Amazon.co.uk Review
On the cover of Donna Hay's
The New Cook is a photograph of a stack of white plates and on the top is a bowl of wok- fried salted chilli crab--very chic. It sets the tone for what you'll find inside: modern food layered with contrasting flavours which is beautifully presented. In a word, it's very Australian. And it should be as Hay is the food editor of Australian
Marie Claire magazine. The book will provide inspiration for accomplished cooks and easy-to-follow recipes that begin with the basics for those who are less assured in the kitchen. The basics are pretty similar to Delia Smith's, with instructions on how to scramble and poach eggs. Hay moves on quickly to
Caramelised Onion Frittata and
Roast Pumpkin and Soft Quail Egg Salad. Similar examples follow with pasta and rice--after mastering a basic risotto, Hay offers several variations like
Miso and Shiitake Risotto and
Saffron Porcini Risotto Cakes. Noodles, vegetables, poultry and meat follow. You will learn how to make a delicious-looking
Grilled Chicken and Fig Salad as well as
Steamed Pork Buns.
The final three chapters describe the most wonderful desserts using fruit, butter and milk. The book is lavishly illustrated with top-class food photography. It's a work of art, but would be wasted on a coffee table. It's a perfect example of how Australian cooks have masterfully fused Mediterranean and Asian cuisine to create clean, crisp tastes that are astonishingly good.--Dale Kneen
Product Description
This practical cookbook starts with the basics of cooking, with ingredients such as fish, eggs and vegetables through to more complicated combinations. The book encapsulates all the styles and subtleness of contemporary international cooking in a straightforward manner. Donna Hay emphasizes how cooking flavoursome food at home does not need to be complicated and time consuming. The recipes have short lists of ingredients, and focus on cooking the meal in a few easy steps, plus the food is naturally low-calorie.