#whatsinmygarden today? Homegrown Cucamelons Melothria scabra, also known as Mouse Melon, Mexican Sour Gherkin or the delightful Cucamelon, a portmanteau of Cucumber and Watermelon. The size of grapes and olives, cucamelons are native to Mexico and Central America, where they’re called sandita and have been grown as food crop for centuries. They taste like thick skinned cucumbers with a distinctive lime presence. Perfect on their own or tossed with some olives and peppers and a liberal dose of olive oil and seasoning. And do you know what I reckon? Perfect in cocktails too! I also pickle them when I have loads to spare. Sow in April and within 2-3 months you should be getting plenty of fruit. The leaves resemble that of ivy and the vines need plenty of support as they are rampant climbers. Have a great rest of the week! #fresh #homegrown #bournemouth #linsfood #mexican #mexicanfood #biochar #urbanfarmer #gardening #plants #growyourown #linsfoodculture #gardeninspiration #mygarden #growyourownfood #greenthumb #vegetablegarden #organicgardening #foodculture #myenglishgarden

Really want to know? This is Ethiopian Passionfruit Berry Pepper, Ruta Chalepensis. A member of the citrus family, the passionfruit berry plant is a small bush, not growing taller, nor wider, than a metre (just over 3 feet). It’s a very pretty looking plant though, with bright clusters of flowers on each stem. The passionfruit berry flowers are bright yellow, with 4 fringed petals on each flower. In Ethiopia, the whole plant is consumed, from the stems to the petals to the fruit. These berries are an essential part of #berbere, that fiery #ethiopian spice mix used in so many recipes. Find out more here: https://www.linsfood.com/ethiopian-passionfruit-berry-pepper/ Have a fab week ahead! 😘 #ingredients #spices #culinaryeducation #f52grams #instayum #ukblogger #eeeeeats #buzzfeed #foodphotography #yum #foodphotos #worldfood #eattheworld #foodiesplus #foodgawker #linsfood #ethiopianfood #linsfood

Happy Friday, y'all! Fancy some #koshari? Egypt's national dish, this iconic #streetfood is a rustic, no frills, comforting #carbfest of epic proportions! Rice Pasta Noodles Lentils Chickpeas >> topped with fried onions >> served with a tangy tomato sauce (da'ah) and spine tingling cumin-vinegar sauce (kamouneyah)! Enjoy your weekend! #egyptian #rice #pasta ##kushari #comfortfood #instareel #linsfood #weekend #tgif #weekendvibes #bournemouth

#whatsinmygarden today?🤔 Shiso, shiso everywhere! Shiso leaves are from the shiso plant, a perennial herb that is also known as perilla (perilla frustescens) and belongs to the mint family. The leaves come in two colours, green as you see here, as well as red/purple. It's a herb that is widely used in Japan, Korea and parts of South East Asia, in salads, with noodles, as dishes for small amount of sauces and as wraps. They also make great kimchi. . ❓What do shiso leaves taste like? This is a tough one. There are so many aromas and flavours at play, it's difficult to pin it down to one. Or two. Shiso leaves are sharp, pungent, with hints of mint, anise, citrus and spice. Not a shy herb at all. . 🤔How to use shiso? My favourite way with them is in salads, sliced thinly. But I also make sushi with them, and make food parcels. Have you tried them? #herb #linsfood #foodstyling #foodphotography #daun #gardeninspiration #homegrown #inmygarden #urbanfarmer #mygarden #myenglishgarden #gardeninguk #eatwhatyougrow #shiso #perilla #koreanfood #japanesefood #bournemouth

Chilli Chuka RECIPE👇 (Literally translated: Vinegar Chilli Paste) This is a raw, garlicky, gingery and tart chilli condiment that's eaten as a dip and like a sambal. It's especially perfect with soupy noodles and most definitely, with #Singaporean and #Malaysian Chicken Rice, Hainanese or Malay. You can control the level of heat by the type of chillies you use. Many families will also make this without the ginger, and soy sauce instead of salt for a darker look and deeper flavour. Ingredients 10 red chillies 3-5 chilli padi (birds eye) 5 medium cloves garlic 5cm (2") ginger 1-2 tsp white sugar 1/4 tsp salt 4 Tbsp clear vinegar or rice vinegar Place everything in a food chopper/blender and blend to a smooth paste. Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly. It will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks. Keep it spicy! 😘 #spicy #hotstuff #chillies #sedap #chiles #chile #chilis #linsfood #instareels #yummy #eattheworld #hot #malaysian food chilipepper #homemade #fromscratch #frommygarden #foodiegift #nyonyarecipes #eurasianrecipes #singaporean #linsfood #bournemouth #shiok #pedas

