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Tag Archives: pepper


Shakshuka


  In 1987, I found myself in Cairo and discovered Shakshuka, a spicy egg-based dish I have since encountered throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Some culinary historians suggest that Shakshuka originated in North Africa, possibly in Tunisia or Libya. The name “Shakshuka” itself is thought to come from the Arabic word “shakshek,” which means “to shake” or “to mix.”The dish likely spread to the Middle East, where variations of it are found in countries like Israel, Yemen, and Egypt. Shakshuka is often associated with Jewish and North African cuisines, and it has become a popular breakfast dish.My version […]

Peshawar chapli kebab


  Chapli Kebab is a famous and flavourful minced meat kebab that originated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. I first tried a chapli kebab in the city of Peshawar. However, it has become widely enjoyed across various regions of Pakistan and beyond. The kebab is known for its distinct flat and round shape, and it is traditionally cooked on an open flame or in a pan. The name “Chapli” is derived from the Pashto word “chaprikh,” which means flat.The key ingredients in Chapli Kebab include minced meat (usually beef or a combination of beef and lamb), chopped onions, […]

Chu chi pla


  “Chu Chi Pla” is a delicious Thai dish featuring fish (usually a firm white fish) in a rich and flavourful red curry sauce. This is one of my favourite Thai fish dishes, which also works very well with salmon.

chu chi pla

Tagine


  A traditional tagine is a North African dish named after the earthenware pot in which it is cooked. It’s a slow-cooked stew that typically includes a combination of meat, vegetables, dried fruits, and a mix of aromatic spices. I first ate this in Paris when I was a student. The accompanying sauce was the spiciest I had eaten at that point in my life.Since then, I have been to North Africa, with trips to Egypt, Somaliland, Tunisia and Morocco. It was in Morocco where I had my best tagines, which is why this recipe has a Morrocan flavour. We […]

Batu Ferringhi steamed fish


  Batu Ferringhi is a beach resort northwest of George Town on Malaysia’s Penang Island. It is known for water sports and seafood restaurants.  We ate steamed fish in a seafood restaurant offering a choice of live seafood from its aquariums. After choosing a live fish from a tank, we waited for it to be cooked, knowing that it could not be fresher. After dinner, we visited the night market.This steamed fish dish is commonly known in Malaysia as “Ikan Siakap Tiga Rasa.” “Ikan” means fish, “Siakap” refers to the type of fish (often snapper or sea bass), and “Tiga […]

Hogao


    Eight months before my son was born, I was working on a project in Colombia. One evening, my local host took me and the team to a Parrillada in the hills overlooking Bogata. The meat was awesome, but the salsas that accompanied the meat were mind-blowing. This is one of those salsas.Here’s a recipe for Hogao, as commonly prepared in the Bogota region of Colombia:

hogao

Colombian aji picante


  In South American cuisine, aji is the name for both a variety of chilli peppers and fresh salsa made with these peppers. This Colombian recipe is known as salsa de aji picante, and it features two jalapeno peppers, making it pretty spicy. Eight months before my son was born, I was working on a project in Colombia. One evening, my local host took me and the team to a Parrillada in the hills overlooking Bogata. The meat was awesome, but the salsas that accompanied the meat were mind-blowing. This is one of those salas.

Dry fried Sichuan chicken


  “Dry-Fried Sichuan Chicken” or “Gan Bian Si Ji (干煸四季)” is a popular Sichuan dish known for its dry, flavorful, and spicy profile. The classic dish in Sichuan cuisine originated in the Sichuan province of southwestern China and includes Sichuan peppercorns. The first time I enjoyed this dish in Chengdu was in 1987; it consisted of cubes of chicken, whole garlic cloves, peanuts, and red chillis stir-fried together in more or less equal quantities. I had arrived in Chengdu after a 63-hour train journey from Guangzhou. After having to eat the good but plain food served on the train, this was an assault on my […]

chengdu kung pao

Thai chilli crab


Taking the train from Bangkok in 1987, my good friend Nitza and I travelled down to Penang, in Malaysia. The journey took us through a verdant landscape dotted with small villages surrounded by paddy fields. One of the most memorable aspects of the journey was the Thai Blue Swimmer crab curry served in the buffet car – spicy, delicious and a million miles away from the ubiquitous stale British Rail cheese sandwich. Cooked in a huge wok in the tiny galley next to the buffet car, this was a symphony of flavours in every bite, with the sweet, spicy, and […]

thai chilli crab