Table of contents for November 2020 in Taste.com.au

has there ever been a year we’ll relish saying farewell to more than this one? Now we’re nearly there, it’s time to take a breath. What has been wonderful for us at taste HQ is seeing YOU, our amazing community, rising to the challenges, getting your family through, and still, somehow, being able to laugh about this crazy year – like when we asked you recently, on our Facebook page, “If 2020 was a food what would it be?” We chuckled through over 3000 responses. But the comparison with an onion said it all: “Lots of layers that taste bad and make you cry.” (See our other favourites on p21). At taste HQ, we agree that it is high time for fun. Our new Fun Cooking section is literally bursting…

Japanese salmon & edamame noodle salad p73 Butter cauli & sambal p55 Chicken Kiev pasta salad p62 Vegan buffalo salad p47 Butter cauliflower & paneer p55 5-ingredient haloumi shakshuka p46 Carbonara pasta salad p62 Slow-cooked lamb curry p40 Speedy Korean pork tacos p50 Pulled pork nachos p57 Creamy lemon salmon tray bake p41 Cajun barramundi, mango & charred corn salad p74 Butter cauli & meatballs p55 Roasted veg & pasta salad p112 One-pot apricot chicken bake p48 Tex Mex burrito pasta salad p61 Sushi taco salad bowl p49 Creamy prawn & lentil salad p74…

YOUR GUIDE TO SINGLE SERVE TWISTS To make it spicy, combine 2 tbs coconut, ¼ tsp turmeric and one-quarter chilli. Scatter over 1 serve. To make it meaty, roll the meat of 1 sausage into 4 balls, cook and add to 1 serve of curry. TWIST 1 - make it spicy BUTTER CAULI & COCONUT SAMBAL: At the end of step 3, heat a small frying pan over medium heat. Add 50g (2/3 cup) shredded coconut. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until golden. Add 1 tsp ground turmeric. Transfer to a small. Stir in 1 sliced long fresh red chilli. Scatter over finished curry. TWIST 2 - make it meaty BUTTER CAULI & CHICKEN MEATBALLS: Squeeze meat from the casing of four 150g thick chicken sausages and roll into…

AVOCADO & salsa snack Have a go at this crunchy, better-for-you snack in an avo! Cut 1 Delcado Hass avocado in half and remove the stone. Combine 1 large diced ripe tomato, 2 tsp diced red onion, 1 tbs each of chopped fresh coriander leaves and fresh lime juice, and 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil in a small bowl. Season. Place 3-4 tbs Greek-style yoghurt in the cavity of each avo half. Top with the tomato salsa and some corn chips. Sprinkle with ground paprika and serve.…

matcha & raspberry panna cotta serves 6 | prep 20 mins (+ cooling & 5 hours chilling) cooking 25 mins LC GF 2 gelatine leaves 270ml can reduced-fat coconut milk 2 tbs honey (such as single origin red gum or iron bark) 1 tsp vanilla bean paste ½ tsp matcha green tea powder 300g natural yoghurt Fresh raspberries, to serve raspberry compote 350g frozen raspberries, thawed 2 tbs honey 1 tbs fresh lemon juice 1 tsp chia seeds 1 Place the gelatine leaves in a bowl. Cover with cold water and set aside for 5 minutes or until softened. 2 Place the coconut milk, honey, vanilla and matcha powder in a saucepan and whisk until well combined. Place over medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer. 3 Squeeze excess…

NACHO~tini It’s a fiesta in a glass! Combine 1 tbs finely crushed nacho cheese-flavoured corn chips and 2 tsp caster sugar on a small plate. Rub a lime wedge over the rim of a martini glass then dip rim in the corn chip mixture to coat. Place ice cubes in a jug or cocktail shaker. Add 1 ⁄4 cup vodka, 2 tbs chilled tomato juice, 1 tbs tequila, 1 tbs fresh lime juice and a slice of pickled jalapeño chilli. Stir or shake until well combined. Discard jalapeño. Pour nacho-tini into prepared glass. Serve decorated with a slice of fresh jalapeño chilli……

