Table of contents for September 2016 in Taste.com.au

You can feel it in the warming breeze – longer sunny days are on the way. And how good does that feel? That’s why we’ve made this issue the food equivalent of throwing open the windows and doors, packing away the woollies and letting in the sunshine and fresh air. As with every month, our amazing foodies have started with the best of the bounty – all the freshest, most flavoursome heroes of the season at their absolute peak. Then, they’ve leapt into action, creating delicious new recipes to celebrate each ingredient. Check out our easy guide on page 14, which includes recipe suggestions from this issue, as well as loads of quick and easy ways to layer spring goodness into every day. It’s all about bringing the best flavours…

“Blood oranges. There’s a small window when these beauties are available. They taste amazing in both sweet and savoury dishes.” Georgia “Broad beans, peas and pea shoots. Add to a ham-hock broth, with shredded ham and fresh herbs. Stir in butter and lemon for a spring soup.” Colin “Nothing says spring like asparagus! Perfect with lamb, barbecued salmon or poached eggs. Or, toss through your favourite salad.” Michelle “Fresh mint. It’s such a versatile herb. Whizz it into pesto, add to grain salads or hot tea, or toss through boiled potatoes with butter.” Katrina…

Cook your version of our berrylicious Pavlova Cheesecake and share a picture of your creation for your chance to win these fabulous prizes. Passionate bakers have a new friend in the kitchen with the Breville Bakery Boss – the most powerful bench mixer in its class. Available in five colours, the Bakery Boss offers power and speed like no other. This ultra-high 1200W heavy-duty mixer is also the world’s only glass bowl mixer with a dual-sided scraper beater, so no more stopping and starting to scrape down the sides! Four runners-up will each receive the Boss to Go Plus – great for spring smoothies. two ways to enter email it: Send a photo of your creation, with your name, address and telephone number to us at tastecookandwin@news.com.au share it: Post…

my kitchen tools! We’re all looking for a helping hand in the kitchen, so small appliances are getting more and more sophisticated to serve us better. Enter the KitchenAid Multi-Cooker with Stir Tower, $749. It has 10 pre-programmed functions to help you fast cook, slow cook, roast, steam – there’s even a low-temperature setting for making yoghurt. It’s available in three great colours, including KitchenAid’s signature Candy Apple Red. Check out the range at harveynorman.com.au ZUMBO’S JUST DESSERTS Get ready to lick the screen our favourite patissier Adriano Zumbo, alongside pastry chef Gigi Falanga (pictured, left) and British chef Rachel Khoo (pictured, right), will play host to a new reality TV show, Zumbo’s Just Desserts, on Channel 7. Twelve contestants will bake their way through a series of challenges to…

“If the meat pie is the ying of Aussie street food, then its yang is the dim sim or ‘dimmmy’.” Nearly every country in the world has a tradition of packaging succulent parcels of food in edible flour-based wrappers. They can be roughly divided into two camps – those that like their fillings encased in pastry, then baked or fried until golden and flaky; and those that like them sealed in dough, then boiled or steamed so they are smooth and slippery. On the pastry side there’s Malaysia with its curry puffs, India and its samosas, the pot pies of the US, the empanadas of Chile and Argentina, the pithiviers of France, the pasties of England, the strudels of Germany, the borek of the Balkans, the gozleme of Turkey, Russia’s…

“I believe gem lettuces were put on this earth as vessels for delicious fillings. This dish is low-carb, easy-peasy and loaded with flavour, so I know you’ll be going back for guilt-free seconds. Fish tacos are a great choice for a casual dinner with friends, but if you don’t want to share, the leftovers make a perfect midweek lunch.”Georgia Barnes spicy fish & gem lettuce tacos serves 4 | prep 15 mins | cooking 5 mins GRAB 500g firm white fish fillets (such as blue-eye trevalla), skin and bones removed, cut into 1.5cm pieces 2 tbs Cajun seasoning 1 lime, rind finely grated, plus extra lime wedges, to serve 2 gem lettuces, washed, leaves separated 150g sour cream 1 cup fresh mixed herbs Fresh jalapeños, thinly sliced, to serve GO...…

