It has been a WEEK. Thanks for understanding about no new episode on Wednesday. Like many of you we’ve been scrambling to adjust to our new reality. Turns out it’s quite hard to keep things business as usual when a global pandemic is going on. To keep sane we’ve been having afternoon solo dance parties, making elaborate lunches, refusing to wear anything with underwire, watching videos of italians dj-ing on balconies and having long phone calls with old friends (almost like a lo-fi podcast).
This week we’ve got tips to keep you busy in your kitchen when you might have limited resources but lots more time. We should be back in your podcast queues next week. We love you all! Stay healthy, stay safe, and for the good of everyone else, if you can - stay home.
Quarantine Cooking!
SR
Bon Appetit White Beans Recipe/Template. Bon Appetit, Youtube.
It seems like everyone on instagram has been making some version of these. Take advantage of all that time and that random bag of dried white beans you panic bought and make yourselves this recipe. The toasted bread crumbs and aioli take it to a new level, but you can also top it with chopped herbs, marinated red onion, garlicky greek yoghurt etc. For flavouring I used onion, garlic, a charred lemon, fennel seeds, fresh oregano and an old parmesan rind. Oh and they’re not kidding on the salt.PASTA OBVIOUSLY. This anchovy one is so simple and so good - literally just store cupboard/pantry ingredients. Also from our previous eps - Spaghetti Puttanesca, Spaghetti al Limone, and Pasta e ceci.
Risotto seems to be underappreciated as a dish - yes you have to stir for a while, but honestly doesn’t that sound soothing right now? Use the Jamie Oliver basic risotto template then add whatever you’ve got. Pea, lemon and bacon is nice!
Pizza! You’ve got flour! You’ve got yeast! You’ve got water! You’ve got oil! You can make a pizza! Use those canned tomatoes you’ve been stockpiling, add olives! Oregano! Parmesan! Or make a pizza bianca with garlic and potatoes and rosemary and sneak out for some ricotta. I like this dough recipe. Pro-tip, you can put the dough in the freezer wrapped in cling wrap before the first rise, and then defrost it in the fridge over night or during the day - it actually makes the dough better!
Muhummara is a delicious turkish dip that can brighten up a piece of toast, a pile of mashed, seasoned white beans, a plate of crudite or swirled into a bowl of greek yoghurt. We all know about canned tomatos, but an under appreciated long lasting vegetable that you can buy is roasted capsicum - which is the base for this dip. There are few different recipes for this that call for a combination of roasted capscium, walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, cumin, bread crumbs, and pomegranate molasses if you have it. SoMo also recommends the version you can buy from the Syrian man at potts point market!
SM:
Kimchi! It never goes off! Good bacteria! You can make so much which it - like soup, pancakes, fried rice, noodles! On that note - gochujang. The Korean chilli paste that makes everything taste better.
Flour Tortillas. Keep them in the freezer they freeze amazingly! Top with everything, from scrambled eggs at breakfast to roasted veg, fish or meats for tacos at dinner. You can also use them in place of naan or roti if you’ve made a dahl or curry - so versatile!
Muraca Cream Peppers from Harris farm. This is the time for all those random condiments in your fridge to SHINE. Swirl through yoghurt, put on pizza, put on top of peanut butter on toast.
Udon and soba - if you can’t find pasta, hit the Asian supermarkets! They are full! So many noodle choices, so much time to try them all. Eat that kimchi udon thing from Bon Ap, make a cold soba salad with veggies and peanuts and spring onion, put them in soup! While you’re there raid the sauce and condiment aisle and load up on miso, sesame oil, chilli oil, fried shallots, sichimi togarashi - anything with flavour! Cold Miso-Sesame Noodles; Salad Ramen.
Has everyone forgotten fresh produce? It’s unlikely grocery stories will close. Buy fresh fruit and veg! Fibre! Vitamins! Variety!
BONUS ROUND:
SR
Samin Nosrat has started a podcast called ‘Home Cooking’ to help with quarantine cooking questions. You can record a question, story or anxiety using your voice memo app and send it to them! Such a good idea. Apple Podcasts, Spotify
SM
Remember booze companies do delivery! Archie Rose for spirits, DRNKS for wine, get it!
Also some of our favourite restaurants are doing it tough - if you’ve got some spare cash, consider buying vouchers or takeaway from your faves. If they have to close down they might not re-open when this is all over, and what a grim, sad place the world will be if that happens.
Wash your hands, call your friends, be safe and kind and we’ll see you next week.
Love,
S&S