Side

Soft fresh goat cheese can be substituted for fetta, if desired. Note

Recipe can be made 1 day ahead and refrigerated, covered. Casseroles and bakes enhance the flavour of your favourite vegetables in these nutritious, hearty meals including potato and cauliflower gratin and garlic, vegetable and rice casserole. Note

The peanut sauce can be made in a food processor or blender instead of a mortar and pestle. You need about a quarter of a small cauliflower for this recipe. Note

For best results when deep-frying, check the oil is hot enough before adding the parsnip strips. Dip the handle end of a wooden spoon into the hot oil, if bubbles immediately form around the wood, the oil is the correct temperature. Note

These crispy Moroccan-style sweet potato fries are the perfect side dish.

It’s always a good idea to rinse capers before using them as they are very salty and their brine has a strong flavour which can overpower the other ingredients in the recipe. Note

Goes well over hot potato salad, pan-fried fish fillets or grilled lamb cutlets. Note

Salad can be prepared several hours ahead and kept, covered, in the refrigerator. Note

Bonito is an oily fish which, when dried and flaked, is widely used in the Japanese kitchen. You could serve the beans with Japanese mustard instead of the bonito and use dry white wine instead of sake. Note

Tying various herbs and spices in a piece of muslin, securing with kitchen string, makes them easier to remove when the chutney is ready to be spooned into jars. Note

We used black tea leaves, but you could also use a smoky tea such as lapsang souchong. It’s a good idea to do the smoking on the barbecue. Note

Also goes well with potato salad; pan-fried beef eye-fillet steaks (omit water so the pesto has a thicker consistency); grilled lamb kebabs. Note

Gorgeously sweet orange and maple glazed baby carrots. The perfect accompaniment for your next dinner party.

Watercress has deep green, clover-shaped leaves that have a peppery, spicy flavour. It is highly perishable and should be used the day it is bought. Note

Labne is yoghurt that has been drained of whey. A short draining time, results in a thick, creamy yoghurt, while a longer one, will achieve the consistency of a soft yoghurt-cheese, that can be rolled into balls. You can make your own or buy it from supermarkets. Note

Use a mixture of cauliflower, carrots, celery, green tomatoes, cucumber and pickling onions. If the mixture seems too wet, drain away some of the liquid before bottling. Note

Use metal skewers to pierce through the hard core of the corn slices. Note

Potato skins can be served hot or at room temperature; use scooped out flesh in potato salad or bubble and squeak. Note

Remaining garlic-infused oil can be used in salad dressings. Note

Make this stunning side dish in spring to take advantage of delicious in-season artichokes and peas.

Keep an eye on the syrup towards the end of the cooking time; as it reduces, you need to reduce the temperature to maintain a gentle simmer. Use any leftover pomegranate seeds in salads or sprinkle over desserts. Note

Wear gloves when peeling beetroot to stop the juice from staining your hands. Note

This fragrant pilaf with crunchy almonds is a great accompaniment to meat stews and curries.

This delicious and simple mash can be whipped up in no time at all.

Goes well with rumaki crab dip Note

This recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note

You need 24 witlof leaves for this recipe. Note

A light and delicate salad with smoked chicken, cranberry, pear and pecan nuts.

Oil needs to be added slowly to prevent mixture separating. Should the mixture separate, whisk in two tablespoons of hot water. Note

Used extensively in Japanese cooking, daikon has a sweet, fresh flavour without the sharp bite of the more common red radish. It can be used raw in salads and as a garnish, or cooked in various ways. Green tea soba are Japanese noodles made from buckwheat flour and green tea; they are available from most […]

Raita translates as yogurt, and when seasoned with vegetables, fruits or spices, it makes a wonderful cooling accompaniment to fiery curries. Leaving raitas to stand 30 minutes before serving allows their flavours to blend more intensely. Note

A light, bright and healthy bean salad for a yummy summer lunch.

Sweet potato fries loaded with delicious pulled beef short ribs, candied jalapenos, chimichurri and mozzarella.

Pimp your potato bake with traditional Puttanesca flavours of olives and pancetta.

You can substitute 2 cups (400g) dried brown lentils, soaked overnight and boiled until just tender, for the canned lentils, if you prefer. Note

We used Sicilian olives in this recipe. They are smooth and fine-skinned with a crisp, crunchy bite and a refreshingly piquant, buttery flavour. Note

Traditionally served as an accompaniment to spicy dishes, this recipe would also make a great light vegetarian starter. Note

Mizuna, a mild-tasting, crinkled salad leaf, is usually one of the greens found in mesclun, which can also be used in this recipe. Note

We used green, black and vine-ripened tomatoes. For an extra indulgence, use the larger buffalo-milk mozzarella instead of bocconcini. Note

You can also use coliban or lasoda potatoes for this recipe. Note

A bright, colourful and fresh Vietnamese salad with pan-fried tofu.

The perfect side dish to any roast dinner spread, these delicious baked rosemary potatoes will delight the whole family.

.Sumac is a purple-red, astringent spice ground from berries growing on shrubs that flourish wild around the Mediterranean. It adds a delightful tart, lemony piquancy to food without the heat of chilli. Available from the spice aisle of most supermarkets and Middle Eastern stores. Note

Sweet but savoury, this delicious tomato and passionfruit jam can be enjoyed with desserts, atop toast or as a chutney-style spread on a cheese platter.

Makes enough for six 210g servings of fried chicken drumettes. Note

To blind bake, line pastry case with a sheet of baking paper, two-thirds fill with raw rice, bake at 200°C (180°C fan forced) for 10 minutes, then remove paper and rice and return pastry case to oven for a further 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Note

Why buy store-bought jam when you can make your own delicious mandarin jelly, perfect spread atop toast with a dollop of butter. This way, you know exactly what's going into it, and your family will love the homely touch.

You can use a mixture of grilled eggplant, capsicum and sun-dried tomatoes for the antipasto vegetables. Grilled artichokes and mushrooms could also be used. Note

Recipe is best prepared as required. For a light meal (that serves four), serve with some crusty bread. Note

Do ahead The dough can be made a day ahead. Pear and onion mixture can be cooked 4 hours ahead. Note

This exquisite ruby grapefruit, orange and basil salad brings colour and zest to any dinner table.

Warm, hearty and creamy, Potatos Byron is a simple but tasty French potato recipe with Parmesan cheese and cream.

You need two punnets of baby mizuna for this recipe. Large mizuna leaves can be used instead. Use drained, canned crab meat, or flesh from cooked crabs. You can also buy fresh crab meat from the fish markets. Note

An exquisite side dish that goes perfectly with grilled haloumi and crusty bread.

For shallow-frying, add enough oil to come halfway up the side of the food to be fried. Aioli is garlic mayonnaise, available from the condiment aisle in most super markets. Note