Thai fish soup

For ➍
1 tbs cooking oil
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 ts fresh ginger, grated
¼ red onion, thinly sliced
½ red chilli pepper, sliced (optional)
1 stalk lemongrass, bottom stalk only, bruised (substitute with peel of lemon or lime)*
4 kaffir lime leaves, torn (substitute with peel of lemon or lime)*
40 cl can coconut milk
2 dl vegetable broth
juice of ½ lime
1 tbs fish sauce
175 g shrimps, peeled & deveined
220 g salmon, cut into 2.5 cm chunks
assorted vegetables, such as spinach, snow peas, kale, tomatoes, bell pepper, etc.
1 tbs minced cilantro/coriander

In a wok or soup pot over medium high heat, add cooking oil and swirl to coat. When hot, add in the garlic, ginger, red onion, chilli pepper, lemongrass, kaffir and gently cook for about 2 m to release the aromas and flavors.
Pour in the coconut milk and broth and let simmer for 15 m. Remove the lemongrass, kaffir (or the lemon/lime peel if using)* and discard. Season broth with fish sauce and lime juice to taste.
Add shrimp, salmon, vegetables and cilantro. Cook for 3-4 m or until the shrimp and salmon is cooked through.
Add 250 g cooked dried rice noodles to turn the soup into a light dish.

*When substituting with the peel of a lemon or lime, use a vegetable peeler to get thin strips of peel  and give each strip a good bruising or twist to release the oils.
**Eventually, add some fresh tomatoes, cut into wedges.

Risotto zucchine e gamberetti (zucchini & shrimp risotto)

For ➍ 

vegetable broth 

1.5 l water 

1 lemon, zest, grated 

1 carrot 

1 celery rib 

½ onion 

coarse salt 

risotto

350 g arborio rice 

2 zucchini 

250 g shrimps 

½ onion, chopped 

olive oil 

½ glass white wine 

50 g butter *

lemon, zest, grated 

fine salt 

decorate 

lemon, zest, grated 

mint 

Start with a vegetable broth. Put the water in a pot and add the carrot, celery, onion and the zest of a lemon. Bring it to boil. 

In a frying pan, brown the chopped onion. Add the zucchini cut into small pieces, salt and cook for about 5 m. Add the shrimps in the pan and let it cook for another 2 m. Remove from the fire and keep aside. 

In another pan, toast the rice. When it's very hot, blend it with the white wine. Add the broth a little at a time, and mix the risotto. As soon as the broth dries, add a ladle and continue like this for about 15 m, to cook the rice.**

When it is close to the cooking, add the zucchini and shrimp and cook for a couple of more m. 

Turn off the heat and stir with the butter, stirring the risotto well. Add a copious grated lemon zest. Decorate the risotto with another lemon zest and a mint leaf. Serve immediately.

*Optional.

*Use a quicker way to cook risotto.

Lemon risotto with fennel

For ➋

150 g risotto rice

50 cl warm vegetable stock

2 knobs of butter

50 g Parmigiano

1 small onion

splash dry white wine

1 lemon, juice & grated peel

1 fennel

75 g peas (frozen)

fresh basil

Chop the onion. Melt a knob of butter in a pan and fry the onion in it. Add the rice, stir and cook for a few m until it starts to turn translucent. Then deglaze with the white wine.

Clean and thinly slice the fennel and cut into strips. Add to the risotto rice. Then add a little of the stock and stir and wait until it is absorbed.

Grate the lemon and squeeze it. Add the juice and half of the grated lemon peel to the risotto rice as well. Meanwhile, keep adding stock little by little, stirring occasionally. Add the frozen peas after approx. 10 m. After a total time of about 20 to 25 m, the risotto is cooked, you may still have a little stock left.

Tear some basil into pieces and stir through the risotto together with the grated Parmesan and a knob of butter. Taste to see if the risotto might need a little more salt or pepper. When serving, garnish the risotto with some basil and grated lemon peel.

