halloumi tikka (squeaky cheese in a spicy yogurt marinade!)

grilled halloumi tikka This year's BBQ season was somewhat short-lived, which is a bit of shame as I didn't have many opportunities ...

turkish-style cucumber and tomato soup

turkish-style cucumber and tomato soup So much for the expected heatwave. Oh well, I love this simple soup, which is slightly tart and refr...

Goat's cheese and blackberry salad with blackberry vinaigrette

Goat's cheese and blackberry salad with blackberry vinaigrette I live a simpler life these days. Part of it is a case of cutting my coa...

a zesty beluga lentil and roasted tomato salad with herbs

a zesty beluga lentil and roasted tomato salad with herbs I love the taste and texture of beluga (black) lentils , so-called for their suppo...

fresh coconut and coriander chutney

coconut and coriander chutney One of my favourite chutneys or relishes is this one to accompany curries or dosas. Fresh and nutty, it zings ...

korean-style radish and chilli pickle

korean-style radish and chilli pickle I love Asian pickles and I don't think there's much that can't be improved by a little j...

roasted carrots with crème fraîche and harissa dressing

roasted carrots with crème fraîche and harissa dressing It's June in England, where we are caught in that strange limbo over what to ea...

chargrilled asparagus with tomato, mint, chilli and lemon dressing

chargrilled asparagus with tomato, mint, chilli and lemon dressing Yikes! Time is running out; the British asparagus season is so damned sh...

indian spiced potato cutlets (aloo tikki)

 indian spiced potato cutlets (aloo tikki) I am pretty sure that I love snacking more than anything else. (My shame, sorry!)  Most of my fav...

ash-e-reshteh - persian bean and noodle soup

 ash-e-reshteh - persian bean and noodle soup It is Nowruz , a time to celebrate the Persian New Year and the first day of spring. Ashe-resh...

vietnamese lemongrass and chilli tofu

 Vietnamese lemongrass and chilli tofu (uncooked) Think you don't like tofu ? I beg you to reconsider. This recipe for Vietnamese lemong...

my favourite slow-cooked tomato sauce

slow-cooked tomato sauce There is a distinct chill in the air and the path to my front door is slippery with fallen leaves. It is definitely...

spiced pickled beetroot

a piece of pickled beetroot surrounded by pickling spices I have mentioned before that my early horror of beetroot was caused by my late fa...

apple butter (an english marmalade!)

apple butter This apple paste, also known as apple butter, was often made in the autumn with a glut of windfall apples. Packed full of sugar...

the gentle heart of a recipe: hilda leyel's salad of mint leaves and beans

hilda leyel's salad of mint leaves and beans Whenever I can, I like to wallow in old cookbooks. It both comforts and relaxes me; I enjoy...

a virtuous necessity: lemony pea and mint pesto

lemony pea and mint pesto crostini Stumbling bleary-eyed into the kitchen in need of my early morning fix of strong tea and Radio 4's To...