Page 229 - COMING UNSTUCK by Sara tuck

We all need a bit of help now and again, with roast rhubarb (see p32) or fresh fruit,
and in this case it’s just a matter of getting a drizzle of honey and a good sprinkling of
a bit organised so you can help yourself. The sweet dukkah, while the savoury version was
recipes on the following pages are perfect to sprinkled on everything from pizza to rice.
have stored in the cupboard or fridge ready The hummus and labneh both work well
to whip out and transform the ordinary (such on antipasto platters, of course, but are also
as fried eggs) into the delicious! (They’re wonderful in salads and as spreads on rolls
also bloody good for taking away for long and sandwiches, while the sweet labneh is
weekends and holidays.) I firmly believe that a delicious alternative to mascarpone.
being organised can make life easier, and
these ‘little helpers’ do just that – simply spend Then of course there are the dessert sauces
a couple of hours doing a bit of therapeutic (see p241) – whether it’s sweet, salty caramel,
cooking and your fridge will be stocked for boozy rum ’n’ raisin or rich dark chocolate, in
the week ahead, when you’ll really reap the 30 seconds (time in the microwave) you have
rewards. For example, the caramelised onions turned vanilla bean ice cream into an event.
(see p228) are fabulous loaded into a quick
melty cheese toastie (see p70), plonked on I couldn’t ever do a book without including my
a frittata (see p72), stirred through rice (see two favourite cocktails. I actually feel so stupid
p77) or pasta, slathered on a pizza, or even even calling them cocktails given they are the
served with chicken liver pate on crostini. world’s simplest recipes – but dammit they’re
The pesto – don’t even get me started – think my favourites, so here they are. For spring and
pasta, soup, rice, pizza, sandwiches and wraps, summer, the mouth-puckeringly bitter negroni
with eggs (see p86) or chicken, in salads (see p244) and for the cooler months the
(see p159), or even, given a flavour twist, warming, gingery whisky mac (see p242). Both
with prawns (see p57). The smoky bourbon are full grunt, so proceed with caution.
barbecue sauce (see p246) is great to give meat
an extra kick during barbecue season, but Finally, it would be fair to say I’ve always been
also makes a tasty dipping sauce for little pork an independent person, previously hesitant
meatballs to serve as nibbles, and of course is to seem weak or show my frailties. Not quite
perfect with pulled pork (see p108). staunch, but definitely not on the needy side.
This year, I have learned just how important
I am a massive fan of Middle Eastern it is to expose my vulnerabilities and ask for
cooking, and the stellar combination of nibbly, help, and how willing people are to provide
crunchy texture with brilliant flavour intensity it. It has been a great lesson and I am hugely
means that I am never without a container of grateful. Don’t be shy – put your hand up now
dukkah – both sweet and savoury. I spent last and again, after all where would any of us be
summer living off natural Greek-style yoghurt without a little help from our friends?

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