Side Dishes

Impress your guests with these delicious, filled and rolled Chinese appetizers.

Can be made two weeks ahead; keep refrigerated. Note

Light, fresh and creamy, this classic Greek tzatziki dip is beautiful enjoyed with vegetable sticks, crackers, bread and as part of a tasting plate when entertaining guests.

This is one retro recipe that never goes out of style, a cob loaf filled with spinach dip is always a huge party hit.

There's no better way to complete a roast dinner with all the trimmings than to serve up a delicious, traditional cauliflower cheese.

A classic Australian favourite whether it be paired with battered fish or enjoyed on it's own with tomato sauce, hot potato chips taste the best when created from scratch.

A tasty addition to a sandwich, burger or snacking plate, make a batch of your own pickled cucumbers and delight your friends and family.

The gherkins will lose their colour gradually during storage. This does not affect their taste or texture in any way. Note

Tying various herbs and spices in a piece of muslin, securing with kitchen string, makes them easier to remove when the chutney is ready to be spooned into jars. Note

We used black tea leaves, but you could also use a smoky tea such as lapsang souchong. It’s a good idea to do the smoking on the barbecue. Note

Keep an eye on the syrup towards the end of the cooking time; as it reduces, you need to reduce the temperature to maintain a gentle simmer. Use any leftover pomegranate seeds in salads or sprinkle over desserts. Note

Remaining garlic-infused oil can be used in salad dressings. Note

To remove excess liquid, drain the cheese mixture in a fine sieve lined with muslin for 40 minutes before adding to the kofta mixture. After deep-frying the kofta in batches, drain them well on layers of absorbent paper before adding them to the tomato tamarind sauce. Note

You can substitute 2 cups (400g) dried brown lentils, soaked overnight and boiled until just tender, for the canned lentils, if you prefer. Note

You can use any variety of fresh fig for this recipe. Omit the vanilla bean for a plain fig jam. Note

Granny Smith apples are best for this recipe. The jelly has a natural soft pink colour before the colouring is used; you can omit the colouring, if you prefer. Note

Why buy store-bought jam when you can make your own delicious mandarin jelly, perfect spread atop toast with a dollop of butter. This way, you know exactly what's going into it, and your family will love the homely touch.

These are just as good served at room temperature as they are served hot, and they make perfect finger-food for a cocktail party or for inclusion on a large selection of mezze dishes. Note

Don’t drain the spinach until it’s completely dry, the excess water steams and wilts the spinach during cooking, without having to add extra oil or butter. Note

Smoked eggplant and capsicum jam can be tossed through pasta, spread on pizza bases, or served as side dish to chicken, lamb or fish. Note

For best results use only the reddest parts of the rhubarb stems. Note

This is a quick version of making a soufflé as the base is not made on a flour-thickened cheese sauce. Note

You will need 2 large pomegranates (860g) for this recipe. Note

Instead of piping the cream cheese mixture onto the canapés, you can just use a teaspoon to drop small amounts on top of the mini toasts. Mini toasts are available from delis, groumet food shops and some supermarkets. Note

Using slightly under-ripe plums gives them a higher pectin level, which helps the paste to set. Note

The seafood can be prepared the night before, as can the dressing. Refrigerate seafood and dressing until you’re ready to start cooking. Note

You can peel the potatoes in advance and leave them in a bowl of cold water so they don’t go brown. Once they are sliced, assemble the dish immediately. Don’t stand the sliced potatoes in cold water or you will wash away their natural starch, which thickens the sauce. Note

This yummy potato dish works well as a side, a starter, finger food or a bring-a-plate contribution. It can also be adapted to a vegetarian-only option.