Poached fruit in red wine is quite common; the most common variation being pears braised in red wine, a very similar recipe. The wine flavour is concentrated and very pronounced. The cherry-producing regions of Italy, Piedmont, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna have had this recipe for centuries as a way to preserve cherries. From this process came digestivos with cherries that became popular. The fruit and syrup have a deep flavour from the red wine, so use a good quality robust wi

I was looking for a quick appetiser for a few friends who were coming over. This is the recipe I came across. It is super simple, and my guests loved it. This is a modern twist on Middle Eastern flavours, pita bread, eggplant and tahini. Here they are separated more for visual impact than anything else. The appetiser is superb, the pita has crunch, the roasted eggplant adds a sweet, earthy flavour, the tomatoes add freshness, and the tahini-yoghurt is creamy and delightful. T

Kala namak is a fascinating salt condiment and has been used in Indian cuisine for centuries. It is naturally harvested in the Himalayas, especially around Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Pakistan. It is prized for its medicinal qualities, and there are several references to the salt in early Ayurvedic texts dating back to the 3rd BCE. So let's ask what Kala Namak is? It is Himalayan salt that is mixed with harad seeds, or other plant matter and exposed to high heat. The