“Make sure your guests open their parcels at the table, so they can smell the beautiful aroma as the steam escapes.”Manu Feildel “Baking en papillote (in a parcel)is a wonderful method of cooking fish.Contained by the paper, the flavours used will intensify and the fish gently steams without drying out.”Manu Feildel fish en papillote with spring vegetables serves 4 | prep 20 mins | cooking 25 mins 4 (about 200g each) firm white fish fillets (such as trevally), skin on 100g butternut pumpkin, peeled, thinly sliced 4 pinches saffron threads 1 lemon, rind finely grated, juiced 120ml white wine 40g butter, quartered spring vegetables 1 1  /2 tbs extra virgin olive oil 1 bunch baby carrots, trimmed, scrubbed, halved lengthways 1 small leek, trimmed, halved crossways, quartered lengthways…

“ Once you have the base cake sorted, decorate with an assortment of chocolate and mint goodies to create an edible secret garden or enchanted forest with magical meringue mushrooms.” Michelle Southan choc mint forest naked cake serves 16 | prep 1 hour (+ cooling, setting & chilling time) | cooking 1 hour 30 mins 200g dark chocolate, finely chopped 200g butter, chopped 125ml ( 1 /2 cup) boiling water 215g (1 cup) caster sugar 150g (1 cup) self-raising flour 120g ( 2 /3 cup) potato flour 35g ( 1 /3 cup) dark cocoa powder 390g can sweetened condensed milk 185ml ( 3 /4 cup) buttermilk 4 eggs 40g pkt Nestle Aero Peppermint, halved diagonally 30g Cadbury Flake, halved Yoghurt-coated craisins Darrell Lea Mint Chocolate Balls, halved Peppermint Crisp, crushed,…

“These delightful bites of crisp pastry and spiced custard are just the thing for an afternoon treat.” Marion Grasby you’ll need… marion’s chai custard tarts makes 18 | prep 40 mins (+ 2 1 /2 hours infusing, chilling & cooling time) | cooking 35 mins 150ml pouring cream 125ml ( 1 /2 cup) milk 100g ( 1 /2 cup) caster sugar 8 cardamom pods, lightly crushed 6 black peppercorns 1 black tea bag 1 cinnamon stick 1 /2 tsp ground ginger Little pinch ground nutmeg 6 egg yolks 3 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed Plain flour, to dust 40g ( 1 /4 cup) pistachios, finely chopped Icing sugar, to dust 1 Use a pastry brush to lightly grease eighteen 80ml ( 1/3 cup) muffin pans with melted butter. Place…

100g white chocolate, finely chopped 4 cups desiccated coconut ½ cup boiling water 4 pkts jelly crystals, assorted colours (85g each) 2 pkts madeira cake (450g each) 300g icing sugar mixture “Coated in the colours of spring, these lamingtons were inspired by Fruit Tingles lollies.” Michelle Southan rainbow lamingtons makes 24 | prep 30 mins (+ setting time) 1 Use a sharp knife to trim cake edges. Cut each cake into 12 rectangles, about 3 x 4cm. 2 Place the chocolate and sugar in a heatproof bowl. Whisk in boiling water until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. 3 Line a large baking tray with baking paper. Place a quarter of the coconut on a large plate. Add half a packet of jelly crystals. Stir to combine. Repeat with…

dry fry Love deep-fried food, but looking for a healthier alternative? The Philips Viva Collection Airfryer TurboStar, $329, allows you to fry, bake, grill and roast using up to 80 per cent less fat than a conventional fryer. The magic is in the TurboStar technology, which swirls hot air through the Airfryer to fry food evenly. Plus, there’s no need for turning. Find out more at philips.com.au heat ’em up Stop gambling with last-night’s leftovers – you’ll never come across a cold centre again with a Panasonic NN-ST785S Evolved Microwave with Cyclonic Inverter, $639. Featuring a 10-level power setting and 3 multi-stage cooking functions, the cyclonic inverter technology evenly heats any size or shape of food – it’s a revolution! Find out more at panasonic.com.au smooth move Blitz food but…

