Chef at Large

Naheed recently went to Jordan for a holiday. On his return he brought me two spices I had only heard of before -Summack (or Summak) and Bahara. I’m not really sure how to describe Summack - it’s red in color and looks like a fine, lustrous chilli powder and bahara is a mixture of spices [...]

I found a nice bit of pork at the butchers today. Marbled with fat and just the right size, I thought something a little different was in order.
Loaded it on to the rotisserie in my oven and made a mixture of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt, black bean paste, chilli oil, garlic and soya [...]

D had a bicycle to deliver in Dunstable and as we know a good Italian eaterie there, I was looking forward to supper. It is more of a café than a restaurant, having only eight tables. It is decorated with pictures of Italian celebrities, Dean Martin, Sophia Loren etc. and the tables are [...]

I’ve been meaning to change the way we eat for quite a while, but for some reason or the other, didn’t really get around to it. But now, things are going to change and thats that. I’m tired of being overweight. Hence the new health regime at home now.
The kitchen is now off limits to [...]

If its one thing Zainab doesn’t like saving time on, it’s her sauces. This sauce was simmered for 3 hours before it was pronounced fit for human consumption.
This sauce used Vine tomatoes as the base, which impart a nicer flavor than the usual variety. Also include was plenty of garlic, some carrots, celery and a [...]

Today’s dinner was quite interesting - with a multitude of dishes, all cooked by Zainab. There was chicken korma, kebabs, dal, rice, okra, but the star of the evening was a crunchy and nutritious prawn salad, that could quite honestly be described as truly divine.
In Zainab’s words: “Simply toss pre-cooked prawns rocket, spinach, and watercress [...]

Watching a travel program this evening motivated me to run into the kitchen and start doing *something*, not knowing exactly what I was going to end up with.
I started by cutting a few slices off a gourd and sauteing them in a little olive oil. Next came the tuna, which was steamed, shredded, seasoned with [...]

Apart from being prepared for a situation where you simply must cook, is there any other reason why you should take up this dreary pastime?
Of course there is. I remember the exact moment when I was truly hooked. Before then, I was experimenting with making spring rolls, perhaps the odd adventure with beaten egg [...]

Tabbouleh is a Lebanese salad dish, often used as part of a mezze. Its primary ingredients are bulgur, finely chopped parsley, mint, tomato, scallion (spring onion), and other herbs with lemon juice, olive oil and various seasonings, generally including black pepper and sometimes cinnamon and allspice. In Lebanon, where the dish originated, it is often [...]

I’ve been reading this book on Provence cooking and this one was inspired after some late night reading. Its a very light and fresh dish, served warm rather than hot, which I found absolutely delicious. Tell me what you think!
Contrary to my normal narration, I’m going to get a little specific for this one: [...]