The Weekend Australian Recipes

I have a recipe column in The Weekend Australian alongside my friends, chef Lennox Hastie and photographer, Nikki To. Our featured recipes alternate every week, with Lennox showcasing his culinary expertise while I bring the perspective of a passionate home cook. Nikki works her magic, capturing our recipes each week. Read more about Lennox and I. You can find these recipes in the paper or subscribe to The Australian.
Instant chocolate creams

Instant chocolate creams

These billowy creams look beautiful in little glasses, but don’t let your eyes get the better of you. These are rich – a little goes a long way.
Pomegranate drizzle cake

Pomegranate drizzle cake

This is more than a cake, it’s an attitude This summer is undoubtedly the season of pink. While I do not follow trends in cooking, I couldn’t help but give one...
Cheese stuffed meatballs

Cheese stuffed meatballs

Try this big pot of meatballs that will make you happy This is simple yet satisfying – a testament to the beauty of unpretentious cooking.
My chicken Saltimbocca

My chicken Saltimbocca

An Italian chicken dish your nonna would love I realised I had unwittingly recreated a classic: chicken saltimbocca. 
Vongole and guanciale fregola

Vongole and guanciale fregola

Embrace the onset of summer with this Italian-inspired easy, breezy vongole dish . If you close your eyes you could easily be at the seaside.
Potato and rosemary tart

Potato and rosemary tart

This potato tart is ­perfect on its own, but a sprinkle of chilli flakes and a drizzle of honey can be glorious additions.
Roasted tomato sauce with crunchy Italian topping

Roasted tomato sauce with crunchy Italian topping

Fresh pasta and this jammy roast tomato sauce is the perfect combo Tossing pasta through this sauce is a celeb­ration of simplicity, but these roast tomatoes are also perfect served...
Humble country chicken pie

Humble country chicken pie

This is one of those humble, country-style pies that is equivalent to a big hug. Think loaded gravy, juicy chicken and crisp puff pastry.
Pantry bean stew

Pantry bean stew

A lifesaving recipe to have in your back pocket for cold nights after busy days.
Roast pumpkin pasta bake with burnt butter and sage

Roast pumpkin pasta bake with burnt butter and sage

Topped with mozzarella and drizzled with burnt butter, sage and capers, this dish promises to give you all the feels this autumn.
Lamb and barley stew

Lamb and barley stew

The ‘unfashionable’ stew made for winter eating A lamb and barley stew might not be trendy, but I’m here to remind you of its enduring appeal.
Frutti di mare pasta, your way

Frutti di mare pasta, your way

Steer clear of the supermarket marinara mix for this dish. Choose your own and the world is your oyster.
Cherry, vanilla and clove Eton Mess

Cherry, vanilla and clove Eton Mess

Your guide to an easy breezy Christmas lunch Lennox Hastie and Elizabeth Hewson combine their skills for a very Australian Christmas feast.
Pork cotoletta with burnt butter, capers & sage

Pork cotoletta with burnt butter, capers & sage

This is not your standard pork chop As with all delicious things, you’ll find versions of crumbed meat in almost every corner of the world. Cotoletta, an Italian dish, will...
This is not a pasta salad

This is not a pasta salad

Pasta salads have a bad name and I have a lot of prejudice against them. But this one has a lot going for it.
Chocolate and hazelnut ice cream cake

Chocolate and hazelnut ice cream cake

Roll this out for a party, or simply stow it away in the freezer for a slice whenever the craving strikes.
My crudo

My crudo

A crudo doesn’t feel so much like a recipe, but rather a coming together of beautiful, fresh ingredients. This is what cooking in February looks like to me.
Cabbage, fennel and apple slaw

Cabbage, fennel and apple slaw

Apple and fennel are a match made in pork heaven and this salad cuts through the fattiness.
One tray chicken, potato, olive, tomato tray bake

One tray chicken, potato, olive, tomato tray bake

This simple chicken dish will become a household staple Add this recipe to your repertoire and enjoy as a midweek meal or a ­spectacular centrepiece at your next dinner party....
My effortless olive oil cake

