saucepan over medium heat. 2 Remove the vanilla bean. Scrape the seeds from the bean into the cream mixture. Discard the bean. 3 Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks…

roots and all Having trouble getting your five serves a day? It just got easier with the new Fruits and Roots juice range, $5.50. All the hard work has been done for you so there’s no messy peeling, slicing and juicing. It’s just fruit and vegie juice, with no added sugar. Choose from Apple, Pear and Spinach; Pineapple, Passionfruit and Sweet Potato; or Apple, Berry and Purple Carrot. FULL OF BEANS Here’s a super-easy way to boost the protein and fibre content of your meals and get instant variety – just add Edgell’s new bean combos, $1.79. Try the Mexican Mix (black, pinto and red kidney beans) tossed into tacos, nachos or wraps; the Soup Mix (great northern, red kidney, black eye and pinto beans) stirred through soups; and the…

hommus, hummous, hummus … whichever way you want to spell it, no cheeseboard, antipasto platter or wrap is complete without it. So this month we took to the shops to try 21 varieties of hummus and bring you our favourite picks. Dari’s Table Harissa Hummus, 200g, $5 A generous dollop of harissa lifts this hummus to spicy new heights. Spread it on a wrap, serve it as a side with barbecued lamb or eat it straight from the tub. Just be warned – a little goes a long way! Obela Hommus To Go Zesty Jalapeno, 125g, $3 Always on the move? Keep a pack of this hummus and cracker combo handy. Spicy jalapeño chillies are stirred through the hummus and it’s paired with wholegrain rice crackers for an easy snack.…

maple bacon & bourbon melting moments  makes 16 | prep 25 mins (+ cooling time) cooking 30 mins 6 rashers shortcut bacon 100g ( 1 /2 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar 185g butter, chopped, at room temperature 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 150g (1 cup) plain flour 75g ( 1 /2 cup) self-raising flour 3 tsp maple syrup 120g ( 2 /3 cup) icing sugar mixture 1 tbs bourbon 1 Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan forced. Line a baking tray with foil. Spray with oil. Place bacon on the tray. Spray with oil. Bake, turning once, for 15 minutes or until cooked and golden. Cool. Finely chop. 2 Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Use electric beaters to beat the brown sugar and 125g butter in a…

Chocolate chip cookies Learn how to get that chewy, melt-in-your-mouth texture just right. Couscous salad Soggy couscous no more. Find out how to make it the fluffiest ever. Milkybar cheesecake Simple but impressive. Watch our steps for cheesecake perfection. How to: prepare avocados Chopped or sliced – watch our video for the best results. How to: make chips Want the secret to perfectly crispy fries? Follow our expert advice. How to: boil an egg Easy tips and tricks to get your yolk just the way you like it every time.…

One of the hardest covers to recreate. I wanted to see tasty melted cheese, strong bright colours in the soup and the greens, plus the pretty ruffled edge of the pasta, which can’t look like it’s overcooked!Mat t Preston COOK THE COVER JUDGE our winners @JORDIELLIZABETH KAITLIN MENZIE COURTNEY ELLIOTT prizes 1st prize: Whirlpool Induction Cooktop, $2499 2nd prize: Whirlpool 60cm Pyrolytic Oven, $1499 3rd prize: Whirlpool Dishwasher, $926…

“To get really tender meat with a slightly charred flavour, slow-cook the ribs in the oven, then finish them off on the barbecue. Cooling the ribs before adding the second layer of sauce helps it stick to the meat — finger-licking bliss!” Marion Grasby sweet ’n’ spicy pork ribs serves 4 | prep 10 mins | cooking 2 hours 10 mins 250ml (1 cup) gluten-free tomato sauce 250ml (1 cup) gluten-freen sweet chilli sauce 2 (about 600g each) pork rib racks Dried chilli flakes, to taste Coarsely chopped fresh coriander leaves, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 150°C/130°C fan forced. Line a large roasting pan with foil. Combine the tomato and sweet chilli sauces in a bowl. 2 Place the pork ribs in a single layer in the prepared pan.…

Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan forced. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Place 100g sliced prosciutto on 1 prepared tray and 200g sourdough bread, torn into bite-sized pieces, on the other. Drizzle the bread with olive oil and season with salt. Bake the prosciutto for 6 minutes and bread for 10 minutes or until crispy. Arrange butter lettuce leaves in 2 bowls. Top with toasted bread and torn prosciutto. Add some sliced avocado and halved hard-boiled eggs. Sprinkle with shaved parmesan and drizzle with store-bought Caesar salad dressing. Sprinkle with chopped fresh chives. BEST OF SEPTEMBER fruit  blood oranges lemons mandarins strawberries yellow grapefruit vegies  asparagus beetroot buk choy cauliflower fennel french shallots gai lan leeks lettuce peas radishes snow peas sugar snap peas herbs  chives dill mint oregano…

anna’s toasted muesli Virtually sugar-free and packed with all the good stuff – fibre to keep you feeling full for longer, healthy oils and a generous serving of key vitamins and minerals. makes about 5 cups | prep 20 mins | cooking 30 mins 180g (2 cups) whole rolled oats 75g ( 1 /2 cup) sunflower seeds 70g ( 1 /2 cup) pumpkin seeds 80g ( 1 /2 cup) natural almonds 2 tsp ground cinnamon, or to taste 250ml (1 cup) boiling water 1 tbs pure maple syrup 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan forced and line a large baking tray with baking paper. 2 Combine the oats, seeds, almonds and cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix together the boiling water and maple syrup, then pour over the dry…

1 moroccan sausage rolls We’ve been on a long quest to create the perfect sausage roll with Middle Eastern flavours and here is the next step on that journey. If you don’t like heat, just reduce the harissa a little! And if you don’t have harissa, adding a couple of deseeded and finely chopped long red chillies will do. Serve these sausage rolls with tabouli (find a recipe at taste.com.au). makes 16 | prep 20 mins (+ 10 mins cooling time) | cooking 40 mins 1 tbs olive oil 1 small red onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tsp finely grated fresh ginger 500g lamb mince 50g ( 1 /2 cup) rolled oats 55g ( 1 /3 cup) currants 1 /4 cup chopped fresh mint, plus 1 /3…

Jazz up your spuds with this fun twist. Preheat oven to 220°C/200°C fan forced. Line a tray with baking paper. Combine 2 tsp sea salt flakes, 1 /2 tsp dried chilli flakes, 1 /2 tsp smoked paprika and 1 /4 tsp ground white pepper in a bowl. Thread 8 white-skinned potatoes onto skewers. Place 1 skewer on a chopping board. Roll the skewer while cutting the potato on an angle all the way through to the skewer. Gently pull the potato out into a concertina spiral. Place on the prepared tray. Repeat with remaining potatoes. Spray with olive oil and sprinkle with the paprika mixture. Roast for 25 minutes or until golden and crisp. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce.…

Michelle Q When should I use a crumb coat on a cake? To all those bakers who like a professional finish on a cake, the crumb coat is the answer. Often when you put icing straight on a cake you can pick up crumbs in the icing as you go, and this means the iced cake can end up ‘dirty’ and speckled with crumbs – not the most professional look. This is where the crumb coat comes in and gets its name. Take a little of your icing and cover the cake with a very thin layer on the sides and top. This layer will have all the crumbs trapped in it; it’s also a great time to fill any holes between layers and make the cake as smooth as…

Cumulus Wines 2016 Climbing Shiraz, $24.99 Cool-climate shiraz, like this one from Orange, is a great choice for spring. Lighter in body and more elegant in flavour than its warm-region cousins, it’s food friendly, too. DRINK IT WITH: Barbecues, grilled meats, roasted root veg, grain-based salads. Irvine Wines 2018 Spring Hill Primitivo Rosé, $24 Strawberries, watermelon and pink grapefruit abound in this pale pink, dry, fresh rosé made from the primitivo grape (also known as zinfandel). A glamorous little gem. DRINK IT WITH: Salads, pastry, creamy dishes, chicken, seafood. Raidis Estate 2018 ‘The Kid’ Riesling, $20 Named after the goats that roam their vineyards to keep the weeds at bay, this new-release riesling from Coonawarra is zesty and vibrant with a dry, lingering finish. DRINK IT WITH: South-east Asian dishes,…

Don’t be fooled by all the layers – the magic of this cheesecake slice is that it’s incredibly easy to make. It’s a great make-ahead option and is sure to steal the show at any party! Michelle Southan let’s go! 250g pkt Arnott’s Nice biscuits 150g butter, chopped, melted 11 /2 tbs hundreds and thousands, plus extra, to serve 85g pkt lime jelly crystals 500ml (2 cups) boiling water 5 x 250g pkts cream cheese, chopped, at room temperature 85g pkt lemon jelly crystals 85g pkt strawberry jelly crystals 85g pkt blue heaven jelly crystals 2 tbs fresh lemon juice 2 tsp gelatine powder 125ml ( 1 /2 cup) sweetened condensed milk 85g pkt creaming soda jelly crystals Persian fairy floss, to decorate (optional) no-bake rainbow jelly cheesecake slice  serves 9…