*For a non-vegetarian meal, it can be served with fried shrimps.

Risotto agli asparagi al mente e limone (risotto with asparagus, mint & lemon)

For ➑
risotto base:
1 l organic vegetable or chicken stock
2 tbs olive oil
1 large onion, peeled & finely chopped
4-5 sticks celery, trimmed & finely chopped
600 g risotto rice
25 cl vermouth or dry white wine
risotto:
2 bunches asparagus, woody ends removed & discarded*
70 cl organic vegetable or chicken stock
50 g butter
1 small handful Parmigiano cheese, freshly grated, plus a block for grating**
1 bunch fresh mint, leaves picked & finely chopped
zest & juice of 2 lemons
sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
extra virgin olive oil

Slice the asparagus stalks finely sliced to 2.5 cm below the tips. Finely chop your asparagus stalks into tiny discs, keeping the tips whole.
Then start making your basic risotto recipe.
Bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan. Put the olive oil in a separate large pan, add the onion and celery and cook very gently for about 15 m, without colouring, until soft. Add the rice (it will sizzle) and turn up the heat. Don't let the rice or veg catch on the bottom of the pan, so keep it moving.
Quickly pour in the vermouth or wine. You will smell the alcohol immediately, so keep stirring all the time until it has evaporated, leaving the rice with a lovely perfume.
Add the stock to the rice a ladle at a time, stirring and waiting until it has been fully absorbed before adding the next. Continue to add ladlefuls of stock until it has all be absorbed. This should take about 14 to 15 m and give you rice that is beginning to soften but is still a little al dente. Put aside.
Put a large saucepan on a medium to high heat and pour in half the stock, followed by all your risotto base and the finely sliced asparagus stalks and the tips. Stirring all the time, gently bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer until almost all the stock has been absorbed. Add the rest of the stock a ladleful at a time until the rice and asparagus are cooked. You might not need all your stock. Be careful not to overcook the rice. It should hold its shape but be soft, creamy and oozy, and the overall texture should be slightly looser than you think you want it.
Turn off the heat, beat in your butter and cheese, mint, almost all the lemon zest and all the juice. Check the seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed. Put a lid on the pan and leave the risotto to rest for 1 m.
Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, a scattering of lemon zest and a block of Parmigiano on the table.

*Or microwave the asparagus, then gril for a few m. Add some good pepper. Serve with the risotto.
**Make a non-vegetarian variation with sprinkling in a little picked crab or lobster meat or fresh, peeled shrimps or sliced scallops. Reduce your cheese by half.

Tip: cooking asparagus
Tip: a quick and fine risotto

Lemon risotto with king shrimps & samphire

For ➍

1 l water

1 chicken stock cube

2 shallots

50 g unsalted butter

300 g risotto rice

125 ml dry white wine

2 cloves of garlic

2 tbs mild olive oil

225 g raw & peeled large shrimps, frozen

100 g samphire

1 lemon

50 g Parmigiano Reggiano

Bring a pan with the water and stock pellet to the boil. Lower the heat.

Meanwhile, chop the shallots. Heat half of the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan, add the shallots and fry 5 m over low heat. Add the risotto rice and fry for 3 m while stirring until the grains are translucent.

Add the wine and stir until incorporated into the rice. Add a soup ladle of hot stock to the rice and stir until the stock has been absorbed by the rice. Then add another spoon and repeat until the rice is cooked. This takes 20 m. The mixture should be viscous.

Defrost the shrimp. Meanwhile, finely chop the garlic. Towards the end of the risotto cooking time, heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the garlic and fry 1 m over medium heat. Add the shrimps and samphire and fry for 2-3 m. Toss regularly. Season with pepper.

Scrub the lemon, grate the yellow peel and squeeze half the fruit. Cut the other half into 4 wedges. Grate the cheese. Remove the risotto from the heat and stir in the lemon zest and juice, cheese and rest of the butter. Season with pepper. Divide between the plates and spoon the shrimps with the samphire on top. Serve with the lemon wedges.

