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Hadya Al-Azm, 3045 Edgewood Avenue, Fresno, CA (2026)

09/17/2025

Method
Step 1
Put one of the mackerel fillets on a board and cut a ‘V’ down the centre, either side of the pin bones, to create two smaller fillets, then remove the bones. Repeat with the other fillet. Rub with the oil and season with plenty of ground black pepper. Set aside.
Step 2
Put the fennel in a bowl with the beetroot, cucumber and apple. Drizzle over the lemon juice, add the yogurt and mix well. Roughly chop the dill, putting aside a few fronds to garnish, and scatter over the salad, then season with ground black pepper and toss together lightly. Set aside.
Step 3
Put a large non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. When hot, add the fish, skin-side down, and cook for 2 1/2 mins. Flip the fish over and cook for 30 secs on the other side.
Step 4
Put the fillets on top of the salad and serve with the dill fronds and lemon wedges for squeezing over.

Mackerel fillets contain beneficial fats, are quick to cook, and really complement this earthy and vibrant salad with a yogurt dressing

09/08/2025

Method
Step 1
To make the sweet & sour beetroot, mix all the ingredients, except the beetroot, with 125ml water in a medium pan and bring to the boil. Take the pan off the heat and leave to cool. Drain and rinse the cooked beetroot, then slice half into thin rounds, cutting the rest into larger wedges for a contrasting texture. Once the pickling liquor is completely cold, pour into a large jar, add the beetroot and chill overnight.
Step 2
The next day, brush the mackerel all over with the soy sauce and leave to marinate for 20 mins while you make the dressing. Whisk together the wasabi and crème fraîche, seasoning to taste. Heat your grill to its highest setting.
Step 3
Remove the beetroot from the pickling liquor with a slotted spoon and divide evenly between each plate. Layer over the shallot, pickled ginger and toasted sesame seeds, then scatter over the chives to create the salad. Layering the salad creates a professional finish.
Step 4
Put a wire rack over a baking tray and brush with the oil. Put the fillets on top of the wire rack and grill the fish, skin-side up, for 2-3 mins until the skin is charred and the fish is lightly cooked. If you want to char it further, use a blowtorch (see my tip below).
Step 5
To serve, place the fish on top of each salad with a spoonful of the dressing. For added wow factor, drizzle the oil around the salad, along with a little of the pink pickling liquor from the beetroot, then serve immediately.

Fresh mackerel is always a winner and grilling gives a deliciously charred quality. Pickled beetroot wedges add an extra tang in this party-perfect, budget-savvy starter

08/28/2025

Method
Step 1
Cook the beans in a large pan of boiling salted water for 2-3 mins until just tender. Remove to a colander using a slotted spoon and rinse under cold running water. Pinch off the skins to reveal the bright green centres. The beans can be blanched and the skins removed up to a day ahead. Chill until needed.
Step 2
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and fry the pancetta for 4-5 mins until crisp. Stir in the garlic clove and some cracked black pepper, and cook for 1 min more until fragrant. Pour in the cream and add the parmesan rind, if using. Bring to a simmer. Stir well, then stir through most of the parmesan and gently warm through the sauce.
Step 3
Return the pan of bean cooking water to the boil and cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain, reserving a mugful of the water. Tip the pasta into the sauce with the broad beans, mint and lemon zest, set over a low heat and toss everything together, adding a splash of the reserved water to loosen, if needed. Divide between warm bowls, scatter over the remaining parmesan, then serve immediately with crusty bread.

Make the most of broad beans with this moreish pappardelle recipe. Remove the pasta and bacon, and you’ll still have a tasty side to serve with a roast

08/04/2025

Method
Step 1
Heat ½ tbsp of the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and soften for 5 mins, then add the garlic and fennel and cook for 2 mins longer. Tip into a bowl. Add the pork mince, parsley stalks and grated courgette to the bowl, season well, mix, and shape into 10 meatballs. Heat the remaining oil in the frying pan, add the meatballs and fry for 5-8 mins, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Set the pan aside.
Step 2
Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the spaghetti for 1 min less than pack instructions. Using tongs, transfer the pasta to the pan of meatballs, sloshing in some of the cooking water as you go. Add the courgette ribbons to the pan and put it back over the heat. Toss the pasta and meatballs with the courgette ribbons in the pan with a ladleful of pasta water and add the lemon juice. Season well, tip into bowls and scatter over the chopped parsley leaves, lemon zest and a generous grating of parmesan.

