Hi, welcome to ‘The Westcoaster’ our food and lifestyle blog by John Webber. Our mission is simple – one to excite and encourage people to produce good fresh food. Secondly to promote the virtues of costal countryside living,
Harissa Paste is a condiment originating from Tunisia and one of those flavours that once tasted, you become hooked on. If you like spicy, rich flavours, then this is a must-have ingredient in your kitchen.
Baking Simple Scones at home is easy and very rewarding. Homemade scones are always a winner whatever time of year, but particularly pleasing enjoyed in front of the fire when the weather is disappointing.
Every part of Britain has a different opinion on how a scone should be made. None are wrong, it’s just a matter of preference. Personally, I take the view that the topping decides the type of scone to be used. Indulgently rich toppings like clotted cream need a simple neutral scone with a touch of sharpness. If all you’re going to put on top or your scone is a lick of butter, then a richer scone base possibly with added fruit is ideal.
Scones are thought to have originated in Scotland in the 1500s. And today there are still various type of scones in common use.
Girdle Scones are cooked on a flat plate or stone over the fire and were the forerunner of the modern scone. They were a type of quick bread usually made with oats would have been more savoury than the modern version. Bannock is the term for a round flat unleavened bread similar to a girdle scone. Most people today are more familiar with a Selkirk Bannock. Which is a buttery mix closer to a fruitcake than a scone.
Tattie Scones are a flat scone again cooked on the girdle and are used for breakfast. Made using cooked potato, flour butter and egg. They are reheated in the pan used to cook the bacon, so they absorb all the flavour. I can feel my arteries closing as I write this!
Other parts of Britain quickly developed their own variations and recipes. A notable version from Wales been the Welshcake. They are excellent, look up our post on how to make Welshcakes and give them a try.
To get light well risen scones we need to make a moist dough that has not allowed the gluten to develop. Part of the rise in the dough is due to steam generated in the dough. But the main ‘kick’ is due to the baking powder in the recipe producing gasses that force the dough to rise.
This could be due to any, or all of the following.
Just like making good short pastry the butter need to be rubbed into the flour. There should not be lumps of butter visible in the flour. But neither should the butter be fully incorporated with the flour. Using your hands to rub in the butter can cause it to melt into the flour and make the dough biscuit like. I always use a machine or a pastry knife to rub butter, or any fat into flour to avoid problems.
You must use plain (soft) flour with added raising agents known as Self Raising Flour. Chefs will sometimes use ordinary plain flour and add the raising agents themselves. For home use it’s much easier to just to use off the shelf self-raising flour. Look up A Guide to Flour and Uses for more info.
By all means use a mixer or food processor to do the rubbing in if you wish. But I would always mix and form the dough by hand. The more the dough is worked and the longer you take the tougher it will become. If the dough is tough and stressed its impossible for the gasses to lift the dough and lighten the scone.
I always prefer to pat out the dough with my hands rather than use a rolling pin to keep things as light as possible
A dry dough finds it difficult to rise. Like an overworked dough the gasses cannot do their job and of course there is less steam to help things out. Some types and brands of flour will absorb different amounts of liquid. You egg may be larger or smaller than needed and if using yoghurt its thickness will have a marked effect on the amount used. Add a little more liquid if you think the dough needs it. Aim for a dough that is sticky but not gooey and don’t use too much flour to pat it out.
Always use a clean cutter dipped in flour to cut out the dough. Check the cutter after each cut and clean if needed then dip in flour before use. Using a dirty cutter will weld the sides of the scone together and prevent the dough rising. Don’t pick the cut scones up with your fingers. Lift each one onto the baking tray with a pallet knife or fish slice.
Well, that’s the problems out of the way, so let’s get on with it.
Sift the flour with the baking powder into a large bowl then mix in the flour and sugar. Rub the diced butter into the dry mix, avoiding leaving any chucks of butter but keeping the mix as light as possible. A food processor makes an excellent job of this and is easier on the fingers. Make a well in the mix and put aside.
Pour 90% of the wet mix into the centre of the flour / butter mix and begin the mix with a spatula lifting the dry into the wet turning the bowl as you go. From now on the success of our scones will depend on how much care is put into the mixing and cutting, we need to work quickly but lightly.
Just before all the dry mix is worked in turn the contents out onto the work surface. Don’t be tempted to throw down lots of flour before tipping out as this will simply dry out our mixture. Carefully bring the mix together, if too dry add a little more of the egg mixture. The aim is to have a dough that feels slightly too wet but does not stick to everything it touches. Don’t worry if you have a little of the dry mix still on the work surface, better not to overwork the dough for the sake of a few grams of dough.