Risotto with prawns & zucchini

For ➍
400 g risotto rice
1 l chicken stock (or fish stock )
1 onion, cut into fine pieces
olive oil
16 big shrimps (scampi)
1 large zucchini, cut into 3 mm slices
1 tbs mild curry

a splash of lemon juice
[Parmegiano cheese, grated
60 g butter***]

Clean the shrimps by removing the intestine through a notch. Fry the shrimp in olive oil and add 1 tbs of mild curry, salt and pepper*.  Bake for 3-4 m**. When ready, remove the shells, and cut into bite-size pieces***.
Put some olive oil in the pan and cook the sliced zucchini for about 6 m.
Fry the onion in olive oil for 3 m, without browning. Add the rice and stir so that each grain of rice is surrounded by a shimmering layer of oil.
Pour a ladle stirring hot chicken broth or fish stock over it.
Let it boil quietly, stir and add each time the moisture has evaporated a ladle of broth.  Adjust salt & pepper after 10 m. Add some fresh lemon juice***. 5 m before the end of the cooking time (about 20 m), add the zucchini and shrimps and stir.
Remove from heat.
[Add the butter*** and cheese***] Finish with some broth, to make it moist and smooth. Serve on warm plates.

*Or prepare a marinade: 2-3 tbs of olive oil with 1-1.5 tbs of mild curry or vadouvan. Marinade for 15 m.
**Grilling is a good alternative.
***Optional. Remove [] ingrdients for heart-friendly version

Read the tip on making a quick risotto.

Chawan mushi (Japanese savoury custard)

For ➋
2 fresh eggs
20 cl cooled fish stock (add some sake (or sherry) & a dash of soy sauce)
1 shiitake, torn
6 large prawns, peeled*
2 tbs of parsley

Beat the eggs with a fork.

Add soup stock a little at a time while stirring the eggs.

Place the filling in individual earthenware cups. Pour in the mixture of egg and soup stock.

Cover with parsley.

Boil water in a steamer. Turn the heat down to medium. Place the cups in the steamer. Steam for 12 m.

*Or 200 g fresh white fish. Or a parboiled chicken breast, use with chicken stock.

The custard-like chawan mushi is a classic Japanese dish.
To add taste to the dish, fry or wok the ingredients, except the eggs.
You could pour water in a wok, with a divider for a larger cup. Heat the water with wok lid closed. When hot, put the cup with the ingredients in the wok and steam for about 15 m.
Try the similar Chinese steamed eggs or a modern fusion recipe.

Steamed eggs with prawns, mushrooms & scallops

For ➍
3 eggs
40 cl stock
½ ts salt
1 tbs rice wine
50 g prawns, shelled
10-15 g dried scallops, soaked in warm water until soft, tear into small pieces*
3 shiitake mushrooms, sliced thinly
5 cm knob of ginger, shredded
spring onion/scallion, shredded

Beat 3 eggs with salt and rice wine, then add in the stock.

Use 1 big or 4 small soup bowls to steam the eggs. Place half of prawns, mushrooms and dried scallops in the bowl(s).

Pour the egg mixture slowly into the bowl(s).**

Heat up a steamer or a wok, half filled with water. Put the bowl(s) into the steamer, lower the heat and let it cook for 10 m. The egg custard should be wobbly.

Carefully place the remaining prawns, mushrooms and dried scallops on the surface of the egg custard. Let it steam for another 3-5 m until the egg custard is cooked.

Serve with shredded spring onions and ginger.

*Use fresh or thawed scallops instead.
**If bubbles appear, straighten with a piece of paper.

Versatile versions of steamed eggs are a common dish in Chinese households. It can include almost anything: minced pork, fish slices or clams, pig's intestines or duck liver.

Try the similar Japanese chawan mushi.

