SMALL BITES: FOOD NEWS
Food editor JULIE LE CLERC shares her recent finds for cooking, eating and entertaining well
FISH FUMET
Authentically made in Spain, El Navarrico Fish Fumet is a concentrated stock base made with seafood, vegetables and wine. Use to enhance paella, risotto or fish soup. $14.50 per 500ml from sabato.co.nz.
Black Garlic Aioli
3-4 cloves black garlic, peeled
2 egg yolks
3-4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar Salt and freshly ground black pepper 125ml each sunflower and olive oil
Place black garlic, egg yolks, 3 teaspoons of balsamic and a little salt and pepper in a food processor; blend to combine. Slowly add the oil, in a thin and steady stream, while processing continuously until the mixture emulsifies, becoming thick and creamy. Add more balsamic and salt to taste. Thin with a little boiling water, if necessary. Serve as a salad dressing, a dipping sauce for vegetables, or as a side sauce for grilled seafood and meats.
Makes about 1 cup
I’M COOKING WITH Black garlic
Black garlic is garlic that has been aged by controlled, gentle roasting over a very low heat for several weeks until the cloves become deeply caramelised and turn black. The taste is completely different to raw garlic – it’s mellow, almost smoky, a little sweet and sour with hints of savoury umami and balsamic vinegar. The texture is slightly candied, soft and sticky. Look for black garlic in specialty food stores.
• Black garlic is an extra tasty substitute for roasted garlic in any dish.
• Simply serve as part of a cheese platter.
• Stir through risotto or pasta dishes.
• Pop on a pizza or smear on bruschetta.
• Mash and add to salad dressings, marinades or mayonnaise.
• Toss through stir-fry or noodle dishes.
• Purée a few cloves and blend into creamy mashed potatoes.
COLLAGEN CAKE COLLAB
The Caker and Dose & Co. have collaborated to create a divine bake-at-home cake mix that also contains collagen, meaning beauty benefits come with every bite. $30 per kit from doseandco.com and the-caker.com.
PLANT PROJECTS COFFEE
Plant Projects has crafted a great tasting, ORZ DFLGLW\ FRˠHH VSHFLˡFDOO\ WR ZRUN ZLWK plant milks, ensuring the smoothest lattes DQG ˢDW ZKLWHV ,Q ZKROH beans or ground, 250g $15 from plantprojects.co.nz.
KEFIR SODA
Fermented in small batches, this delicious probiotic soda explodes with billions of gut-loving bacteria. 3OXV LWƯV QDWXUDOO\ ˢDYRXUHG with roots, shoots, fruits and berries. $45 for a four-pack from thewildfermentary.co.nz.
ON MY BOOKSTAND Amber & Rye: A Baltic food journey
By Zuza Zak, Murdoch Books, $55
What’s in it: Eastern European recipes with a modern twist intertwined with charming stories from the author’s travels. This culinary journey opens a doorway into the region’s rich food culture and history. Recipe picks: Green Nettle Dumplings, Black Bread, Greta’s Honey Layer Cake.
Why buy it: To relish the thrill of discovering lesser-known cultural cuisines.
SLOW COOK VENISON
Nutritious, pasture-raised lean venison is ideal for using in hearty, slow-cooked dishes. Silver Fern Farms have made it easy with nicely diced, generous 750g packs $16 from selected supermarkets.
GREAT GRAINS
Enjoy soft, fluffy, tasty rice in just 90 seconds. SunRice microwave rice pouches make a convenient, nutritious meal option. Try Long Grain, Brown or Brown Rice & Quinoa. 250g $2.70 from supermarkets.