My effortless olive oil cake

This simple and delicious olive oil cake embodies our new culinary contributor’s approach to cooking. It’s an instant classic.
Cheese and garlic scrolls

Cheese and garlic scrolls

There’s no secret to the knead, it requires no special skills, except patience.
Brown sugar and pumpkin cake

Brown sugar and pumpkin cake

The addition of spice enhances that warm, earthy sweetness from the pumpkin, and the brown sugar adds a lovely caramel richness.
Ricotta and spinach hotcakes

Ricotta and spinach hotcakes

While nothing quite compares to Bill’s sweet ricotta pancakes, here is a ­savoury interpretation, inspired by their fluffy perfection.
Garlicky chilli greens & potato

Garlicky chilli greens & potato

Served with some crusty bread to soak up the fragrant juices, this is a meal that can solve all problems.
One tray tomato, bean and fish bake

One tray tomato, bean and fish bake

Sweet, juicy, end-of-season tomatoes are roasted with capers and vinegar, their juices are soaked up by plump butter beans and firm white fish fillets. It’s a simple, elegant, one-tray recipe.
Zucchini ribbon salad

Zucchini ribbon salad

The walnuts are there for texture, and I can’t go past the salty, savoury hit of Parmigiano Reggiano, although a feta or goat’s cheese can be equally as pleasing.
Banana, caramel & coconut self-saucing pudding

Banana, caramel & coconut self-saucing pudding

It’s the sort of pudding that needs to be scooped into a bowl – and the sort of pudding where ­seconds are essential
Chicken cacciatore

Chicken cacciatore

This recipe is based on chicken cacciatore, an Italian dish from the Renaissance period that ­translates as ‘hunter’s stew’. Enjoy it with peppery rocket and creamy polenta.
A fine apple tart

A fine apple tart

Caramelised apples and puff pastry: this tart’s a keeper This tart is incredibly versatile; it can be an elegant dessert, a brunch or served for afternoon tea.
Braised sticky pork with ginger and star anise

Braised sticky pork with ginger and star anise

  Sweet and sticky pork dish packed with flavour. It’s not particularly glamorous eating, but is sure to deliver high satisfaction at the dinner table.
Tomato and olive risoni bake

Tomato and olive risoni bake

A bubbling, bronzed, cheesy pasta bake needs no introduction. It’s a bestseller in our house. The addition of olives and their brine gives a further dimension to the dish. I...
Brothy pea and ham pasta

Brothy pea and ham pasta

This one-pan dish sits between a warming bowl of soup and a comforting bowl of pasta. I love frozen peas, especially in the depths of winter. Their very existence makes...
Sausage and broccoli pasta

Sausage and broccoli pasta

Broccoli and sausages are a match made in heaven. The milk in this dish ties it together, resulting in a creamy pasta that won’t leave you needing a lie down...
Butter and anchovy pasta

Butter and anchovy pasta

This would have to be the pasta dish I cook most often for myself. It’s quick to prepare, comes together with a few ingredients that I always have on hand,...
Hot brown sugar rice pudding with rhubarb

Hot brown sugar rice pudding with rhubarb

Taking cues from the French riz au lait, this warming rice pudding is so rich and creamy you’ll want it morning and night.
Umami-rich chicken noodle soup

Umami-rich chicken noodle soup

A chicken noodle soup recipe is as classic as they come. The results of slow-cooking a whole chicken can’t be beaten, but when time is short using breast meat hits the spot....
Broccoli and white bean soup

Broccoli and white bean soup

There is nothing quite like the homely comfort of a bowl of soup. This one is best enjoyed while you’re rlaxing at home, savouring each slurp.
Pork and fennel ragu

Pork and fennel ragu

Few sights lift the spirits like a pot of slowly cooked ragu, especially the way it blips away on the stove, filling the house with an aroma to make your...
Roast vegetable ragù

Roast vegetable ragù

Few sights lift the spirits like a pot of slowly cooked ragu, especially the way it blips away on the stove, filling the house with an aroma to make your...
Peaches and cream tart

