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Food & Health

Cauliflower-Feta Fritters with Pomegranate

Tooting Mama
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March 29, 2020
4 Mins read
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I know it’s too early for asparagus, at least in New York, but I’m tired of waiting, a feeling that both encapsulates my cooking right now and my mood about [waves hands] everything. I am sure I’m not alone in being ready for summer, for outside, for all of my friends to get vaccinated, for my kids lives to normalize so they can be off screens all day, and I know you do not get things by stamping your feet and demanding them (I may have tried) but if there’s one thing on this list we can safely take an advance on, it’s spring vegetables. Grocery store asparagus is lovely and here for us until the freshly-plucked Greenmarket stuff emerges and I say we embrace it with abandon.

“Cooking is like painting or writing a song. Just as there are only so many notes or colors, there are only so many flavors—it’s how you combine them that sets you apart.”

– WOLFGANG PUCK

This galette has been several years in the making. Every spring I take a couple stabs at asparagus galettes but have rejected each because they were too woody, soft, discolored, and/or too much work — poaching and water baths or roasting and chopping and just no. If we’re going to make a homemade crust — and if you do, the payoff here is immense — I want everything else to be as effortless as possible.

After all of that trial and error, I found the perfect technique in the Zucchini and Ricotta Galette in the archives. Salting and draining sliced asparagus softens it enough that it can finish cooking to a perfect crisp-tenderness in the oven without discoloring. A mixture of cheeses, lemon, and garlic makes an unassuming-seeming base that in the oven, exceeds its potential: bubbling up and locking down the asparagus on top, and sharply flavoring everything. This is fantastic warm or at room temperature, and it keeps well in the fridge for up to a week. You won’t regret making two.

Spring Asparagus Galette

Servings: 8
Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling time
Source: Smitten Kitchen


Of course you can use a storebought pie crust instead — the unroll and bake ones are the way to go here — but I promise this dough is so easy, you’ll be glad you tried it. Puffed pastry can work too, but won’t hold pleats so you’ll want to make more of a flat tart. I replace 1/2 cup of the all-purpose flour here with whole wheat flour.


Crust

  • 1 1/4 cups (165 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 8 tablespoons (4 ounces or 115 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1/4 cup (60 grams) plain yogurt or sour cream
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons (45 to 60 ml) cold water

Filling

  • 1 pound asparagus
  • Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup (125 grams) ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup (45 grams) grated gruyere, comte, or gouda cheese
  • 1/4 cup (30 grams) grated parmesan or pecorino cheese
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • Red pepper flakes or freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 large egg or egg yolk (optional, for shine)
  • Images: Sophie Blanche
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Make the crust: Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Sprinkle butter over dough and using a pastry blender or your fingertips, work it into the flour until the mixture resembles small peas. Sprinkle sour cream and 3 tablespoons of water over the mixture and stir/mash it together to combine; it should form large clumps; add last tablespoon water if it does not. Use your hands to bring it together into a single mass. Transfer dough to a large square of parchment paper, patting it into a flatter packet, and wrap it tightly. Chilling it in the fridge until firm, 1 to 2 hours or up to 4 days. You can hasten the firming process along in the freezer, for about 20 minutes.

Make the filling: Hold the asparagus by the tough end (no need to snap it off) and cut the tips into 1-inch segments and the rest of the spears into very thin slices on a sharp angle. In a large bowl, toss with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and set aside for 30 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine ricotta, gruyere, parmesan, garlic, a pinch of salt, and pepper to taste and set aside.

Drain asparagus in a colander and pat it dry on paper towels. Return it to the empty bowl and toss with olive oil, lemon zest, and pepper to taste. (No need to salt because it will be well-seasoned from the salting step.)

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Assemble galette: Heat oven to 400°F. Unwrap firm crust dough and line a large baking sheet with the parchment paper that it was wrapped in. On a floured counter, roll the dough out into a large round-ish shape, about 14 inches across. Gently transfer it to the parchment paper in the pan. Spread ricotta mixture over center, leaving a 3-inch border bare. Spoon asparagus over ricotta layer. Fold the border over the filling, pleating the edge to make it fit. The center will be open.

For a darker, glossier crust, beat an egg or just a yolk with 1 teaspoon of water and brush it over the crust.

Bake galette: For 30 to 35 minutes, until the crust is deeply golden. Serve warm, in wedges.

Do ahead: This galette keeps in the fridge for up to one week. It’s good at room temperature but even better warm, so the cheese is all stretchy again.