Make a quick and easy meal for two with these pork meatballs, served with spaghetti, courgette ribbons, lemon and parmesan – perfect for summer evenings

07/24/2025

Method
Step 1
Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 8. Toss the broccoli with the sesame oil, sesame seeds and some salt, then spread out on a baking tray. Roast for about 15-20 mins until charred and tender.
Step 2
Meanwhile, bring a pan of water to the boil. Add the eggs and cook for 6 mins 30 seconds. Remove using a slotted spoon and lower into ice water to cool for 3 mins before peeling the shells. Mix all the dressing ingredients in a bowl.
Step 3
Cook the noodles following pack instructions, then drain and toss with the dressing.
Step 4
Divide between two serving bowls and top each with a halved egg, the spring onions, radishes and charred broccoli. Finish with extra sesame seeds and crispy chilli oil, if you like.

Let broccoli take centre stage in our ramen noodle bowls. Versatile, easy to cook and nutritious, it's especially delicious when roasted until crisp

07/16/2025

Method
Step 1
Melt the butter in a deep frying pan. Add the onion and fry gently until softened for about 8 mins, then add the garlic and stir for 1 min. Stir in the rice to coat it in the buttery onions and garlic for 1-2 mins.
Step 2
Dissolve the stock cube in 1 litre of boiling water, then add a ladle of the stock to the rice, along with the lemon juice and thyme. Bubble over a medium heat, stirring constantly. When almost all the liquid has been absorbed, add another ladle of stock and keep stirring. Tip in the courgette and keep adding the stock, stirring every now and then until the rice is just tender and creamy.
Step 3
To serve, stir in some seasoning, the lemon zest, vegetarian Italian-style hard cheese and crème fraîche.

An easy vegetarian one-pot risotto - simply stir in your seasonal veg, simmer and enjoy

07/01/2025

Method
Step 1
Remove the beards, then wash the mussels well in cold water. Refresh the water and repeat until it is clear. Discard any mussels that are broken or stay open when tapped.
Step 2
Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole. Fry the onion until very lightly brown, then add the ginger, garlic, chillies, spices, a good pinch of salt and a grinding of pepper. Cook for 2-3 mins until fragrant and toasted. Pour in the coconut milk and bring to the boil, then simmer for a few mins to get everything mixed together.
Step 3
Tip the mussels into the dish, cover, turn up the heat to maximum and boil for 3-4 mins until the mussels have just opened. Scatter over the coriander sprigs and serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.

You can add any other seafood to this quick aromatic green curry - prawns can go in with the coconut milk and clams with the mussels

06/09/2025

Method
Step 1
Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Put the flour, paprika, garlic granules, a large grind of black pepper and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in the milk until you have a smooth batter that’s thick enough to coat a spoon (you may not need it all).
Step 2
Put the breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl. Toss each floret in the batter mix, tap off any excess, then toss in the breadcrumbs to coat. Transfer to the lined baking tray, and repeat with all the cauliflower florets.
Step 3
Bake for 25-30 mins until golden brown and crispy, turning halfway through so they bake evenly.
Step 4
Meanwhile, put all the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl and whisk to combine, lightly seasoning with salt and pepper.
Step 5
Put the cooked cauliflower in a large bowl and mix through the sauce until they’re all coated. Sprinkle over the sesame seeds so they stick to the sauce, and top with the chilli and spring onions.

Try a veggie twist on bang bang chicken, and replace the meat with cauliflower florets. With a crispy coating and a spicy sauce, it makes a great starter or side

05/20/2025

Spiced parsnip & maple muffins
Method
Step 1
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases. Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg into a large bowl. Tip in the sugar and rub any lumps between your fingers to break them up.
Step 2
Mix in the grated parsnip and chopped pecans, ensuring that everything is fully combined. Pour the maple syrup into a jug and mix in the eggs and oil. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix with a wooden spoon until nearly combined with a few specks of flour remaining. Spoon about 2 tbsp of the batter into each case, so they’re about three-quarters full. Bake for 22-24 mins until risen and a skewer inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 3
Meanwhile, make the frosting. Sift the sugar into a bowl and beat in the butter using an electric whisk. Fold in the soft cheese and maple syrup. If the frosting is too loose, whisk for a few minutes more or chill until it has stiffened up again.
Step 4
Spoon or pipe the frosting over the cooled muffins, then drizzle over some maple syrup, dust with cinnamon and decorate each one with a whole pecan, if you like.