One-pan salmon & broccoli bake For a healthy no-fuss dinner, try this simple one-pan bake. “It was very easy to make and tasted delicious. I had never baked salmon before and was so happy with the result.” RHUNGERFORD “This has become a regular Sunday lunch at our house. The marinade turns out beautiful. Would recommend.” STEPHY93 Lemon & raspberry magic cake Transform a simple batter into a sensational cake! “Turned out perfectly with beautiful flavour. Will be a favourite for sure. Leftover cake stayed fresh in the fridge for a couple of days.” OXWOODS “Everyone loved this, will make again, but add more raspberries and a little more lemon. Served with vanilla double cream, yum!” GLENICE_H Chicken, parmesan & zoodle skillet This easy one-pan chicken dish is ready in just…

KUNG PAO spaghetti This punchy prawn pasta dish kicks plenty of weeknight dinner goals – it’s super-easy, ready in no time and packed full of flavour with a definite chilli hit. Just toss prawns in a quick-mix sauce and stir-fry, adding onion, shallot and capsicum to the mix, then toss with spaghetti and serve with greens. 5-a-day vegie sliders serves 4 | prep & cooking 17 mins 1 tbs olive oil 1 brown onion, halved, thinly sliced 1 carrot, peeled, cut into matchsticks 1 large zucchini, cut into matchsticks 1 small sweet potato, peeled, cut into matchsticks 3 tsp Mexican spice mix 1 /4- 1 /2 tsp dried chilli flakes, to taste 1 tbs fresh lime juice Iceberg lettuce leaves, to serve 8 small slider buns, halved 40g ( 1…

choose Firm-skinned radishes with strong, bright green stems and leaves. Soak in iced water before using to amp up the crispness. store Trim the leaves. Store in a sealed bag in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. cook Grate, slice or julienne and toss through salads and risottos. Pickle or ferment them and add to kimchi, your next cheese platter or an Asian slaw. Try pan-frying halved radishes in butter with some garlic or anchovy. pair with mint • cucumber • parsley • avocado • carrot • feta • lettuce • potatoes • green beans • red meat • white-fleshed fish more online Ready to try some radish? Give these meals a whirl at taste.com.au/radishrecipes…

Who says fish ’n’ chips are off the menu? Pair these healthy fries with baked salmon fillets for a lighter, healthier version. Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan forced. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Combine 3 /4 cup panko breadcrumbs, 3 /4 cup finely grated parmesan and 2 tbs LSA in a bowl. Whisk 2 eggs in a shallow bowl. Trim the ends of 150g green beans. Coat the beans in the egg, then dip in the crumb mixture to coat. Place on the prepared tray. Spray with olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden and crisp. Serve with tzatziki and lemon wedges.…

“This melt-and-mix blondie is just the thing for parties and fetes. Add1/4 cup of chopped macadamias to the batter for some luxe crunch.”Michelle Southan chocolate freckle blondies  makes 18 pieces | prep 10 mins (+ cooling time) cooking 45 mins 1 Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan forced. Lightly grease a shallow, square 23cm slab pan. Line with baking paper, allowing the sides to overhang. 2 Place the butter and 200g chocolate in a large heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Use a metal spoon to stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Set aside to cool slightly. 3 Whisk the eggs and vanilla extract into the chocolate mixture until well combined. Stir in the sugar.…

juicy, flavour-packed Grosse Lisse tomatoes have been an Aussie favourite for more than a century – with good reason. The large, round red fruit is perfect for pasta sauces, delicious soups (try roasting the tomatoes first) and fresh, flavoursome salads. Happily, growing tomatoes at home is easier than you might think, too. And whether you choose pots or a vegie patch, spring is the ideal time to get started. step-by-step tomatoes If you’re lucky enough to have a vegie patch, find a warm spot that receives at least 6 hours of sunshine a day and enrich the soil by digging in some organic soil improver. You can sow these seeds directly into the soil. A backyard champion, Grosse Lisse grows tall on a robust vine, so sow it next to…