cookie bowls makes 16 | prep 25 mins | cooking 20 mins 415g (2 3 /4 cups) plain flour, sifted 315g (1 1 /2 cups) caster sugar 200g butter, chilled, chopped 1 egg, lightly whisked 1 tbs milk 1 tsp Queen Madagascan Vanilla Bean Paste 1 /4 cup mixed-shape sprinkles Vanilla ice-cream, to serve Caramel or chocolate sauce, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 190°C/ 170°C fan forced. Turn over an 80ml ( 1/3 cup) muffin pan or a mini doughnut pan and lightly grease the underside of the pan with olive oil spray. Cut 16 rounds of baking paper to cover bases of prepared pan. 2 Process flour, sugar and butter in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Add egg, milk and vanilla. Process until dough just comes…

Michelle Southan: Spring fling “Take the stress out of entertaining with these simple dishes that take just 30 minutes or less to prepare but look and taste amazing.” Katrina Woodman: Light & bright “Now’s the time to enjoy the best spring has to offer, with these low-cal recipes that feature fresh in-season produce for a light lunch or dinner.” Alison Adams: Sunday picnic “Grab the picnic rug and pack up these portable treats for an alfresco lunch — all you need is a barbecue and some sunshine.”…

burger Burgers often get a bad rap, but this one scores full marks nutritionally. Swapping the usual highly processed white buns for chargrilled field mushrooms lowers the carb and calorie count, and also adds a dose of B complex vitamins, potassium and selenium. Choose lean beef mince and add flavour with mustard and chives rather than sugar-laden sauces. Using quinoa flakes to help bind the patties increases the protein and dietary fibre, and keeps it gluten-free. open burger with sweet potato chips serves 4 | prep 15 mins | cooking 30 mins 500g sweet potato, peeled, cut into 1cm-thick batons 1 tsp sweet paprika 400g extra lean beef mince 1 small zucchini, finely grated 35g ( 1 /3 cup) quinoa flakes 2 tbs chopped fresh chives 2 tsp Dijon mustard…

shopping list 550G LILYDALE CHICKEN THIGH FILLETS $8.80 400G SMOKED BACON $7.70 500G PKT PEARL BARLEY $1.69 100G PKT FLAKED ALMONDS $5.80 700G RICOTTA $7.50 1 BUNCH BEETROOT, LEAVES INTACT $2.98 LARGE BUNCH BASIL $3.00 3 RED ONIONS $1.80 2 POTATOES $1.40 350G FRESH PEAS $2.50 TOTAL: $43.17 kitchen staples • extra virgin olive oil • eggs • butter • garlic • white wine • brown sugar • balsamic vinegar • red wine vinegar • chicken stock • plain flour top-to-tail beetroot ricotta tart serves 6 | prep & cooking 1 hour 20 mins 2 beetroots (about half a bunch), trimmed, green tops reserved 1 tbs extra virgin olive oil, plus extra, to drizzle 1 red onion, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 tbs brown sugar 1 tbs…

1 Prepare royal icing in a bowl. Dip a skewer or toothpick into pink food pastes. Lightly swirl through icing. Repeat with clean skewer or toothpick and purple food pastes. 2 Without mixing the food pastes into the icing any further, carefully pour it over the centre of the cake, covering the entire top surface. 3 Use a skewer to drag the colours through the icing to create extra marbling. Carefully tilt the cake so the icing runs down the side, leaving some of the cake exposed. 4 When set, transfer the cake to a serving plate or cake stand. Decorate with the marble bark, cachous and sugar crystals or serve as is, with all the marbling on show. tips & tricks There are two ways to ice this cake.…