Bacon chawan mushi with avocado & shrimps

For ➍
75 cl chicken stock (or dashi)
8 slices bacon
4 large eggs
1 tbs + 1 ts shoyu (white soya sauce)
2 ts sugar
12 large shrimps, cooked, sliced lengthwise into 0.3 cm pieces (or shaved country ham)
2 avocados, halved, cut crosswise into 0.5 cm pieces
8 scallions, thinly sliced
4 radishes, thinly sliced

In a sauce pan, heat the chicken stock (or dashi). Add the bacon. Simmer for 10 m. Whisk in the shoyu and sugar. Let it cool. Remove the bacon. (Use it for something else, like eggs for breakfast).
Whisk the eggs in a bowl. Whisk in the bacon broth. Pur the mixture through a fine sieve into 4 soup bowls.
Add the avocado slices.
Cover the bowls with plastic wrap. Put them in a steamer over gently boiling water. Steam for 13 m or until the custard is set.
Remove the wrap. Let cool the custard slightly.
Arrange shrimps, scallions and radishes on top and serve.
To serve cold, steam the custard, wrap and refrigerate for 1 day. Add shrimps, radish and scallions just before serving.

This is a modern fusion recipe, inspired on the traditional Japanese chawan mushi.

Risotto with mushrooms, shrimps & saffron

For ➍
250 g mushrooms
300 g carnaroli rice
1 onion
1.3 liters vegetable stock
40 cl white wine
2 tbs butter
250 g North Sea shrimps
1 ts saffron threads
lemon juice

Fry the chopped onion in tbs of butter, add the risotto rice and stir carefully.
Add wine and let cook briefly.
Add the vegetable stock and saffron and cook about 17 minutes over medium fire.
Cut the mushrooms. Cook them in 1 tbs of butter and a hefty drop of lemon juice.
When the rice is al dente, add the mushrooms and shrimps.
Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Read tip for a quick risotto.

Great green goddess salad

For ➍
1 clove garlic
1 small anchovy*
½ handful lightly packed fresh parsley
2 medium scallions, white & green parts separated
½ ts dried tarragon
6 cl plain Greek yogurt
2 tbs mayonnaise
1 tbs white wine vinegar
½ ts salt
2 tbs olive oil
125 g baby spinach, washed & dried
1 medium cucumber, peeled & sliced
1 medium avocado, sliced

In the food processor, combine the garlic, anchovy (if using), parsley and the white parts of the scallions. Process to mince very finely. Scrape down and process again. Add the tarragon, yogurt, mayonnaise, vinegar and salt and process until smooth. With the machine running, drizzle in the olive oil until well mixed. Transfer to a pouring cup or jar; keeps for 4 days, tightly covered, in the refrigerator.
Spread the spinach on a platter or 4 small dinner plates. Cover with cucumber and avocado, and drizzle with dressing, then chop and sprinkle the scallion greens over the salads. Serve immediately. Top with cooked chicken or ham for a main course salad, or serve alongside grilled shrimp.

*The classic green goddess dressing has a hint of anchovy for umami, but if you want to leave it out, you can. Double the amounts in the dressing ingredients to make extra for salads throughout the week.

Zucchini pasta with lemon garlic shrimp

For ➍
4 medium zucchini
30-40 raw shrimp, peeled & deveined
1 tbs olive oil
1 tbs garlic, minced
1 lemon, juice and zest
10 cl white wine
2 tbs parsley, chopped
salt & pepper

Wash and cut the ends off each zucchini. Using a spiral slicer, make zucchini noodles. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in one flat layer and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for 1-2 m without stirring. You want the side to get a little crispy.
Add the garlic, then stir the shrimp for another minute, trying to get them all cooked on the other side. Once the shrimp are cooked, use a large spoon to remove them the from the pan. Set aside on a plate.
Add the lemon juice, lemon zest and white wine to the pan. Bring to a boil for 2-3 m while stirring.
Add the zucchini noodles and parsley to the pan. Stir for 30 s to heat and combine. Add the shrimp and stir for another m. You do not want to "cook" the noodles, just heat. They'll become limp and mushy very quickly.
Serve immediately.