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I’ve written about Shonda Rhimes and her book ‘A Year of Yes’. ⁣
I read the book ago and it’s message still resonates with me. 
 
Shonda was known for saying no to things. Her family and friends stopped inviting her to do things because they knew she wouldn’t go.
 
This was a wake-up call - what had she missed? When she dug deep, she realised it was more about confronting her fears. 
Shonda vowed to say yes to things that scared her. And say yes to more of the right things.
 
The result was life-changing.
 
When an opportunity came my way, I pushed past the self-doubt, fear and imposter syndrome and grabbed the opportunity with a big fat YES!
 
I’ve collaborated with Hi!! Magazine (@hi_online_lk). It's Sri Lanka's glossy luxury lifestyle magazine for the island community and the diaspora. It celebrates Sri Lankan culture, fashion, travel and food. It's an honour to be in their pages! 
 
Over the summer I headed into the kitchen where I was in full recipe creation mode: researching and developing new recipes, cooking, testing, re-testing, writing and photographing these delicious dishes.
 
Some dishes are more traditional with a twist on an authentic recipe - think slow-cooked jaggery beef rib. Others are more traditional. My jackfruit biryani is a vegan crowd-pleaser. It's a great recipe for a gathering of friends that will please those that eat meat and those that don't. And some, are more fusion-style recipes such as jaggery meringues.

I hope you are excited and I have whetted your appetite.

Join my mailing list and the recipes drop into your inbox. DM me or drop a comment - I'll send you the link. 

#srilankanrecipes #londonfoodphotographer #recipedeveloper #foodcontentcreator #londonfoodstylist
Supper clubs are a thing, a scene, a food movement Supper clubs are a thing, a scene, a food movement. Supper clubs are where you find great people cooking great food.

I got to know Sohini, host of the @smokeandlime supper clubs.
 
We initially met for dinner at a small Peruvian restaurant in the Elephant & Castle, in a nondescript building, where the Formica tables wore paper tablecloths, a giant TV blasted South American football and they served the best ceviche you’ll find South of the Thames.
 
At the end of May, I ventured down Walworth Road to experience one of Sohini’s supper clubs.
 
Smoke and Lime is cosy. Eight of us gathered around Sohini’s dining table where we were treated to a feast of home-cooked Bengali cuisine.
 
Sohini’s has pioneered a no-waste kitchen. She uses every scrap of every ingredient in her cooking. Cauliflower leaves are transformed into cauliflower pate. She’s a genius at turning local ingredients into delicacies - you have to try her rhubarb pickle.
 
The two stand-out dishes were the whole deep-fried sea bass and dhal with shaved fennel.
 
The star of the evening was the puchkas. Flavour bombs, mouthfuls of intense joy. I first tasted these in Darjeeling Express, small round pastry shells filled with spiced chickpeas and potatoes, dipped into a tamarind chaat sauce. Hot, sour, sweet flavours burst in your mouth as you gobble your puchka whole.

Now I have experienced the Smoke and Lime supper club, I’m ready to try more.

What are your favourite supper clubs?

#londonfoodphotographer #supperclublondon #srilankanfoodphotographer #londonfoodwriter #foodwriter #londonfoodie #foodstories
The Alphonso mango season is nearing its end. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I got so excited about Alphonso mango season, that I ran out and bought myself a box of 12 mangoes. Way too much  to eat in one sitting. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This year I have been busy making fresh mango lassis, which my husband and children slurped to the bottom of the glass.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The no-bake mango and white chocolate cheesecake was a big hit with friends and family. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And finally with the last of the mangoes I made this Alphonso mango sorbet. The it's the perfect summer dessert.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This super easy to make sorbet is a recipe doesn't require an ice cream. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This is one of the best way to get your mangoes to last the season and beyond. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Even though the heat has cooled off this refreshing sorbet is the perfect summer treat. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The recipe is in my bio - hop to it and treat yourself with this mango sorbet! 🥭⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#mangosorbet #mangoseason #summerdesserts #londonfoodphotographer #srilankanfoodphotographer #recipecreator
It was about a year ago I made my way to meet Glen It was about a year ago I made my way to meet Glen and take photographs of this soon-to-be new pub/restaurant on the North London scene.

Glen and his business partner Prince had just taken up residence in this pub a ten-minute walk from Highbury & Islington tube, a stone's throw from the Caledonian Road overground. 

I kind of knew the area. Back in the late 90s, this is where I hung when Upper Street was a thing, the epitome of cool, and Brit-pop rode the waves. 