The choripan is a great example of why Argentinian food is becoming more popular – their version of a hot dog is fresh and vibrant, with chimichurri sauce spooned over a smoky, barbecued chorizo sausage. It’s a local footy favourite and a must for the barbie this spring! Michelle Southan you’ll need You’ll be on a roll in six steps. “These deluxe hot dogs are made even better with the bright flavours of the chimichurri sauce, which is spicy and fresh.” Michelle Southan let’s go! Argentinian choripan makes 4 | prep 20 mins (+ 1 hour standing time) | cooking 15 mins 2 ripe tomatoes 1 /2 red capsicum, deseeded, finely chopped 1 /2 red onion, finely chopped 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil 1 tbs red wine vinegar…

COMFORT FOOD We love a burger with a soft brioche bun, so we just had to get an order of The Get Cushy Cushion, $24.99. This burger cushion will make a tasty and comfy addition to any room. Now, would you like fries with that? Find it at typo.com.au eggstra good Heard the latest, pasta isn’t fattening (see p24). So chow down guilt-free with the new Barilla La Collezione egg pasta range, $4. It’s higher in protein due to its high egg content – one of the highest on the market – and has a wonderful flavour and texture, perfect for soaking up sauces. Best of all, the eggs are cage-free! Find it at Woolworths. seoul food No plane ticket is required for an authentic Korean experience with the new…

Manu Dinner is easy with Manu Feildel’s Fish en Papillote, p78, which makes the most of springtime vegetables. Michelle Michelle Southan introduces the Choripan, p112 – a spicy hot dog from Argentina. It’s the perfect game-night fare. Katrina Katrina Woodman finishes off vibrant cakes with floral petals, creating utterly delicious Cakes in Bloom, p88. Louise Louise Fulton Keats’ low-cal Cauliflower Pizza is a tasty gluten-free take on everyone’s fave, p45. Matt Matt Preston takes an Aussie snack back to its Chinese roots with his Pork & Prawn Dim Sims, p46. Marion Marion Grasby’s spice-infused Chai Custard Tarts are easy to make and the perfect amount of sweet, p108. Chrissy Put away the take-away menus and whip up Chrissy Freer’s Healthy Makeovers, p38, instead. Georgia Georgia Barnes’ Spicy Fish & Gem…

new • French shallots• sugar snap peas• grapefruit• watercress• gai lan (Chinese broccoli) now • asparagus• beetroot• cauliflower• pumpkin• radish• lemons• leeks• strawberries be quick • fennel• blood oranges• parsnips• Jerusalem artichokes fennel-infused gin Wash and dry 1 small fennel bulb with fronds. Thinly slice the bulb and coarsely chop the fronds. Place in a sterilised jar. Pour over 1 bottle of gin. Seal and set aside for 4-5 days. Strain into a clean sterilised bottle. Use to flavour cocktails. roast strawberry compote with waffles Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan forced. Hull and halve 250g strawberries. Place in a baking dish. Combine 11 /2 tbs honey, 1 tbs fresh orange juice and the scraped seeds of half a vanilla bean. Drizzle over strawberries. Roast for 15 minutes or until tender. Spoon over a toasted waffle. Serve with a dollop of thick Greek yoghurt. watercress stuffing For a…

step 1 To make the cake easier to remove from the pan, cut 2 smaller pieces of baking paper to line the ends and then a larger piece for the centre, all extending 2cm above the sides. step 2 For the perfect meringue, make sure that after the sugar is added you continue to beat the mixture until all the sugar has dissolved and the peaks are stiff when the beaters are lifted. step 3 For an even pavlova base, spoon the meringue into the prepared pan, then use a palette knife or a flat-bladed knife to spread it evenly over the base and flatten the surface. step 4 Gelatine needs to be warmed gently so it doesn’t overheat, as this will prevent it setting. Putting the mixture inside a…

“I was looking for golden scrolls with a good defined form and a filling that looked rich and tasty.” “ A huge hit, especially the cheese twists. Made it in the slow cooker, then warmed it before adding the cheese twists.” TO ENTER our Cook the Cover comp this month, see p21.…