Using your hands pat the dough out to 2.5cm thick. Dip the pastry cutter into some flour then cut out the first scone. Carefully lift the scone with a pallet knife and lower onto the baking sheet lined with baking paper.
Avoid touching the sides of the scone as this may hold that side of the scone back from rising in the oven. Cut out more scones ensuring the cutter is clean each time and dipped in the flour before each cut. Keep at least 2cm between each scone on the tray. When all the dough is cut take the off cuts and carefully bring together (do this as lightly as possible). Pat out and repeat the cutting procedure. Take the off cuts once more and bring together, pat out and pop the offcut onto a spare space on the tray. That’s your bonus for all your hard work.
Many a chef’s tea break has been lifted by some welcome leftovers!!!!
The urge now is to get the scones into the oven as quickly as possible – Don’t.
The raising agents in the flour need a little time to work and form gasses in the dough.
Popping the scones directly into the oven will set the outside and hold back the rising of the dough. Leave the scones to sit for 10 minutes on the baking tray. In fact, my advice is not to turn on the oven until you have the scones sitting on the baking tray. This will force you to give the scones time to rise. The images below are the same scones before and after resting.
Light brush the surface of the scones with a little milk, (I find egg gives too dark a finish). Bake then leave to rest on a cooling wire before serving.
Weigh the plain yoghurt into a bowl. Take a second smaller bowl and place onto the scales. Zero the scale then break the eggs into the bowl and add the yoghurt. Take the milk and make the total weight up to 300g.
Exactly how much of the wet mix you need will depends on a number of factors. The flour you are using, moisture content of the butter and thickness of the yoghurt.
Bake @ 200c for 18 mins (standard oven) or 185c for about 15 minutes (fan oven)
These are a lighter scone with no butter in the basic dough. That lack of fat in the scone makes it a little crisper, just dying to be lathered with jam and clotted cream!
Mix all the dry ingredients together, then bring the dough together with the buttermilk. Don’t throw it all in at once. Add 90% and start mixing, exactly how much you need will depend on the thickness of the buttermilk.
These are slightly richer scones. Sieve the flour and baking powder together, then add the sugar and salt.
Rub in the butter as you were making pastry. Then whisk the milk and yoghurt together and add to the bowl. Bring the dough together and cut out. Bake for 13 minutes at 190c.
The success of these scones depends on using good strong cheddar. Don’t use the plastic stuff, find a good crumbly extra mature cheese.
Mix the flour, baking powder, pepper, and salt together, then rub in the butter as outlined above. Crack the egg into a jug then add the milk, and mustard. Whisk everything together and put to one side.
Fold the two cheeses into the flour, then add the liquid, keeping a little back until you are sure you need it. Create a soft but not stick dough and form the scones.
Any remaining liquid can be used to glaze the scones, then sprinkle then with some extra cheese.
Yes. You can make the sones in advance and freeze them. Make up the scones as outlined above and leave them to rest. Then place the baking tray into the freezer. Once frozen the scones can be stored in a plastic container. Put a layer of baking paper between each layer to stop them sticking together.
To serve simply take them out of the freezer and allow them to defrost before baking. They may need and extra couple of minutes in the oven if they are still very cold. Your guest will think the baking fairies have visited!
Now all you have to do, is get baking!
Enjoy Life!
John.
Hi, my name is John Webber, award winning chef and tutor, now retired to the west coast of Scotland. Welcome to our blog focusing on food, cooking, and countryside. My aim is to pass on my years of skills and knowledge together with an appreciation of the countryside.
Join us to experience the beauty of the west coast, cook some great food and be at ease in the kitchen.
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© Copywrite, John Webber. 2024
These are The 12 Best Seasonings you need to get sensational results in the kitchen. They should be in everybody’s kitchen at home, and in fact, I would go so far as to say I feel culinary naked without these. Some of these you will …
Making Sweet Pickled Cucumber is a great way of using up excess cucumber and giving a rather bland food an enticing lift.
Cheese, Bacon, and Red Onion Muffins are great served as finger food or taken on a picnic. In fact, they are great all year round and are one of my regular contributions to village social events.
Muffins are easy to make, and once you have mastered the basics there is a wealth of ingredients that can be added, both sweet and savoury. Let me take you through the process, and lets get baking!