Happy Friday, #teammango! I've got a good one for our #tgifdrink today. 👉Homemade Mango Liqueur So, so easy, this is how you do it👇 . Get 5 very ripe mangoes, 200g (1 cup) white sugar 1 litre (4 cups) vodka (about 37.5% abv/75 proof) 1. Peel and roughly chop the mangoes. 2. Mix everything in a large, sterilised jar, including any mango juice. Leave to steep for a minimum 4 weeks. OPTIONAL: Drop a couple of chipotles for a smoky flavour, if you like. Or anchos for hints of raisin. 3. At the end of 4 weeks, taste, and stir in more sugar if you want it sweeter. 4. Strain into bottles and enjoy! Makes a great #foodiegift. *** because we're not adding any water, your final drink has a pretty high abv. Above 30%, that means you can freeze it and serve it ice cold on a hot #summer day. Read more: https://www.linsfood.com/homemade-mango-liqueur-aka-mango-vodka/ Enjoy your weekend!😘 #vodka #vodka🍸 #vodkadrinks #vodkagram #vodkalover #vodkalovers #cocktails #cheers #happyhour #instadrink #homebartender #mixology #thangoditsfriday #cocktail #tgif #linsfood #booze #liqpic #mango #bournemouth #summervibes

Wasabi plants from @wasabigrowersuk Cleared out a nice little shady patch in the garden just for these babies! Looking forward to using the leaves and flowers in the kitchen without having to buy them! Hope your #humpday is as happy as mine! 😘 #wasabi #inmygarden #urbangardener #gardening #organicgardening #myenglishgarden #biochar #growyourownfood #growyourown #linsfood

Happy Monday, y'all! RECIPE BELOW Because I love my Ceviche ... 👉Ceviche with Peruvian Black Mint (Huacatay) This seabass ceviche with Peruvian black mint is an effortless yet exquisite plate of vibrant, tangy, minty and herby deliciousness. The Peruvian black mint, known locally as Huacatay, is a herb with minty, aniseed and citrusy aromas, and very popular not just in Peru but many parts of South America. You can read more on my blog, link below. But as promised: INGREDIENTS 1 large red onion 1 – 2 green chillies to taste 1 large handful Peruvian Black Mint 8 small cherry type tomatoes 5 limes, juice extracted 1 pinch of salt dash of freshly ground black pepper 500 g seabass Garnish 1 avocado sliced some finely chopped Peruvian black mint Instructions Making the leche de tigre: 1. Get a large bowl for everything. Halve, then thinly slice the onion. Place in the bowl. 2. Finely chop the green chillies, and add them to the bowl. 3. Finely chop the Peruvian black mint leaves and thin stalks. Use the thicker stalks. Add to the bowl. 4. Chop the tomatoes into tiny pieces and add to the bowl, including any juices. 5. Squeeze the lime juice onto all the chopped ingredients in the bowl. 6. Add a pinch of salt and a dash of freshly ground black pepper and stir everything up to mix. Now, we do the fish. 1. Remove any dark meat on the underside of the fish, we want white meat for the cleanest taste. Then cut up the fish into little cubes, about 1cm (under half an inch) all across. 2. Add the fish to the marinade and mix well (with a gentle touch) with 2 spoons, lifting up the ingredients, being careful not to squash the fish and tomatoes. 3. Taste, and add more salt if necessary. Divide onto 4 plates, bowls or glasses, with the sliced avocado alongside, and an extra sprinkle of Huacatay and black pepper. To be enjoyed immediately. Full blog post: https://www.linsfood.com/ceviche-with-peruvian-black-mint-huacatay/ #peruvian #peruvianfood #peruviancuisine #eattheworld #ceviche #peruvianmint #huacatay #freshfood #raw #rawfish #linsfood #homemade #food #foodphotography #foodstyling #onmyplate #bournemouth #bournemouthblogger