COCONUT-POACHED CHICKEN LETTUCE CUPS WITH MINT SALAD   serves 8 as a starter | prep 15 mins (+ 1 hour cooling time) | cooking 20 mins 2 cups (500ml) coconut milk 2 limes, rind finely grated, juiced, plus wedges, to serve 2 kaffir lime leaves, thinly sliced 1 tsp fish sauce 2 (about 200g each) Lilydale Free Range Chicken Breast Fillets 1 bunch fresh Vietnamese mint, leaves picked 1 pkt baby cucumbers (qukes), sliced 1/2 red onion, sliced 1 fresh long red chilli, sliced 1 green lettuce, outer leaves removed 1 Place coconut milk, lime rind and juice, lime leaves and fish sauce in a saucepan over low heat and stir to combine. Add the chicken and cook for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Remove from heat…

“My ultimate pizza is salty and sweet, crisp and creamy.” indulgent   “With all my fave toppings - especially pineapple!” “Win everyone over with my gluten–free cauliflower base.” light   “Thin-crust pizza never tasted so good.” To create a great pizza you have to start with a good base. homemade pizza is such a simple dish to make, but to get the best results you need to put a bit of love into each component. I really recommend making your own bases – it’s a little effort, but well worth your while. I like to add fresh herbs to my dough to give a fragrant twist. Roll out your pizza bases about 15-20 minutes before you want to cook them if possible, so they have time to rest. Also, I…

Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan forced. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Brush 2 sheets of shortcrust pastry with egg. Sprinkle over 1 /2 cup grated cheddar, 1 tbs finely chopped fresh rosemary and 1 /2 tsp smoked paprika. Use a rolling pin to gently press into pastry. Cut into 2cm-thick strips. Transfer to 1 prepared tray. Place in fridge for 15 minutes to chill. Cut 6 thin slices of prosciutto in half lengthways. Thread 6 gourmet sausages onto soaked bamboo skewers. Wrap strips of pastry, cheese side out, and prosciutto, slightly overlapping, around sausages to cover. Place 4cm apart on remaining tray and bake for 40-45 minutes. Brush with maple syrup. Bake for 5-10 minutes or until golden and crisp. Serve with tomato relish or sauce. For step-by-step…

coconut & citrus cupcakes serves 12 | prep 30 mins (+ cooling time) | cooking 20 mins 175g unsalted butter, at room temperature 155g ( 3 /4 cup) caster sugar 3 eggs, at room temperature 1 1  /2 tbs finely grated combined lemon and lime rind, plus extra lime rind, to serve 1 tsp coconut essence 190g (1 1 /4 cups) self-raising flour 45g ( 1 /2 cup) desiccated coconut 125ml ( 1 /2 cup) coconut milk Fresh flowers, to decorate frosting 250g cream cheese, at room temperature 50g unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 1  /2 tsp finely grated lime rind 345g (2 1 /4 cups) icing sugar mixture, sifted 1 /2 tsp fresh lime juice 1 Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan forced. Line a 12-hole, 80ml…

Turkey Flat Rosé 2016 $20 Turkey Flat’s latest rosé is bright, fresh, dry and savoury, with just a nod to summer strawberries and peaches. No wonder this has become a modern Aussie classic. De Bortoli GS Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2014 $16.99 Blackcurrant jam on toast. That’s what this deliciously fruity blend conjures up. It’s a real crowd pleaser and a brilliant match with grilled spring lamb. Calabria ‘Bevi’ Prosecco Spritz 4x330ml $14.95 The Aperol Spritz now comes ready to drink. Just pop in a straw and sip bubbly Prosecco blended with blood orange and bitter herbs. Bellissimo!…

brownie vs lamington Recipes vary, but gram for gram, brownies tend to have about 60 per cent more calories than lamingtons, three times the fat, 15 per cent more sugar and more salt. But brownies also have more protein, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin E. Because brownies are heavier, a much smaller portion size is needed to match the calories of a lamington. For a healthier brownie, make your own with minimal sugar, plenty of nuts and a wholegrain flour. winner: lamington passionfruit vs kiwifruit Passionfruit have 40 per cent more calories than kiwis, but over three times the fibre and almost half the sugar. They also have over seven times the beta-carotene. Kiwifruit catch up with four times the vitamin C and almost three times the calcium, as well…