Cooking fresh food and drinking divine Cape wines in Melkbosstrand Cape Town
pork
In Estonian culinary tradition, Mulgi Kapsad and Must Leib stand as quintessential examples of rustic comfort food. Mulgi Kapsad, a sauerkraut stew, embodies the hearty simplicity of Estonian cuisine, while Must Leib, the country’s traditional black bread, showcases the art of whole-grain baking. These dishes offer a glimpse into Estonian cuisine, where simple ingredients and time-honored techniques come together to create enduring flavors.
Pampanella Molisana is a traditional Italian dish from the Molise region. It is a pork dish flavored with paprika, garlic, and other seasonings. The pork is typically marinated, then slow-cooked or roasted to achieve tender and flavorful results.
The initial inspiration for this soup was drawn from Nagi’s Creamy Ham Bone Soup with Beans, which I then modified to create my own version. Despite its velvety and rich consistency, this soup is crafted without the use of any cream whatsoever.
Pasta alla Gricia is a classic Roman pasta dish that exemplifies simplicity at its finest. This humble yet incredibly flavorful dish is a staple in the traditional cuisine of Rome, showcasing the region’s love for cured pork and aged cheese. With just a handful of ingredients, Pasta alla Gricia delivers a satisfying and comforting meal that will transport you straight to the heart of Italy.
Kalakukko, a traditional Finnish dish from the region of Savonia, is a loaf of bread baked with a filling of bacon and vendace, a small-boned lake fish, creating a delightful combination of flavours.
This rigatoni with fennel sausage and pecorino and anchovy pesto dish is a recipe I got from Yotam Ottolenghi and can be found here.
I recently went on a charcuterie course hosted by Richard Bosman and one of the sausages we made was an Italian sausage called Salsiccia. Being quite a hot day and looking for something light, I decided to use this sausage for this Italian sausage salad.
This is an extremely easy recipe which can be prepared in minutes. The original recipe uses skinless chicken breasts, but I opted for pork fillet. Don’t be shy with the sage and serve with your starch of choice.
A braai pie is a South African way of cooking a calzone-style pizza (or pie) over the coals. This one specifically, was filled with homemade salami, guanciale and olives, but you can use any filling you like.
I got the idea for this dish from Yotam Ottolenghi who has a very good recipe for Roast gammon with sticky pineapple salad. Instead of using pineapple juice, I opted for fermented pineapple and ginger which added a more tangy taste to the dish.