Main Event

MAIN COURSES


Whether you’re searching for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, a rustic ragu or a BBQ recipe to feed a crowd, the recipes on this page are all suitable as a main course meal.
Easy Baked Beef Empanadas

Easy Baked Beef Empanadas

In my opinion, there are very few savoury foods that can’t be improved by being wrapped in pastry. From good old Kiwi and Aussie mince pies to Cornish Pasties, from Moroccan Pastilla to Indian samosas, it seems the whole world agrees. There is something so incredibly satisfying about a flaky, buttery crust hiding a deliciously […]
Pork and Ginger Stir Fry

Pork and Ginger Stir Fry

Who doesn’t love a good stir fry? With stacks of punchy flavour, healthy vegetables and lean meat, a stir fry is always my go-to when I want to get dinner on the table fast. My recipe for Pork and Ginger Stir Fry, full of fresh herbs, gentle spice and sweet pineapple is a real family […]
Zucchini and Feta Pizza

Zucchini and Feta Pizza

We are still working our way through the seasonal surplus of delicious zucchini, not that I’m complaining! I adore this abundant and healthy summertime vegetable and I’m always looking for interesting ways to cook with it. Mostly in the warmer months it ends up threaded onto kebabs and grilled on the barbecue, though I also […]
Juicy Baked Meatballs

Juicy Baked Meatballs ‘Polpette’

Spaghetti and meatballs, nothing could be more Italian right? Wrong. Though spaghetti and meatballs have been drilled into us as the cornerstone of the Italian kitchen, starring in movies, books, advertisements, songs and more, the dish is actually an American invention, likely created by Italian immigrants to the U.S in the 1800s. You will never […]
Vietnamese Prawn Spring Rolls

Vietnamese Prawn Spring Rolls

We are finally getting the sort of hot days and nights where all I want to eat is lovely cold food. Salads, sandwiches and quiches are all very good, but sometimes I crave a little spice – and what could be better than the spicy little morsels known as Vietnamese Prawn Spring Rolls? Not deep-fried […]
Thai Massaman Beef Curry

Thai Massaman Beef Curry

I love Thailand, and one of my favourite memories is of attending a cooking school in Bangkok, where we shopped for fresh ingredients at the markets, before cooking meal after meal in a beautiful old colonial house. We practised all the well-known classics of the Thai kitchen and got plenty of exercise grinding up curry […]
Roasted Feta Stuffed Mushrooms

Roasted Feta Stuffed Mushrooms

I love mushrooms. Truly, mushrooms would have to be one of my desert-island foods. Whether fancy shiitake, the prized porcino, colourful pfifferlinge or plain old button mushrooms, they are all delicious, with their earthy flavour and delicate texture. Whatever time of year it is, mushrooms will find their way into my shopping basket, ready for risotto, a salad, a quiche, […]
Turkish Chicken Shish Kebabs

Turkish Chicken Shish Kebabs

I am declaring barbecue season officially open! To get the ball rolling I have a truly delicious recipe for you, one that I have on rotation all summer long. Turkish Chicken Shish Kebabs (Tavuk SiÅŸ) are tender, tangy and so easy. The chicken is marinated in yoghurt, lemon and spices which tenderises the meat while […]
Beef and Lentil Cottage Pies

Beef and Lentil Cottage Pies

It’s a sunny Sunday, still and quiet here. The clouds and blustery winds of the last few days have finally departed, leaving a bright blue, cloudless sky in their wake. It’s the ideal day to get some work done on the house, a pleasure rather than a chore when the sun is shining. After all […]
Braised Chicken and Beans

Braised Chicken and Beans

It’s been a real spring day today, with bursts of brilliant sunshine interrupted by squalls of rain. The mountain opposite the house has been disappearing periodically behind a veil of clouds, then suddenly appearing again, green and lush with all the new growth. The thick stone walls are still keeping the house cool, a blessing […]
Homemade Chicken Pad Thai