80g grated extra mature cheddar cheese
Bake at 200˚c /400˚f. Fan 180/˚c / 350˚f
Put the butter into a small saucepan, gently melt then leave to cool. Chop the bacon into 5mm pieces and chop the red onion as fine as possible.
Heat a small frying pan and add the oil. When the oil is hot add the bacon and fry steadily until the bacon is golden brown and crisp. Reduce the heat a little and add the red onion. Cook the onions until soft then tip the contents of the pan onto a plate to cool.
While all that is cooling sieve flours, bicarbonate of soda, cayenne, and baking powder together into a mixing bowl.
Crack the eggs into a jug and add the salt and whisk together. Now add the melted butter and buttermilk to the jug and whisk well.
This stage is crucial to getting a light well risen muffin. The key is to work quickly and don’t over mix. As soon as the mix has come together, stop mixing and get the batter into muffin cases as soon as you can. Chop your chives now and check you have everything in place Check the oven is ready at temperature, and the baking tray is ready lined with paper cases.
Give the sieved flours and raising agents a good mix, then add the cooled bacon and red onions and mix again. Add the grated cheese and chopped chives and fold in.
Make a well in the centre of the mix, then add the contents of the jug into the bowl in one go. Using the spatula fold the flour into the we ingredients lifting from bottom to top and turning the bowl as you mix.
As soon as all the dry ingredients are worked in, check nothing is lurking at the bottom of the bowl. If you’re happy, stop mixing.
Immediately begin to fill the muffin cases using two tablespoons. Lift the mixture from the bowl with one spoon and use the second to scrape the mix off the spoon into the paper case.
As soon as all the cases are filled, put a generous pinch of grated cheese on top. Bake the muffins for 18 to 20 minutes and when ready cool on a cooling wire. Let the muffins cool for at least 15 minutes before use.
The muffins are at their best freshly baked. But are fine kept in an airtight box for a couple of days, (make sure they are completely cold before storing) or can be kept in the freezer for a month or so.
Serve slightly warm if possible. And if you want to spice them up, add a dollop of my Red Onion and Chilli Jam on top before serving.
As soon as you mix the wet and dry mixtures together, a chemical reaction will begin. The gasses produced by this reaction will make the muffin rise in the oven. If you spend too long mixing the batter, it’s possible to knock the gasses out of the batter. This will give you a heavy, badly risen muffin.
Enjoy Life!
John.
Hi, my name is John Webber, award winning chef and tutor, now retired to the west coast of Scotland. Welcome to our blog focusing on food, cooking, and countryside. My aim is to pass on my years of skills and knowledge together with an appreciation of the countryside.
Join us to experience the beauty of the west coast, cook some great food and be at ease in the kitchen.
Join The ‘Westcoaster Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive regular updates of what’s new and upcoming at ‘The Westcoaster.’
© Copywrite, John Webber. 2024
These Scottish Venison Meatballs are so easy to make, and much better that the shop-bought versions. To go with them I’m making a mushroom and whisky sauce to toss through buttered Tagliatelle. The dish uses ingredients abundant in the Scottish countryside, perfect for autumntime when a variety of wild mushrooms are available to use.
For these tarts we are using two distinct types of apples. Bramley apple for full on flavour, backed up with a dash of good cider. Green apples, Granny Smiths of French Golden delicious provide texture and a hint of freshness to the tarts. These tarts can be made the night before and stored in the fridge. The trick is to glaze and seal the apple with melted butter and lemon to spot the apple discolouring.
Lebanese Fattoush Salad is a great summer salad perfect for eating al fresco with friends or at a barbeque. This is a rustic country salad from Syria and Lebanon that uses a dressing make from buttermilk. This gives the salad a smooth let sharp finish that makes it so refreshing.
This is a method of using left-over, day-old pitta bread to prevent waste. I suppose you could put the thinking on the same track as a French Panzanella salad.
Pita or flat bread for an integral part of the salad. Shop bought pitta is fine, but you could also try making your own flatbreads. See our post on how to make your own flatbreads (HERE).
Firstly, prepare the salad ingredients. Remove the root from the little gem lettuce, then separate off the individual leaves. If the lettuce leaves are on the large side, they can be shredded up later. Keep the little gem and mixed salad separate at the moment.
Wash the salad in deep water then drain well, a salad spinner is ideal if you have one.
Remove the seeds from the tomatoes and slice the flesh into strips then put to one side.