Got a glut of parsnips? Do something different with this familiar veg box favourite and rustle up some spiced parsnip and maple muffins for the cake tin

05/20/2025

Parsnip & maple syrup cake
Method
Step 1
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease 2 x 20cm sandwich tins and line the bases with baking parchment. Melt butter, sugar and maple syrup in a pan over gentle heat, then cool slightly. Whisk the eggs into this mixture, then stir in the flour, baking powder and mixed spice, followed by the grated parsnip, apple, chopped pecans, orange zest and juice. Divide between the tins, then bake for 25-30 mins until the tops spring back when pressed lightly.
Step 2
Cool the cakes slightly in the tins before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely. Just before serving, mix together the mascarpone and maple syrup. Spread over one cake and sandwich with the other. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.

Try this delicious parsnip & maple syrup cake for your next weekend bake. Use up spare allotment veg and turn it into a tasty treat to share

05/14/2025

Method
Step 1
Put the mushrooms in a food processor and pulse until they're very finely chopped.
Step 2
Put half the olive oil in a large frying pan and add the leeks along with a pinch of salt. Fry gently for 15 mins or until softened and golden brown. Scrape the leeks out of the pan and into a bowl. Heat the remaining oil in the pan and fry the mushrooms for 10 mins over a medium heat. Add the garlic, sage, miso and mustard and fry for another minute, then leave to cool slightly.
Step 3
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Combine the mushroom mixture with the leeks in a bowl, add the chestnuts, cheese and breadcrumbs. Season lightly to taste (the miso and leeks will add salt, so don’t add too much) and work everything together until you have a slightly stodgy mixture.
Step 4
Unravel the puff pastry on a floured surface, then roll out so one side measures about 40cm. Push the mushroom mixture down the centre of the pastry. Bring the pastry around the mixture and seal the edges with a fork, then cut into 8 pieces. Lay on a lined baking sheet and brush each one with the beaten egg. Bake in the oven for 25-30 mins until deep, golden brown. Allow to cool a little before eating.

Try our flavourful vegetarian sausage rolls, packed with mushrooms, chestnuts, leeks and cheese. They're perfect for a picnic or served with salad for lunch

05/14/2025

Cheese & onion pasties
Method
Step 1
First, make the pastry. Tip the flour into a bowl. Holding the block of butter in its wrapper, grate it directly into the flour (you may need to dip the end of the butter into the flour occasionally if it becomes sticky). Add the cayenne pepper, mustard powder and half the beaten egg, and season with a pinch of salt. Bring everything together with your hands until the mixture starts to clump together. Tip the pastry onto the work surface and knead very briefly into a smooth ball, adding up to 3 tbsp cold water if it’s too dry. Squash the pastry into a disc. Wrap and chill while you make the filling.
Step 2
Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the onions and thyme leaves for 8-10 mins until the onions have softened and started to caramelise. Tip into a bowl and leave to cool. Once cool, mix in the grated cheese, mustard and spring onions.
Step 3
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Roll the chilled pastry out on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut out as many 10-12cm circles as you can (you can use a cup or mug as a template), then re-roll any off-cuts and repeat. You should get about 10-12 circles in total.
Step 4
Spoon a mound of the filling into the centre of each pastry circle, leaving the edges clear. Working with one circle at a time, brush a little of the remaining beaten egg around the edge, then bring two sides up to meet in the middle in a half-moon shape. Pinch the pastry together, crimping the edge to seal. Transfer to the baking tray and repeat with the remaining pastry circles and filling. Brush all the pasties with some beaten egg. Will keep frozen for two months.
Step 5
Bake the pasties for 20-25 mins (or 40-45 mins from frozen) until the pastry is deep golden brown. Leave to cool for at least 10 mins before eating warm, or cool completely and pack into containers for a picnic. Will keep in an airtight container for up to three days.

Rustle up these little cheese and onion pasties for a family picnic. If you won't eat all 12, they freeze well and can be cooked straight from frozen

Hadya Al-Azm

09/17/2025

09/08/2025

08/28/2025

08/04/2025

07/24/2025

07/16/2025

07/01/2025

06/09/2025

05/20/2025

05/20/2025

05/14/2025

05/14/2025

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