These aren’t just your ordinary lamingtons! Bite into the vanilla sponge and you’ll find a crispy Rice Bubbles and cranberry white Christmas surprise inside. We’ve taken simple lamingtons and filled them with a white chocolatey layer of chewy coconut, cranberries and Rice Bubbles. Dipped in vanilla icing and coated in even more coconut, it’s a summery holiday treat we couldn’t wait until Christmas to share! grab these... let’s go! white Christmas lamingtons makes 15 | prep 30 mins (+ cooling & 30 mins chilling) | cooking 45 mins 250g butter, at room temperature 215g (1 cup) caster sugar 3 eggs 2 tsp vanilla extract 300g (2 cups) self-raising flour 125ml (½ cup) milk 215g (2½ cups) shredded coconut white christmas 2 x 180g pkt white chocolate, finely chopped 120g…

nesquik milkshake cake serves 8 | prep 20 mins (+15 mins cooling & 4 hours chilling) | cooking 35 mins E 1 Preheat oven to 175°C/155°C fan forced. Grease a 20cm springform cake pan and line the base and side with baking paper. 2 Use a stand mixer with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed to beat the eggs and sugar for 10-15 minutes or until the mixture is pale and thick. Beat in the vanilla. Fold in the flour until just combined. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Set aside in the pan for 15 minutes to cool slightly. 3 Combine the milk, evaporated milk and condensed milk in a jug. Pierce…

Q Can you freeze gingerbread dough so that you can use it later for baking? You most certainly can! Just wrap the dough in a double layer of plastic wrap followed by foil and it will keep for three months in the freezer. To use the dough, defrost it in the fridge overnight, then let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes or so before rolling it out. You can also freeze baked gingerbread, which is useful when making large gingerbread pieces for a Christmas gingerbread house. It will keep well for up to one month in the freezer. Wrap the baked pieces individually in two layers of plastic wrap and stack them neatly in an airtight container. Defrost in the fridge to keep them cool and firm,…

Red Rock Deli Tortilla Chips Creamy Feta, Avocado & Lime, $4.65 A tasty alternative to regular corn chips, eat as is or dip in guac or salsa. Wholesome Food Company Lentil Harissa Chips, $5 Lentil flour and Indian spices combine for a hot and spicy twisty snack, which is just 100 calories per serve, gluten free and vegan friendly. Bhuja Chip Mix Lime & Black Salt, $3.50 This chippie mix of vegie, legume, crinkle-cut potato and quinoa chips is light and airy. It has a peppery kick, and the fresh lime flavour not too intense. Calbee Harvest Snaps Baked Pea Crisps Salt & Vinegar, $3 Nutrient-packed crisp green peas baked with a blast of salt and vinegar? Yes, peas! The Natural Chip Co. Veggie Rings Cheese, $3.35 These crunchies are…

pimm’s pavlova roll serves 8 | prep 40 mins (+ 20 mins cooling, chilling & 1 hour macerating) cooking 15 mins 4 egg whites, at room temperature 270g (1¼ cup) caster sugar 2 tsp cornflour 1 tsp white vinegar 1 tbs pure icing sugar 1 tbs desiccated coconut 375ml (1½ cups) thickened cream ½ tsp vanilla bean paste 5 tbs Pimm’s No. 1 Cup liqueur 1 wide Lemon rind strip 2cm-piece fresh ginger, peeled, thinly sliced 2 oranges 250g fresh strawberries, hulled, sliced 1 Lebanese cucumber ¼ cup torn fresh mint leaves (optional) 1 Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan forced. Grease a 22 x 32cm (base measurement) Swiss roll pan or Lamington tray and line with baking paper, allowing the paper to overhang the 2 long sides. 2 Use electric…

Creamy broccoli & bacon salad Serve this simple side in 15 mins. “So easy to make and a favourite, even with people who didn’t necessarily like broccoli. Will make again.” @KYLIEPYCE05 “Loved it! Beautiful mix of flavours and textures. Will add to my cook’s faves.” @CAMILLEMORRIS Caramilk cheesecake slice Bake with the on-trend choccy. “We just can’t get enough pf this slice! It is the best slice I have ever made.” @VODKAGAL30 “My first baked cheesecake ever and it turned out really well. My tip is to use a hot knife to slice it.” @KATYSMITH Layered mexican sweet potato salad This is an easy crowd-pleaser. “Easy and the kids love it.” @SUNNIEDAYZ “I absolutely loved this receipe. Will do again!” @LIZZO “Love the crunch and all those yummy layers!” @AMCD…

