24 TASTE MARCH 2020
formeat-freeMondays.Thesweetnessof
thepeasisperfectlybalancedbytheonion
saltandwhitepepper,andthesharp,salty
pecorino adds something special.”
Serves 4
EASY
GREATVALUE
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking: 15 minutes
butter12 5g
babyleeks2,finelychopped
garlic2 cloves,finely chopped
onionsalt1 t
ground white pepper½ t
frozenorfreshpeas 200 g
freshtagliatelle 400 g,cookedaldente
pecorino 100 g,grated,for serving
herb salad, for serving1 Meltthebutterina largepanover
a mediumheat,addtheleeksandcook
untilsoft.Addthegarlic,onionsalt,
pepperandpeas.Cookfor3 minutes,
stirringoccasionally. 2 Gentlymashthe
peasinthepanusinga potatomasher.
Tossinthepastaandcheese.Servewith
a herbsaladdressedinlemon juice and
extravirginolive oil.
MEAT-FREE
WINE:SpringfieldWild Yeast
Chardonnay 2017SALTEDHAKE,RADISH
ANDCAPERMAYOSALAD
“Brininghakebeforeyoucookit firmsupthe
flesh, adding flavour and keeping it moist.”Serves 4
EASY
GREATVALUE
Preparation: 20 minutes, plus 1 hour’s
chillingtime
Cooking: 5 minuteshake4 thickfillets
water2 cups
salt2 T
garlic1 clove
capers 8
smokedsalt¼t
free-rangeeggs 2
sunfloweroil½cup
lemon1,juiced
parsley,a handful,coarsely chopped
radishes 8, quartered1 Placethehake,waterandsaltina
bowlandchillforanhour. 2 Tomakethe
capermayo,crushthegarlic,capersand
smokedsaltusinga mortarandpestle
untilsmooth. 3 Addtheeggsif themortar
is large,ortransfertoa biggerbowl.
Drizzleintheoilfroma heightwhile
whiskinguntilthickmayo.Addthelemon
juiceandparsley.Seasonwithmoresaltif
necessar y. 4 Drainthefishandsteamfor
5 minutes,thenallowtocool.Flakethe
fishandtosswiththeradishesandmayo.
CARB-CONSCIOUS,DAIRY-FREE,
WHEAT-ANDGLUTEN-FREE
WINE:Woolworths Marras Chenin
Blanc 2018SALT AND PEPPERSALTYPRETZELCHOC-
CHUNKSHORTBREAD
“Thisshortbreadwasinspiredbysome
deliciousbiscuitsthatoured,Kate,
broughtbackfroma triptoNewYork.
Thecomboofsaltypretzels with dark
chocolate is insane!”Makes10 to 12
EASY
GREATVALUE
Preparation: 30 minutes,
plus1 hour’schillingtime
Baking: 20 minutesWoolworthssaltedpretzel snack
150 g (1½packets)
butter 250 g,softened
icingsugar 120 g
flour 220 g,plusextrafor rolling
(ifmakingsquares)
dark chocolate110 g, broken into squares1 Blendthepretzelsinbatchesuntilthey
arethetextureofflour.Placeina large
bowl. 2 Addthebutter,icingsugarand
flourandmixuntilsmooth.Shapethe
doughintoballsandplaceona greased
orlinedbakingtray.Flattenslightlyusing
thebackofa teaspoon.Chillfor1 hour
untilfirm. 3 Preheattheovento160°C.
Placea squareofchocolateintothe
middleofeachpieceofdough.Bakefor
20 minutes.Allowtocoolbeforeserving.
Cook’snote:If youprefertomake
squares,carefullyrolloutthedoughona
floured surface. Cut into squares and bake.SALTSELLERS
Lookingforinterestingsalts?Trythesesuppliers
inadditiontoyourlocalWooliesstoreBALENISALTis harvestedinLimpopo
accordingtoTsongatradition.baleni.co.za
KHOISANSALTcomesfromthebrine
ofanundergroundseawaterlake.
khoisansalt.co.za
MASTERSTOCKmakessaltsflavoured
withherbsandflowers.masterstock.co.za
ORYXDESERTSALTis harvestedinthe
Kalahari.oryxdesertsalt.co.za
THEREALLYINTERESTINGFOOD
COMPANYstockssaltsfromaroundthe
world.thereallyinterestingfoodcompany.comFL AVOURSAVIOURS
Cookingwithsaltenhancesflavour,reduces
bitternessandbalancessweetness.Usetheright
amountattherighttime–lesswhileyou’re
cookingandmoreatthetableMEATANDPOULTRYPre-salting
meatwellinadvanceallowstimeforthe
salttodoitswork.Contrarytopopular
myth,youwillendupwitha moistand
tender(nottough!)result.Thelargerthe
cutofmeat,theearlieryoushouldsaltit- shortrib,thicksteakora wholechicken
canbesaltedthedaybeforecooking
andrefrigerated.
SEAFOODFishcanbesalted
15–30minutesbeforecooking,while
otherseafoodshouldbesaltedat
thetimeofcookingtopreventit
fromturningrubbery.VEGETABLESANDLEGUMES
Saltveggiesbeforeroastingthemwith
oliveoil,andgenerouslysaltwaterfor
boilingandblanchingbeforeyouadd
thevegetables.“Seasonyourcooking
wateruntilit’sassaltyasthesea,”says
SaminNosratinherbookSalt,Fat,Acid,
Heat. “Youmightflinchbutremember,
mostofthesaltendsupgoingdown
thedrain.Thegoalis tocreatea salty
enoughenvironmenttoallowthesalt
todiffusethroughouttheingredient.”
Well-seasonedwaterhelpsveggies
retaintheirmineralsandsugars,while
enhancingflavourandcolour.
AdaptedfromSalt,Fat,Acid,Heat
bySaminNosrat(Canongate,2017)