The freshly painted pub with its elegant minimal decor was being prepped to throw open its doors to the public.

This was the @tamilperince 

But a year ago, nobody knew how this pub would fare. 

Dishes were being fine-tuned, the staff were given their pep talk, and excitement, apprehension and trepidation were palpable. 

The Tamil Prince serves good, solid South Indian fare. Prince, the talented chef is from Tamil Nadu. No one does a roti throw-down quite like Prince. Put this into a London pub and you're on to a winner.

Out of the tiny kitchen comes a small menu of hefty portions. 

Giant prawns asking to be peeled, teeth sunk into juicy flesh and consumed with satisfaction. Pulled beef pressed down onto a crispy dosa is begging you to pull it apart with your fingers and share it with friends. 

The menu, a year on, is tried and tested and continues to delight those making their way to N1 to chomp on lollipop chicken and scoop up their dal makhani with the crispiest, flakiest of rotis. 

The Tamil Prince opened to roaring success, critics piled in tried the food and left with their full bellies returning home to tap out glowing reviews.

The Tamil Prince is about, bundling up to N1 for a curry in a London boozer with your mates. You can't get more London than that. 

Congratulations on your first year and it was a privilege to see this all happen! #londonfoodphotographer #restaurantphotographer #commericalphotography #londonfoodie
Over the last year, I have been testing this no-ba Over the last year, I have been testing this no-bake mango cheesecake. After many tries, I have a recipe that’s easy to make and works. And to top that, it’s a show-stopper cheesecake.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This recipe contains white chocolate and double cream, therefore you can call it as a white chocolate mango dessert, a treat, a decadent treat! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This no-bake cheesecake takes a little organisation, but there’s no gelatin and no baking. What’s not to love! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It’s a case of pouring the contents from pots into a bowl and mixing, popping in the fridge to set and there you have it a deliciously easy, creamy cheesecake.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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A decidedly wicked cheesecake that’s ready to eat.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I have used Sri Lankan-inspired flavours to create this no-bake mango cheesecake recipe. The mango and lime are a winning combination and so very Sri Lankan. The lime cuts through the almost too-sweet Alphonso mango.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And cardamom, a feature of so many Sri Lankan recipes, is made for white chocolate. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The flavours are simply special and together, I hope, will be one of the best mango cheesecake recipes you can find!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Enjoy! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Jump to my bio to grab the recipe! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#mangocheesecake #whitechocolatecheesecake #cheesecakerecipe #nobakecake #londonfoodphotographer #londonfoodstylist #foodphotographerandstyling #nobakecheesecake #recipecreator #srilankancuisine #srilankanfoodblogger #srilankanfoodphotographer
What’s the difference between taste and flavour? What’s the difference between taste and flavour? Is there a difference? Or is it just one and the same? This was the topic of this week's newsletter.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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They are different. And come together when we eat. It’s the two senses of smell and taste that give us that pleasure when we eat a divine meal with the memories that linger thereafter. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Last week, last Tuesday, I tuned into a talk hosted by the @booklarder. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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@cynthia.uma interviewed @nikisegnit author of the Flavour Thesaurus. I bought a copy of the first volume of the Flavour Thesaurus when I started writing about food and creating recipes.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It’s a book that yields so many flavour combinations, many of you may not have thought about. The book is part history of food, gastronomy, stories, science and recipes - if you are a food geek like me, it’s invaluable.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The first volume was published in 2010, it covered 99 flavours and 481 combined flavour pairings. The second volume of the Flavour Thesaurus has been published it covers 92 mostly plant-based flavours, from Kale to Cashew, Pomegranate to Pistachio.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I’ve been playing with Sri Lankan flavours and one I’ve become hooked on is curry leaf cooked in butter with a touch of chilli. It’s a winning combination.  I’ve been trying to recreate a chicken liver dish, which involves marinating the chicken livers in curry leaf butter, chilli and yoghurt - the taste and flavour are out of this world. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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At the moment, the recipe isn’t working.  My poor husband has had to eat my mistakes (four times and counting). I’m tweaking the recipe, I’m determined to make it work. And when it does, it’s dropping to my newsletter community first. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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To join my newsletter community go to my bio & sign up. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#londonfoodphotographer #recipecreator #foodwriter  #srilankanfoodphotographer #srilankancuisine
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Ranji Thangiah

Food writer, recipe creator and photographer

I'm Ranji! I am a food photographer, recipe creator, lover of Sri Lankan food which I want to share with you.

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