“This is a perfect make-ahead treat. The undecorated cake can be kept in the fridge for up to a week. Make the brandy snaps a day ahead and store, unfilled, in an airtight container.”Michelle Southan let’s go! Brandy snap twirls, to decorate (see page 16)Caramel spread, to serveGinger biscuits, to crumble gingerbread cake 115g ¾ cup) plain flour 50g (⅓ cup) self-raising flour 100g (½ cup, firmly packed) brown sugar 2 tsp ground ginger ½ tsp mixed spice ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 125ml (½ cup) golden syrup 80ml (⅓ cup) olive oil 80ml (⅓ cup) milk 1 egg white chocolate cheesecake 100g butter, melted, plus extra, to grease 250g pkt plain chocolate biscuits 2 tbs hot water 1 tbs gelatine powder 3 x 250g pkt cream cheese, at room temperature chopped…

meet the amazing sausage roll muffin mash up! make your own sauce for the best-ever curry - perfect to freeze for easy weeknights salmon is a TOP 10 ingredient on taste.com.au this year fall In love with the sausage roll maker - the latest appliance craze sweeping the nation! everyone’s loving this choccy bar cheesecake slice lemon desserts are ALWAYS top of the treats! sausage roll muffins These cheesy, meaty snacks are made for the Lunch box! makes 12 | prep 20 mins | cooking 20 mins E LC 225g (1½ cups) self-raising flour 120g (½ cups) coarsely grated cheddar 1 carrot, peeled, coarsely grated 1 large zucchini, coarsely grated ¼ cup chopped fresh chives 250ml (1 cup) milk 1 egg, lightly whisked 2 thin herb garlic beef sausages, casings removed Tomato…

“What makes this pulled pork so special is the combo of dry spice rub and a sweet, tangy sauce. I love that you only need a few pantry staples to get so much flavour here!”Marion Grasby sweet & sticky pulled pork nachos serves 8 | prep 20 mins | cooking 3 hours 15 mins E 1kg piece pork scotch fillet or pork neck, excess fat trimmed (see tip) 125ml (½ cup) hoisin sauce 125ml (½ cup) tomato sauce 60ml (¼ cup) sweet chilli sauce 3 x 230g pkt white corn tortilla strips 200g (2 cups) shredded mozzarella 200g (2 cups) finely sliced red cabbage 85g (½ cup) sliced pickled jalapeño chillies (optional) 2 Long fresh red chillies, thinly sliced Fresh coriander Leaves, sour cream, guacamole and Lime wedges, to serve…

BEST OF NOVEMBER fruit avocado banana blueberries honeydew orange vegies artichoke asian greens corn radish silverbeet witlof herbs dill chervil parsley thyme passionfruit sherbet Meet the easiest ice-cream! Scoop pulp from 6 passionfruit into a strainer over a bowl. Scrape to extract juice. Discard seeds. Add pulp from 4 more passionfruit to bowl. Stir in 1 cup icing sugar mixture until dissolved. Beat 300ml thickened cream in another bowl until firm peaks. Fold in 1 cup Greek-style yoghurt and passionfruit mixture. Transfer to an airtight container. Freeze overnight. Soften slightly and scoop into waffle cones. Top with crushed meringue. Store ice-cream in the freezer for up to 3 months. WATERCRESS KNOW-HOW Watercress has the same peppery bite as baby rocket and its pretty, soft leaves really dress up a plate.…

WINNER: sparkling white wine While cocktail recipes and alcohol brands vary in their list of ingredients, margaritas - made from tequila, Cointreau and lime juice - typically have more than double the calories of sparkling white wine. They also have over twice the alcohol and four times the sugar. The lime juice in margaritas means a splash of vitamin C, but this is not enough to put them in the lead. If you prefer to avoid the pesticides used in conventional grape production, gofor an organic sparkling white wine. If you’re baking ahead and prepping for Christmas, these two treats might be on your to-do list. Recipes vary (as do brands, if you’re going for store bought), but both comprise about one-third sugar. Fruit mince pies tend to have extra…