Thinly slice the red onion, spring onion, radishes and baby cucumbers and were good to go…
Next job is to make up the dressing. Peel and crush the garlic with a pinch of sea salt. Squeeze the juice from a lemon then mix the crushed garlic into the lemon juice. Leaving this to stand for a few minutes while we get organised will take the rough edge off the garlic and make it more acceptable to non-garlic lovers.
In a small bowl mix together the buttermilk, extra virgin olive oil, sumac and cider vinegar. And locate a mixing bowl large enough to take everything.
Stale pitta is ideal for this, but if they are too fresh, pop them into the toaster for a minute or two to firm them up. If you are using flat breads, you can miss this out.
Tear the pitta breads into small pieces letting them fall into the bowl. Add the garlicy lemon juice to the dressing and Sumac, then season with more salt and mill pepper as needed.
Pour half of the dressing over the bread, again if using pitta let the bowl stand for three or four minutes to soften the bread. If you are using flatbreads just carry on making the salad.
Add the onions, little gem lettuce and radish, then toss in the dressing.
Add the cucumber and tomatoes to the bowl followed by the mixed salad leaves turning it over in the dressing. Chop the parsley and mint then add to the salad keeping a little back to finish the salad.
Transfer the salad to a large shallow serving dish arranging the ingredients for the best presentation. I like to lay the little gem leaves out first then pile the tossed salad in the centre, letting it spill outwards.
Sprinkle the salad with the reserved chopped herbs and more Sumac and you are ready to serve…..
Sumac is the ground dried berry of a shrub found in the middle east. Once the fruit is dried it is ground and the seed removed. This produces a dark red powder with a sharp refreshing taste. It’s a bit like dried lemon juice, but it also has interesting tones that can act a bit like salt and help bring out flavours. Been sharp, it’s a great accompaniment to fatty meats like lamb, Grilled oily fish, and even fruit.
Enjoy Life.
John.
Hi, my name is John Webber, award winning chef and tutor, now retired to the west coast of Scotland. Welcome to our blog focusing on food, cooking, and countryside. My aim is to pass on my years of skills and knowledge together with an appreciation of the countryside.
Join us to experience the beauty of the west coast, cook some great food and be at ease in the kitchen.
Join The ‘Westcoaster Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive regular updates of what’s new and upcoming at ‘The Westcoaster.’
© Copywrite, John Webber. 2024
How to make – Cheats Chocolate Fondant. The classic restaurant chocolate fondant is a challenge for the pastry chef needing dexterity and exact timing to be served to perfection.
This version is much easier to make and is far more forgiving in cooking and serving as it is made in advance.
How To Be A Shortbread Expert. There are thousands of recipes for shortbread, and an equal number of opinions as to the ingredients, methods, and baking. I suppose really you could think of shortbread as posh pastry, uplifted to celebrity status.
Vanilla Panna Cotta must be one of the easiest desserts to make, but perhaps harder to get exactly right. Success depends on using the best ingredients and taking care to blend them perfectly. Read on to learn just how to do that.
This is a great summer dessert, and the garden is beginning to bear fruit. So, I’ve decided to marry the flavours of our strawberries from the polytunnel with the fresh thyme which is blooming with flowers at the moment.
But don’t worry if you don’t have your own strawberries, a quick trip to the pick your own will do nicely. Shop bought thyme will be fine but do use fresh and not the dried variety.
We are using leaf gelatine which is a better-quality product that the powdered type found in supermarkets, and I think easier to work with. One thing to watch out for, the leaf gelatine found in supermarkets is often cut down into small sections. The full leaf is much larger, and as recipes count the leaves, this can be a disaster. I buy my gelatine online and if you look around you will find that is offered in three types.
Bronze gelatine, this is the lowest quality and can sometimes have a bit of an aftertaste.
Silver gelatine, this is the type I use. It’s an economic and reliable option.
Gold gelatine, the best and purest form of gelatine, used by top restaurants, great if you can afford it.
It should be noted that gelatine is made from meat products, often pork. This of course is not suitable for everybody. If meat products are out of the question, you can use Agar Agar. This is a seaweed-based thickener Ideal for vegetarians.
The gelatine I am using is beef based and also a halal product so ticks several boxes and works perfectly. If you need a product like this Amazon is a good place to look.
Making the Panna Cotta and the syrup can all be done the day before. Leaving the only things to be done on the day, been adding the strawberries, and serving the panna cotta
Measure out the gelatine then place it into a bowl of very cold water to soak and soften.