Cajun shrimp & guacamole

For ➍
4 tbs butter
1 tbs Cajun seasoning*
500 g medium (or extra-large) shrimp, peeled & deveined
3 avocados
½ cup chopped red bell pepper
½ cup thinly sliced scallions
¼ cup chopped yellow onion
zest of 1 lemon
1 tbs (or more to your liking) fresh lemon juice
coarse salt & freshly ground pepper

Melt half the butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high. Add ½ tbs of the Cajun seasoning to the butter. Stir it all in. Let it bloom and fall in love. Add half the shrimp and sear on one side for 2 m. Flip and sear another m or so. Season with salt and pepper. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.
Add the remaining butter and Cajun seasoning. Bloom for a second, then add the remaining shrimp. Set shrimp aside.
Half each avocado and remove the pit. Scoop out the flesh into a big bowl. Add the red bell peppers, scallion, onions, lemon zest and juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mash it all together with your fork, until it’s smooth, but still good and chunky.
Taste it. Add salt and pepper and more lemon juice to your liking.

Quick prawn curry

For ➋
250 g large prawns
20 g butter
4 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 ts curry
2 witloof endives, sliced
2 tbs of chives

Wash and dry the prawns.
Heat the butter and garlic. Add the curry.
Add the prawns. Bake 2-3 m on each side.
Add the sliced endives. Cook for 1 m longer. Add a dash of whiskey, bourbon or pernod, if wanted, or lemon juice.
Sprinkle with chives. Serve with garlic bread.

Som tam (Thai green papaya salad)

For ➍
200 g green (unripe) papaya, peeled & grated into thin strips
2 cloves of garlic
2 to 5 small chili peppers
2 Thai eggplant into slices
2 tbs dried shrimp
3 tbs fish sauce
2 tbs lime juice
1 tsp palm sugar
4 cherry tomatoes, halved
3 tbs peanuts, unsalted, roasted

Mash the garlic, chillies and long beans and Thai eggplant in a mortar. Add the grated papaya, and stamp it with the other ingredients.
Add the dried shrimp, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar and stir well to the sugar has melted.
Add tomato and stir again to. Add the roasted peanuts.

Salsa fresca

For ➍
2 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 small white onion, diced small
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbs fresh lime juice
coarse salt and ground pepper
50 g (½ cup) loosely packed fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped

In a medium bowl, stir together tomatoes, white onion, jalapeno, garlic, and fresh lime juice. Season with coarse salt and ground pepper and stir to combine. Let sit at least 15 ms (or, covered, up to 4 h). Stir in corinder leaves just before serving.
Serve with tortilla chips or as a condiment for grilled steak or shrimp.

Try the similar pico de gallo. Or the http://foodz.blogspot.be/2015/05/grilled-fish-with-green-mango-pico-de.html.
Alternate.

Trapani couscous

For ➍
300 g couscous
1½ tablet fish broth
500 g prawns raw & unpeeled (thawed)
190 g toasted almonds
15 g coriander
20 g flat leaf parsley
10 cl extra virgin olive oil
250 g cherry tomatoes on the branch
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 onions, cut into half rings

Put the couscous in a large bowl. Dissolve 1 broth tablet in 35 cl of boiling water. Pour over the couscous and stir. Leave covered for 10 m. Stand.
Meanwhile peel the prawns, saving the tails. With a sharp knife remove the gut.
Put the almonds, coriander, parsley and oil in a high cup and puree with a hand blender until pesto.
Stir in the couscous with a fork. Keep 2 tbs almond pesto apart and mix the rest with the couscous. Season with pepper and a little salt. Place the tomatoes on the stem on top*.
Heat 1 tbs pesto in a frying pan and fry the garlic for 1 m. Add the onion and cook for 4 m. Add 25 cl of boiling water and ½ tablet of stock. Bring to the boil and simmer 2 minutes. Simmer.
Add the shrimp to the sauce and simmer for 5 m or until done.
Put the sauce in a bowl and toss the rest of the pesto through. Serve with couscous.