Homemade Chicken Pad Thai

It’s Friday! The arrival of the weekend in these unusual times is somehow not quite as exciting as it used to be. When we’re all working from home the eagerly awaited 5 pm escape from the office has lost its urgency. We’re not plotting how we can stuff those 48 hours of freedom with outdoor […]
Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pies

Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pies

Munich is quiet today. The streets are empty of all but the occasional car, and the weather has turned to cool and drizzly. We’re all staying inside by order of the government, hoping to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy and safe. It feels like the city is collectively holding its breath, waiting to […]
Asparagus and Bacon Quiche

Asparagus and Bacon Quiche

I am looking out the kitchen window watching huge fluffy snowflakes drift down from the sky. Just two days ago it was so gorgeously warm and sunny that I thought maybe, just maybe we’d escaped winter and spring was on the way. It’s not that I mind winter, but as it reaches the tail end […]
Kol Böreği Spiral Börek

Kol BöreÄŸi – Spiral Börek

More delicious Cypriot food for you today! I’m obviously longing to go travelling again, as I’m busy cooking recipes that evoke memories of faraway places, good times and mouthwatering food. The food and produce on Cyprus will always be very special to me, as each dish brings back a particular encounter or experience. The local […]
Spicy Tomato and Garlic Mussels

Spicy Tomato Garlic Mussels

The weekend has landed, the sun has been shining over Munich, it’s wine-o-clock and time for one of my favourite meals – Spicy Tomato Garlic Mussels. These are the ultimate quick-fix dinner. Healthy sustainable, and delicious, the heady aroma of tomatoes, garlic, Mediterranean herbs and fresh mussels always makes me happy and as it drifts through […]
Easy Sweet Corn Fritters

Easy Sweetcorn Fritters

Easy sweet corn fritters are so quick and simple to make and are full of delicious vegetables. Bursting with zingy, fresh flavour they’re always popular for breakfast, brunch or a light supper.
Kaiserschmarrn Emperor's Mess

Kaiserschmarrn or ‘Emperor’s Mess’

Hooray, it’s nearly the weekend. Here in Munich it is a blue sky day, bright and sunny and a balmy -3°C! The temperature doesn’t bother me in the least and during these darker months I crave sunshine so I’m soaking up every possible ray. I’m also thinking about breakfast for the weekend, and what could […]
Hearty Classic Chicken Stew

Classic Hearty Chicken Stew

Rich, filling, and supremely comforting, this Classic Hearty Chicken Stew is the perfect winter warmer. This recipe feeds four people easily and any leftovers are delicious the next day.
Creamy Fragrant Chicken Korma

Creamy Fragrant Chicken Korma

As tempting as it may be, we can’t live just on delicious Christmas sweets and treats alone, though, at this time of year, I also want my savoury meals to be beautifully spiced, pungent with enticing aromas, and what better recipe than this Creamy Fragrant Chicken Korma? I adore curries of all varieties. Years of […]
Giant Stuffed Pasta Shells

Giant Stuffed Pasta Shells

As soon as the weather turns cold I turn into a comfort-food-carboholic, which is why we have been gorging ourselves on some truly tasty Giant Stuffed Pasta Shells this week. Pasta loaded up with cheese, meat, herbs, zesty lemon and cooked with a spicy tomato sauce – yes please! I love using giant pasta shells, […]
Spicy Prawn Cocktail Salad

Spicy Shrimp Cocktail Salad

I think the very best cure for homesickness or wanderlust is to cook something to remind you of a certain place, so today we are having one of my favourite light, bright and summery meals: Spicy Shrimp Cocktail Salad. ‘Oh no!’ I hear you cry, ‘Not one of those sad, bedraggled 60’s monstrosities, a few […]
Easy Spicy Beef Enchiladas

Easy Spicy Beef Enchiladas

It’s raining again, and forecast to do so all week. Honestly, this has to be the wettest spring in Munich since I’ve lived here! At least the balcony plants are looking nice and green, but I am ready for some sunshine! Not to worry though as being housebound is always a nice excuse to spend […]
Earl Grey Smoked Salmon

