Published on January 16, 2026

Rice is a symbol of abundance in Asian and Latin American cultures, while corn represents fertility and life in Native American traditions. Combine these two ingredients and you’ve got a refreshing dish. Lemon & sweet corn risotto Serves 6    Ingredients 5 Tbsp (75g) butter 3 Tbsp (45ml) olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, grated 2 cups Arborio (risotto) rice ½ […]

Published on January 15, 2026

In many Mediterranean and East Asian cultures, fish symbolises wealth and good fortune due to its abundance and the wordplay on “surplus” in Chinese. In this recipe the flaky hake makes for a bold, Italian-inspired pasta. Hake puttanesca Serves 4    Ingredients 1½ Tbsp (22.5ml) olive oil, + extra for drizzling 1 onion, finely chopped 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 Tbsp (15ml) dried origanum 4 anchovy […]

Published on January 14, 2026

What is a sourdough starter? A sourdough starter is a living, fermented culture of flour and water that serves as a natural leavening (or rising) agent for baking. A starter consists of a symbiotic community of wild yeast and beneficial bacteria (mostly lactic acid bacteria) that are collected from the environment and the flour itself […]

Published on January 14, 2026

Trust me on this — it sounds odd, but it works! Back in December 2008, on a road trip from Pretoria to Cape Town, we stopped in Bloemfontein to visit my Gran’s brother and his wife. They served chicken pie topped with potato chips. My sister and I were sceptical… until the first bite. Crispy, […]

Published on January 14, 2026

Swap olives for sliced figs, crumbled feta or sliced peppers. Sardine pizza with caramelised onions Makes 2 x 25cm pizzas  Ingredients For the caramelised onions  1 red onion, halved and thinly sliced 1 Tbsp vegetable oil 2 Tbsp butter 3 Tbsp granulated sugar 1kg store-bought bread dough Olive oil, for brushing 70g tomato paste 250g mozzarella, torn 4-6 black olives, quartered 3 […]

Published on January 13, 2026

Chicken and prawn pair well together in curries, stews or fillings. In this case, chicken stretches the filling while adding juiciness to it. Chicken & prawn rice paper parcels Makes 20  Ingredients For the sauce  2 Tbsp (30ml) chilli crisp  1/3 cup (83ml) rice vinegar ¼ cup (60ml) soy sauce 1 Tbsp sugar 1 Tbsp […]

Published on January 13, 2026

In Chinese culture, long noodles symbolise longevity and a long life, especially when eaten without breaking them. This recipe’s noodles have nutty sesame flavours.   Garlic chilli & sesame lo-mein noodles Serves 2 Ingredients 2 Tbsp (30ml) olive oil 1 onion, sliced 1 red pepper, sliced 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 4cm ginger, peeled and grated 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped + extra for garnish (optional) […]

Published on January 12, 2026

The pineapple delivers a tangy-sweet, mousse-like tart. A dessert so easy, your kids can make it by themselves! Tropical marshmallow tart  Serves 6-8    Ingredients 1½ packets (200g) Tennis biscuits, crushed finely ½ cup (125g) butter, melted 1 can (385g) condensed milk ¼ cup (60ml) lemon juice 1 lemon, zested ½ cup (125ml) canned crushed […]

Published on January 7, 2026

The secret is to slightly undercook them… You’ll thank us later. Gooey peanut butter & chocolate cups  Serves 4  Ingredients 1 cup (150g) cake flour 3 Tbsp (24g) cocoa powder + extra for dusting 2 tsp (10ml) baking powder Pinch salt ⅓ cup (66g) sugar 1 cup (250ml) milk 3 Tbsp (45ml) melted butter or […]

Published on January 6, 2026

The perfect no-fuss midweek meal. Quick bean nachos Serves 4    Ingredients 1 can (410g) four-bean mix, drained and rinsed 1 red onion, chopped 1 tsp smoked or regular paprika ½ punnet (125g) cherry tomatoes, quartered 2 Tbsp chopped fresh coriander or parsley + extra for serving Salt and milled pepper 300g tortilla chips 150g […]