Pour the double cream into one of the 1lt bowls and put to one side.
Take the vanilla pod and using a small knife split the pod open longways. Flip the knife over and using the back gently scrape out the seeds. Put both the shell of the pod and the seeds into a small pan then pour the milk over the top.
Bring the milk to the simmer then add the sugar giving the pan a stir to make sure its dissolved.
Lift the gelatine from the bowl of water and give it a light squeeze to remove and water clinging to it. Add the gelatine to the pan and stir again, it should melt instantaneously.
Remove the pan from the heat, then strain the contents of the pan into the double cream, mixing well to combine them together. Make sure you have captured any vanilla seeds lurking in the bottom pan. Cover the bowl containing the Panna Cotta and put the pan to be washed.
I am serving this dinner party style using moulds. But if this is too much messing about for you there is nothing wrong in setting the panna cotta in small dishes. The fruits and syrup can then be served on top. Its quicker and tastes just as good.
Take the moulds you are using, I use IKEA tea lights, or Dariole moulds, but almost anything will do. Using you finger run just a little vegetable oil in and around the inside of the mould. This will make the unmoulding a little quicker. Make sure the oil you are using is a tasteless variety. Turn the moulds over onto a sheet of kitchen paper to let any excess oil drain away.
The Panna Cotta must now be chilled until it begins to thicken before we pour it into the moulds. This is because if we simply let the thin mixture set in the moulds. All the vanilla seeds will all fall to the bottom of the mould spoiling the texture of the dish.
Set the bowl of Panna Cotta into a large bowl filled with cold water. Adding some ice or an ice pack will help speed up the process. Keep an eye on the Panna Cotta, giving it a stir from time to time. As soon as the mix begins to set and coats the back of the spoon, its time to fill the moulds and set them into the fridge to fully set.
While the Panna Cotta is setting in the fridge give the pan you used a good wash out then pour in the water and sugar. Using a vegetable peeler remove two strips of lemon zest then squeeze in the juice. Don’t worry about the pips, we will strain the syrup later.
Bring the pan to the simmer, and let it cook for 30 seconds before removing from the heat. Now take the thyme and give the syrup a stir with the herb. Have a taste and if you want more thyme flavour give it another dunking, they taste again.
This is a wonderful way of adding the flavour of herbs to a sauce but remaining in control of the result. Just adding the herb and leaving it in the liquid will produce strong flavours which can overpower a dish.
When you are happy with the flavour strain the syrup into a bowl, cover and leave to cool completely.
When you are ready to serve the dessert, wash, hull and half the strawberries. Add the fruit to the syrup with a pinch of thyme leaves. Toss the strawberries in the syrup then leave to stand for ten minutes. The sugar syrup will draw some of the juices from the fruit and the syrup will become a delicate red tone.
To unmould the Panna Cotta, hold the mould on its side and using the tip of a small knife, release the panna cotta from the edge of the mould. You should see the contents fall away letting air into the mould. Hold the mould in one hand, and the plate in the other. Steadily bring the two together and the Panna Cotta will fall onto the plate. If it’s a little off centre, tilting the plate will let the Panna Cotta gently slide to centre it.
Don’t panic as you see the dessert droop and wobble on the plate. That’s exactly what we want. A good Panna Cotta should be light and delicate. If it stands tall and proud, you have used too much gelatine.
Arrange the strawberries around the mousse then pour the syrup over the fruit and you’re ready to serve.
Yes, you are right. Originally this was made with all cream, usually of a light whipping consistency. By using double cream then diluting it with milk we ger a better infusion in the tinner liquid. Also, as we have not heated the whole thing, cooling and setting is much quicker.
Enjoy Life!
John.
Hi, my name is John Webber, award winning chef and tutor, now retired to the west coast of Scotland. Welcome to our blog focusing on food, cooking, and countryside. My aim is to pass on my years of skills and knowledge together with an appreciation of the countryside.
Join us to experience the beauty of the west coast, cook some great food and be at ease in the kitchen.
Join The ‘Westcoaster Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive regular updates of what’s new and upcoming at ‘The Westcoaster.’
© Copywrite, John Webber. 2024
This Asian Mussel Broth is light yet packed full of flavour. I love mussels and this is one of the best ways of enjoying them. Its full-on flavour, and not expensive, so, what’s not to like?