*Or add to the pesto.

The Sicilian town of Trapani was founded bij Greek colonists, conquered by Phoenicians, Carthago and Rome. Under Muslim rule, it became an important port for the sale of salt. It is still very close to Africa and continues the culinary traditions. The pesto is adapted from Genuese sailors, coming to Sicily, using local products as tomatoes and almonds.

Baked tiger prawns & green tagliatelle

For ➍
20 tiger prawns
soft spices (paprika & curry)
olive oil
salt & pepper
200 g green tagliatelle
1 dl cream
2 glasses of white wine
1 shallot
2 cloves garlic
fresh parsley

Cut the shallots into brunoise. Add the wine. Boil and reduce to ¼.
Add the cream. Reduce until you got a thick sauce, thicken with a few cubes of cold butter, season to taste with salt and pepper.
Cook the tagliatelle in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and finish with some olive oil.
Bake the tiger shrimp in a pan with olive oil and crushed garlic. Season with salt, pepper and sweet spices. When they are cooked, garnish with chopped parsley.
Serve the tagliatelle with tiger prawns and sauce.

Pad hed eryngii kap koong (eryngii with prawns @ wok)

For ➍
450 g fresh prawns
150 g eryngii mushrooms*
75 g scallions, cut in 5 cm pieces
2 tbs vegetable oil
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tbs light soy sauce
1 tbs oyster sauce
pitch of pepper

Clean eryngii mushroom or wipe the mushrooms with wet clean cloth if there is not much dirt and cut into site bite.
Clean and remove the prawns shell but leave the tails for good appearance.
Then cut open the back of each shrimp to remove the veins.
Heat oil in wok over high heat. Wait until the oil is smoky, and then add minced garlic and prawns for fry until turn to pink.
Add mushroom, oyster sauce, soy sauce and water and all ingredients in the wok.
Stir quickly for 2-3 m, then turn down the heat.
Transfer to a serving place. Sprinkle with spring onion and pepper.
Serve immediately with hot steamed rice.

*Use oyster mushrooms instead.

Yokohama doria (Japanese shrimp & rice gratin)

For ➋
½ tbs butter
½ small onion, thinly sliced
4 white mushrooms, thinly sliced
8 - 10 medium shrimp, peeled & deveined
300 g steamed rice*
½ tbs butter
sauce**:
2 tbs butter
2 tbs flour
20 cl milk
½ ts salt
½ ts consomme powder
topping:
2 tbs grated Parmigiano cheese (optional)

Melt 2 tbs of butter in a sauce pan on low heat. Put 2 tbs of flour in the butter. Cook it, stirring well. When it bubbles, pour in milk. Constantly stir the sauce, using a whisk. Season with salt and consomme powder. Cook it until thickened. Set aside.
Melt ½ tbs of butter in a skillet. Saute onion on low heat until softened. Add mushrooms and shrimp and stir-fry until cooked. Pour in white sauce and mix with the ingredients. Preheat oven to 220°C. Warm up rice in the microwave if it's cold.
Melt ½ tbs of butter in the rice and stir lightly. Place the rice in baking dishes. Pour shrimp in cream sauce over the rice. Sprinkle Parmigiano cheese over the sauce. Bake in the oven for 10 -15 m until lightly browned.
Serve.

*Read the tip on steamed rice.
**Read the tip on a quick white sauce.

Doria was created by a Swiss chef in 1927 at the Yokohama New Grand Hotel, catering to Europeans. It was a variant of a Parisian Italian style dish. In Japanese doria, cooked rice is topped with sauteed ingredients, such as chicken or seafood in white sauce.
Postcard of blooming cherry trees in 1912 at Yokohama harbour.