Happy Friday, y'all! How about Homemade Rhubarb Gin for our #tgifdrink today? So easy to make and such a pleasure to enjoy. A single sip is a complex hit of sour and sweet from the rhubarb, floating on a herby base with whispers of juniper, lemon and geranium. And sometimes, freshly cut grass. RECIPE: 800 g (1¾) lb rhubarb stalks 1 litre (4 cups) good quality gin 300 g (10.5 oz) white sugar 200 g (7 oz) fresh ginger (optional) Mix it all up in a large jar, channel some Axl Rose and let it sit for 4 weeks (🎵all you need is a little patience...) Strain and enjoy! On the blog, I also give you a quicker version (5 days), with roasted rhubarb: https://www.linsfood.com/how-to-make-rhubarb-gin/ Enjoy your weekend, kids and I are trying our best to ignore and sit out the jubilee weekend!🙄 My brother in law had the right idea - they went away! Thank goodness for the #frenchopen and #nadal! #homebartender #cheers #happyhour #drinkporn #drinks #drinkup #mixology #classy #drinkstagram #liqpic #linsfood #tgif #valentinesday #drinkphotography #thankgoditsfriday #ginlover #gin #ginoclock

Got lots of eggplants to use up from the garden? I've got you covered! 👉This is Monk’s Salad aka Saltat al Rahib, in Arabic. It's a rustic salad of charred smoky aubergines (eggplants), with a few fresh ingredients like tomatoes, capsicums (peppers) and herbs, all tossed in a tangy, garlicky dressing. Who’s the monk, you might ask. Well that answer, my friend, will forever be shrouded in mystery. It makes a wonderful addition to the mezze table or part of a tapa spread. And is perfect for when you’re having a barbecue party. Which I reckon lots of folks will be doing this #jubilee weekend here in the UK, which kicks off tomorrow. Recipe here: https://bestmiddleeasternrecipes.com/monks-salad/ #plantbased #vegan #healthyfood #healthyrecipes #healthy #foodphotography #ukfoodblogger #thehub_food #linsfood #foodstyling #vegetarian #mezze #frommygarden #homegrown #lebanesefood #levantinefood #salad

Happy Monday, y'all! Recipe below, this is 👉Homemade Tajín (Mexican Chilli-Lime Seasoning) Tajín is practically a national institution in Mexico! It’s salty, so, so tangy, a touch sweet, with just a hint of spicy. Sprinkle some in your palm, lick it, and I dare you not to shiver at its intensity! It’s amazing! If you can't get it where you are, next best thing, make it yourself, after you hunt down those ingredients! I'm giving you the super easy mix-it-all-up version here. YOU'LL FIND THE RECIPE THAT STARTS WITH WHOLE DRIED MEXICAN CHILLIES on the blog. Ingredients ✅ 2 Tbsp mild chilli powder (guajillo + mulato is great) ✅ 1 Tbsp fine sea salt ✅ 2 tsp dehydrated lime juice powder (find it online) ✅ 2 tsp citric acid (get it on Amazon) Mix it all up, taste and adjust seasoning. Use it on corn, with fruit, on salad, cocktail rims, as a marinade. I even add it to my smoothies. Full blog post👇 https://www.linsfood.com/homemade-tajin-recipe/ #tajin #tajín #mexican #mexicanfood #chillies #chilis #chiles #eattheworld #chilipepper #homemade #foodiegift #bournemouth #bournemouthblogger #food #foodphotography #linsfood

What's growing in your garden/balcony? I saw this little guy in @tescofood yesterday, and couldn't resist buying it! I remember having a few pineapple plants in our garden in #kualalumpur when I was little. Very little, before we moved back to #singapore. I loved digging up the peanuts best though! Going to plant it next to the musa (banana). As soon as it stays warm for more than a day! Not that I'm a fan of anything over 20 Celsius! Enjoy your weekend!😘 #inmygarden #myenglishgarden #gardening #gardeninspiration #urbangarden #organicgardening #growyourownfood #homegrown #biochar #nodiggarden #linsfood #tropical #bournemouth #urbangardener