November is a crazy month when it comes to food trends. Last year, interest in cob Loaves suddenly spiked, with recipe searches up 57 per cent. Perhaps it’s because cobs scream ‘party time’ and November is when everyone starts their Christmas and party research on taste.com.au. “We could’ve done another cob. Instead, we scanned the trends and created a new collision dish.” We love collision desserts. My co-conspirator, Michelle Southon, and I have created a few epic ones in our time. Now, we present - drum roll please - the ‘Moscow mule’ Christmas cheesecake wreath! Dessert wreaths are about the coolest trend for Christmas. Cheesecake is a perennial top 10 search this time of year - it was up 52 per cent last Christmas, which was a massive jump. Plus,…

food and laughter around the table is the spirit of Christmas. Making it a fuss-free feast starts here. Welcome to your ultimate guide to hosting Christmas without the stress and with something for everyone. Our exciting new cookbook is designed to help you plan an easy and fabulous festive menu, so you can enjoy the day stress free while still making it oh-so merry. Whether all the family are coming round, you’re putting on a small relaxed gathering or need to bring a plate, each recipe is a tried and tested crowd-pleaser. Plus, there are expert foodie tricks to help you make the best use of your time, so you can sip on a Leisurely cocktail, nibble some nuts and relax too! Here’s a sneak peek of the Christmas dishes…

harvest snaps CAESAR SALAD Add crunch to your lunch with green pea crisps. For a classic caesar, toss torn cos lettuce Leaves and shaved parmesan in a bowl. Drizzle over your favourite bought caesar salad dressing. Add sliced chicken breast, crispy bacon and a halved soft boiled egg, if you like. Scatter over Harvest Snaps Green Pea Snack Crisps Caesar flavour for gluten-free croutons. These crisps are also delish crushed and used to crumb fish or chicken. Check out our fave chips with a twist on page 131.…

SANDWICH CAKE We’ve prettied up simple finger sandwiches by making them into an edible masterpiece. Even the kids will like this one! Mix and match your favourite fillings. NANNA’S GOLDEN SYRUP CUSTARD CAKE This easy retro cake has gone gangbusters on taste.com.au! You’ll love the creamy custard centre and golden syrup drizzle for afternoon tea. GIN & TONIC PUDDING We’ve made the classic gin cocktail into a dessert! There’s gin in the pud as well as in the sticky syrup poured on top. And don’t forget the fruit – there’s lime and lemon on top.…

Whip up our cheesecake starring on the cover, share a pic and you could win a high-performance Vitamix Ascent Series blender – there are two to win! With built-in wifi and a digital timer to prevent over- or under-processing, you can toss in the ingredients, hit a button and come back when it’s all done. Compatible with the new range of containers, these blenders can read which sized container you’ve chosen and adjust settings accordingly. $2700 in prizes! matt preston CELEBRITY JUDGE “Wow me with a sky-high brandy snap stack and a neat, striking star nestled in white choc cheesecake.” SEND IN YOUR ENTRIES BY 8 NOVEMBER Vitamix Ascent Series A3500i in Black, valued at $1545 PLUS a Vitamix Blending Cups Starter Kit, valued at $179.95 Vitamix Ascent Series A2300i…

QUICK pulled pork tacos Shortcuts and dinnertime hacks make dinner as easy as one, two, three steps! These simple tacos use ready-made pulled pork and slaw mix, so there’s even time for a quick pickle. Plus, like all the meals in this section, it’s on the table in 30 minutes or less, so you can spend the rest of the evening dreaming about what’s on the menu tomorrow. 5-ingredient haloumi shakshuka serves 4 | prep & Cooking 30 mins QE 1 tbs olive oil 250g haloumi, cut into  1cm-thick slices 250g chorizo, sliced 3 x 400g cans cherry tomatoes 3 cups chopped kale 4 eggs Dukkoh and crusty bread, to serve (optional) secret ingredient Dukkah spice blend instantly adds a Middle Eastern flavour hit. 1 COOK THE HALOUMI Heat the…

“Pasta salad meets burrito bowl in this clever quick and crunchy vego meal!”Michelle Southan Love carbonara? Love caesar salad? This pasta salad mash up with bacon, egg and a creamy, tangy dressing is for you! tex mex burrito pasta salad serves 4 | prep & cooking 10 mins Q E V SV 320g ctn cherry tomato medley mix 1 avocado 3 mini flour tortillas 3 green shallots 250g dried elbow pasta Canola oil, to shallow-fry 400g can corn kernels, rinsed, drained 400g can black beans, rinsed, drained 310g jar roasted pepper strips, drained 1 bunch fresh coriander Light sour cream, to serve 1 Put the kettle on. Fill one-third of a large saucepan with water and place over high heat. Cover and bring to the boil. 2 While the water…