Peaches and cream tart

ew things beat the pleasures of ripe peaches. This tart makes the most of the summer harvest.
Our Christmas menu

Our Christmas menu

Lennox Hastie and Elizabeth Hewson combine their skills for a very Australian Christmas feast featuring a moreish potato salad and a showstopping take on the classic turkey.
Parsley & red pepper turkey breast roll

Parsley & red pepper turkey breast roll

A dish I always prep on Christmas Eve is a rolled turkey breast – a task that usually comes without any drama. Spending time on it the day before means it’s...
Sticky lemon and pepper wings with rainbow slaw

Sticky lemon and pepper wings with rainbow slaw

These chicken wings are finger lickin’ good Chicken wings are hands down my favourite part of the bird. They require no utensils and should be strictly eaten with your fingers....
Sticky lemon and pepper chicken wings

Sticky lemon and pepper chicken wings

These chicken wings are finger lickin’ good Chicken wings require no utensils and should be strictly eaten with your fingers. This is unpretentious dining at its best.
White peach granita

White peach granita

While perfect in its liquid form, transforming it into a granita elevates it to a dessert-like experience.
My wholemeal carrot cake

My wholemeal carrot cake

In my books a good carrot cake should be moist, spiced and topped with a thick layer of rich, tangy cream cheese icing.
Sgroppino cocktail

Sgroppino cocktail

This delicious cocktail with lemon sorbet, vodka and prosecco could easily take the place of dessert.
Pomegranate slow cooked lamb shoulder

Pomegranate slow cooked lamb shoulder

Lamb shoulder deserves a place on our summer entertaining menu. It’s a flavoursome economical cut of meat that needs little hands-on cooking.
Herb crumbed trout

Herb crumbed trout

This trout recipe will take you from midweek dinners to weekend entertaining.
Broadbean and mascarpone pasta

Broadbean and mascarpone pasta

This is a recipe that has a freshness and lightness to it – a spring in its step, one could say.
Winter lentils with sausages and watercress pesto

Winter lentils with sausages and watercress pesto

This dish of lentils and sausages brings me an immense amount of comfort, especially served alongside a glass of red wine.
Bicerin

Bicerin

The Bicerin is a hot, heavenly drink that hails from one of Italy’s most underrated cities. Layered with espresso, chocolate and cream, it makes a lovely end to a meal.
Spiced red lentil dahl

Spiced red lentil dahl

Be immediately cheered by this dahl’s sunny disposition, vibrant aromas and bright flavours.
Prosciutto and bitter greens flat pie

Prosciutto and bitter greens flat pie

This flat pie is an excellent savoury accompaniment for your morning break. It takes inspiration from Mattonella Palermitana, a rustic puff pastry pie from Sicily.
Lemon and artichoke potato gratin

Lemon and artichoke potato gratin

The addition of lemon, capers and artichoke takes this gratin to summery new heights.
Coconut lemon naked tart

Coconut lemon naked tart

This recipe is ridiculously easy, reliable, and quick to prepare. You literally pour all the ingredients together to make this naked citrus and coconut tart.
Peanut and lime chicken

Peanut and lime chicken

Satay-inspired chicken and lime with zesty twist
Butterfly chook and butter beans

Butterfly chook and butter beans

This succulent chicken recipe is all about creating a sense of home and bringing comfort.
Green broccoli pasta

Green broccoli pasta

This dish is simple but flavour packed, featuring everyday ingredients for a light and healthy mid-week meal.
Lemon lime tart

Lemon lime tart

This lip-puckering tart is sunshine on a plate
Chocolate and hazelnut loaf cake

Chocolate and hazelnut loaf cake

This cake uses a very approachable pantry ingredient, but one simple step transforms it into the ultimate chocolatey addition.
Simple vinaigrette

Simple vinaigrette

Putting a little thought into something as simple as a side salad allows it to come alive. This vinaigrette will do just that.
No churn mango ice cream

No churn mango ice cream

Few things beat the taste of this sweet mango ice-cream on a sweltering summer’s day.