Over the summer holidays I have decided to take you on a world food discovery tour. So even if you are not planning to take time off this summer and travel the world, pack your taste buds because they’re not staying at home.
Monday: Thai fish cakes
We will start the week with delicious Thai fish cakes and a refreshing cucumber salsa. This recipe is a wonderful way to eat more fish, and it is so full of incredible flavours that even non-fish lovers should really enjoy this one. I have also revisited the recipe to bake the fish cakes in the oven rather than deep fry, so you can enjoy the wonderful Thai flavours without any guilt!
Tuesday: Prosciutto, mozzarella and fig salad
My friends, Nicole and Josh, have a fig tree growing in the garden with possibly the biggest figs that I’ve ever seen. One was the size of a mango! I’ve created this Italian style salad to make the most of the delicious figs that are in season.
Wednesday: Sicilian spaghetti
Our next stop on the discovery tour is in Sicily. It is difficult to think about Sicilian food without thinking about olives and olive oil. It is believed that Sicily’s particularly fertile soil, which in eastern regions is volcanic, produces some of the world’s best olives. Enjoy this spaghetti dish, which combines two of the ingredients that Sicily is known for; summer vegetables and Sicilian olives.
Thursday: Auvergne lentil salad
Because next week is a week without red meat, you’ll find green lentils on the menu, which are another wonderful source of protein, indispensable for a healthy balanced diet. For this recipe, I will take you to Auvergne and more specifically Le Puy, a region of France, where lentils have been grown for over 2000 years. Lentils from Le Puys are claimed to have unique gastronomic qualities that come from the terroir, a bit like wine. So, try for yourself with a few cubes of bleu d’Auvergne (or other type of blue cheese).
Friday: Basque chicken
Our poultry dish comes from the Basque Country, a cross border land, which sits mostly in Spain, but also in France. The Basque Country is a land of tradition, culture and history. The famous Basque chicken, is a colourful and flavour-rich dish made of peppers, onions and tomatoes. Do not hesitate to prepare this dish in advance and reheat it, as it gets better the longer you cook it.