Why Not Make Your Own Easy Flatbreads at home? It’s much easier than you think, and makes an impressive addition served with snacks and dips when entertaining
Baba Ganoush is easy to make at home and so much nicer then the bought in versions. Serve it as a snack or as part of a mezze spread with warmed Pita breads. Why not go the whole hog and try our recipe to make your own flatbreads and impress your guests even more.
Baba Ganoush is commonly eaten throughout Syria and Lebanon and is traditionally made with aubergines roasted over an open fire. Great if you have one available, but I’ve explained how to do this in your kitchen at home.
I prefer to use Roast Garlic for this recipe as its less pungent and makes for a more delicate yet flavourful dish. If you don’t want to go to the bother of roasting garlic, have a look at the F.A.Qs below for a tip to mellow fresh garlic. If you do, look up our post on How to Be a Garlic Expert, to see how to do it, it’s easy!
Take the aubergines and prick them all over with a small knife. This is to stop the possibility of the aubergines exploding when handled. Getting covered in boiling hot aubergine is definitely not recommended.
Rub the skins with a dash of oil then place them on a tray in a very hot oven. Set the oven as high as it will go. Alternatively, if you cook on gas and don’t mind the mess just pop the aubergine directly over the open flame. This is the traditional was of cooking the aubergines and adds a smokie hint to the mixture. You could of course use the barbeque to do this as well.
After about 20 minutes the aubergines should be ready. If doing this in the oven I also like to attack them with a chef’s blowtorch. This will add a little of the flavour we are missing by using the oven. If you’re not sure on how to do this safely don’t try it, it’s not essential to the dish.
Carefully slice each aubergine oven then let them cool for five minutes.
The skin should just peel off the flesh. If it’s too hot to handle place one in a sieve set over a bowl and scoop out the flesh from the skin with a spoon.
When all the flesh is in the sieve, discard the skins, then spread the flesh around the sides of the sieve, pressing it lightly. The objective is to strain off as much liquid as possible from the flesh, you will be amazed how much is released from the flesh.
Tip the flesh from the sieve into a mixing bowl, we want the mix to be rustic with some texture. But if you want the mix to be totally smooth and creamy use a small food processor. Don’t run the machine constantly, just pulse it or the mix will be too watery.
Add the roast garlic, salt, chilli flakes, Sumac and Tahini. Work the ingredients together with a spatula. If some bits refuse to break down use a table fork to soften them down.
Add the olive oil and half of the lemon juice and mix again. Have a taste and add more lemon juice and salt if needed. Be generous with the lemon juice as it will lighten the mix and give a fresh tang to the aubergine.
When you are happy with the flavour, cover the bowl and leave the mixture to stand for at least an hour before serving. Make it the day before by all means, store it in the fridge and let it come to room temperature before serving.
Spread the mixture out onto a deep plate. Using a bowl spoils the presentation and makes it more difficult to serve yourself.
Sprinkle the surface with toasted pine kernels and a few pomegranate seeds. The sharpness of the pomegranate works well against the rich mixture.
Finish with some chopped parsley and I like to use a little herb oil to top things off.
Yes, we can just use fresh garlic. I would only use 1- 1½ cloves for the recipe as its much stronger than the roasted version.
Peel and crush garlic, squeeze the juice from the lemon then steep the sliced garlic in the juice for 20 minutes. This will take some of the fierceness off the garlic. The garlic and the juice can then both be used in the recipe.
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds and olive oil. Some varieties may also include some sesame oil for added punch. It is used as a thickening and flavouring ingredient in middle eastern cooking. Don’t just limit it to that, it makes a good dip, salad dressing, or just have it on toast!
Sumac is the ground berry of a shrub found in the middle east and parts of Europe.
The berries are deseeded, dried and ground into a powdered spice.
It has a deep crimson-red colour and is a really useful spice to lift fish and vegetable dishes. It has a tangy slightly sour flavour. Think of it like a powdered slightly sweet lemon juice. Great for bringing out flavours in food.
Enjoy Life!
John.
Hi, my name is John Webber, award winning chef and tutor, now retired to the west coast of Scotland. Welcome to our blog focusing on food, cooking, and countryside. My aim is to pass on my years of skills and knowledge together with an appreciation of the countryside.
Join us to experience the beauty of the west coast, cook some great food and be at ease in the kitchen.
Join The ‘Westcoaster Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive regular updates of what’s new and upcoming at ‘The Westcoaster.’
© Copywrite, John Webber. 2024
© Copywrite, John Webber. 2024
© Copywrite, John Webber. 2024