Earl Grey Smoked Salmon

While the undisputed champion of food smoking in my family is definitely my dad, New Zealand is an awfully long way from Munich when the craving for some delicious smoked fish hits. As I live in the city I also only have a tiny balcony, so no room for a dedicated smoker which means when […]
Home Made Tortelli Pasta

Homemade Tortelli Pasta

I’m back! Did you miss me? I’ve been travelling in Cyprus and Italy, soaking up the sights, sounds and most importantly flavours of those beautiful places, and giving myself a bit of a digital detox along the way. Back in Munich the sun is shining (finally) and I’m busy cooking and creating again. Best of […]
Garlic Herb Roast Pork

Garlic Herb Roast Pork

It’s a bit of a grey Wednesday here in Munich, with no sun to tempt me to go wandering outside, it’s a perfect day to stay in the warmth of the kitchen, where I’ve got some bread in the oven and a pot of soup on the stove. At the moment I’m lucky enough to […]
Spicy Cashew Nut Chicken

Spicy Cashew Nut Chicken

Something I often crave is my favourite quick and easy stir fry, and Chinese restaurant menu staple dish, Spicy Cashew Nut Chicken. This much-loved dish is available in virtually any restaurant, but I find when you make it at home it is lighter and fresher than any you will get while dining out. Best of […]
Creamy Mushroom Pork Steaks

Creamy Mushroom Pork Steaks

The sun is shining, the beer gardens have tentatively opened for business and the cool air over Munich is beginning to carry the sweet smell of the countryside to the south. The chestnut trees are still absolutely bare, but it won’t be long before they burst into fresh green leaf and the springtime will properly […]
Herby Spiced Cauliflower Cous Cous

Herby Spiced Cauliflower Couscous

While I love Munich, my mind is already drifting off to our next holiday location – the magical island of Cyprus, where I was lucky enough to spend several years living in the tiny village of Bellapais. When I think of Cyprus I always imagine the pomegranate trees laden with fruit, the great tall almond […]
Pork and Cider Stew

Pork and Cider Stew

Reliably in Munich, the old adage ‘As the days grow longer the cold grows stronger’ is proven true every year. This week started with icy arctic winds and snow, and the warmth of sunny Sydney seems far away. All the more reason then, to bunker down in the cosy kitchen and enjoy plenty of comfort […]
Spicy Pork and Bacon Burgers

Spicy Pork and Bacon Burgers

I like my burgers juicy, spicy, and loaded with toppings and this delicious recipe for Spicy Pork and Bacon Burgers hits all my buttons. Flavoursome pork mince, bacon, jalapeños, cheese and in a clear nod to my Antipodean roots, a big slice of sweet pineapple – all served up with a big side of Asian […]
Chicken Mango Barley Salad

Chicken Mango Barley Salad

There are mangoes everywhere at the moment. We are bang in the middle of the summer mango season and they are so perfectly ripe, sweet and juicy that I can’t resist picking them up whenever I’m at the shops. Obviously, the best way to eat mangoes is simply sliced, greedily, with the juices running down […]
Spicy Mexican Tortilla Lasagne

Spicy Mexican Tortilla Lasagne

I love a crowd pleasing meal. I mean, really, what is nicer as a cook to put a meal on the table that everybody likes? Especially after a long week, when my nerves can be a little frayed anyway, it is always good to have a recipe up your sleeve that never fails. Cheesy, meaty, […]
Lime and Thyme Chicken

Lime and Thyme Chicken

Summer is trying SO HARD to arrive in Munich. We have one day of sweltering summer heat, where the hot winds of the Föhn come rushing over the alps from Italy, the skies are clear and deep Bavarian blue and the beer gardens are heaving with people enjoying the cool shade under the spreading chestnut […]
Asparagus with Sauce Hollandaise

Asparagus with Sauce Hollandaise

Spring is heralded in Munich not only by the sudden explosion of green leaves and spring flowers, but by the arrival on every market stand of the the highly coveted spargel – or thick stems of white asparagus. While everybody has a favourite region or supplier, it is roundly considered that the cream of the […]