barra boost ALL fish is super nutritious, with dietary guideLines recommending adults eat two serves a week to help reduce the risk of heart disease. Barramundi works beautifully with fresh flavours Like mango (rich in immune-boosting vitamin C and A), fresh mint (with natural digestive properties) and chilli (rich in the active compound capsaicin, which may help metabolism). See our wine suggestion on page 134 prawn power Prawns are a great Low-fat and low-calorie source of protein. They are also rich in iodine, a nutrient many Australians are deficient in. We all need iodine for a healthy thyroid and cognition. Lentils are packed with protein too, as well as dietary fibre, which can assist in reducing cholesterol levels, helping regulate blood sugar levels and keeping the bowel healthy. super salmon…

get ahead for Christmas ALSO SEE PAGE 6 get ahead for Christmas ALSO SEE PAGE 6 get ahead for Christmas ALSO SEE PAGE 6 get ahead for Christmas ALSO SEE PAGE 6 gingerbread & salted caramel slice serves 16 | prep 30 mins (+15 mins cooling & 1 hour 30 mins chilling) | cooking 20 mins 170g (½ cup) white choc melts 215g (1 cup) caster sugar 160g butter, chopped 125ml (½ cup) thickened cream Pinch of sea salt flakes 150g dark chocolate, chopped 125g salted pretzel twists gingerbread 60ml (¼ cup) molasses (for stronger flavour) or golden syrup (for sweeter flavour) 55g (¼ cup) brown sugar 25g butter 1 egg 150g (1 cup) plain flour 40g (¼ cup) self-raising flour 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp ground cinnamon ¼…

Make this cake up to 3 months ahead without the meringue. Store in the pudding basin. Once meringue is added, place on a freezerproof tray and keep for up to 1 week in the freezer. bubblegum bombe alaska serves 12 | prep 45 mins (+ 6 hours freezing) cooking 5 mins 2L tub vanilia ice-cream, softened slightly 1 tbs Queen Bubble Gum FLavour for Icing (see tip) or flavour of your choice 2 tsp Queen Rose Pink food colouring 450g pkt double unfilled sponge cake 500ml Peters Original Rainbow ice-cream, softened slightly 4 egg whites 250g caster sugar 1 Lightly grease a 2L (8 cup) pudding basin and Line with 2 sheets of plastic wrap, allowing the wrap to overhang the side. 2 Spoon vanilla ice-cream into a large bowl.…

SHAKE IT UP! With the weather heating up, a new Streets Paddle Pop flavour is just what we want right now! The new Strawberry Milkshake Paddle Pop is sweet and fruity, with that creaminess we all know and love. Made with Aussie dairy, find in the supermarket for $7 (box of eight). STRAIGHT TO THE SAUCE Kecap manis, or sweet soy sauce, adds a delectable smoky-sweetness to savoury dishes. It’s your secret weapon when cooking South-East Asian cuisine, so go for the authentic ABC Sweet Soy Sauce Kecap Manis. $4.90 at the supermarket. oat-tastic When the afternoon slump hits, you need a snack packed with wholegrains to fight the munchies ’tit teatime! The new Uncle Tobys Oat Slice fits the bill. Perfect for when you’re out and about or to…

Eggplants (also known as aubergine in northern parts of the globe and brinjal in South Asia and Africa), come in a range of attractive colours, including rich and glossy purple-black, mauve, mottled purple and cream, and pure snowy white. The size and shape also varies, from large pear-shaped to round balls and even long and thin varieties. Whether you enjoy eggplant in a parmigiana, moussaka, curry, baba ghanoush or simply grilled, it will thrive during the hotter weather and produce fruit for many months. step-by-step eggplants *Eggplants can be grown in a vegetable patch in the garden or in medium-sized pots. * Find a spot that receives at least six hours of sunshine a day and enrich the soil by digging in some organic soil improver or use a good-quality…

Pizzini Wines 2020 Rosetta, $19 Rosetta is named after the Pizzini family’s much-loved Nonna, who spent hours in her garden – she even appears on the label. A blend of two fave red Italian varieties, sangiovese and nebbiolo, it’s fresh, dry and even a little savoury. DRINK IT WITH pork nachos, fresh salads. Santa Margherita NV Superiore 52 Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene, $25 Up your prosecco game with this stylish offering from the Veneto region of Italy. A touch of fruity sweetness from crisp apple and pear flavours, it’s deliciously more-ish. DRINK IT WITH cakes, white chocolate and fruit-based desserts, canapés. Flametree 2019 Chardonnay, $29 Margaret River produces some of the best chardonnays in the world. A cool growing season in 2019 means this vino is more graceful, with hints of…