Cempedak Muffins

Cempedak Muffins

Often called the ugly cousin of the jackfruit, cempedak is a tropical superfruit native to Southeast Asia Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam 

Cempedak’s aromatic, custard-like flesh can be eaten fresh or cooked — it can be fried or its pulp creamed to make jams and cakes. Its hard seeds are also edible – boiled, roasted or deep fried like tempura.

Known for a wide range of health benefits, this fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals, and is known for its cancer-preventing and eye-nourishing properties. 

What you’ll need

  • 120g of unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup of castor sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1.5 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1.5 cups cempedak puree
  • Half cup milk

How to make it

  1. Preheat oven to 180 deg C/ 350 deg F.
  2. Sift flour, salt and baking powder together in a bowl.
  3. Beat sugar and butter till light and fluffy.
  4. Add in eggs, one at a time.
  5. Beat until light and fluffy.
  6. Fold in flour mixture and milk, alternating between both, until well combined.
  7. Mix in 1 cup of cempedak puree.
  8. Spoon batter into muffin cups then top with a teaspoon of cempedak puree and cover again with a bit of batter.
  9. Bake in the oven for 20 mins or longer until a skewer inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean.
  10. Cool on a wire rack and enjoy the aromatic taste!

Notes:

  • Cempedak puree can also be replaced with jackfruit
  • If using canned jackfruit, get the yellow (instead of green) jackfruit and reduce sugar in recipe.

Moroccan Lamb Tagine

Moroccan Lamb Tagine

Hearty and flavoursome, this Moroccan stew recipe combines the goodness of tender lamb, aromatic spices, sweet apricots and vegetables — gently simmered over two hours. Don’t fret if you don’t have a tagine/tajine – this dish can also be prepared in a dutch oven or casserole!

What you’ll need

  • 2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp ground tumeric
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp ground ginger
  • 1 kg lamb shoulder, cut into 2-inch chunks
  • 2 large onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 carrot, cut in chunks
  • 4 tbsps olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 600ml lamb, chicken or vegetable stock
  • 200g tinned chopped tomatoes with juice
  • 100g dried apricots, halved
  • 60g sliced almonds
  • 1 tsp saffron
  • 1 small bunch of coriander, roughly chopped
  • 1 small bunch of flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped

How to make it

  1. Place black pepper, paprika, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon into a small bowl and mix to combine.
  2. Place the lamb in a ziplock bag and toss together with the spice mix. Marinate overnight or at least 6 hours in the fridge.
  3. Heat olive oil. Add the sliced onions and carrots and cook over a gentle heat for 20 minutes so that the onions are soft but not coloured.
  4. Add lamb and lightly brown. Add garlic. saute together for 3 minutes.
  5. Add the chopped tomatoes, apricots, flaked almonds, saffron, and stock. Bring to the boil, cover with lid, and cook on low heat for 2 hours or until the meat is soft and tender.
  6. Sprinkle over chopped herbs and serve.

Notes:

  • If you don’t have a tagine, this dish can also be made in a casserole or dutch oven.
  • In addition to the above spices, you can try adding ground coriander, cayenne pepper, ground cardamom and cumin too.
  • In addition to apricots, you can also include other dried fruits such as raisins and prunes.
  • This dish goes lovely with the batbout – a moroccan pita bread, as well as a zesty Moroccan salad.

Sweet Potato Mousse Recipe

Murasaki Imo Taruto

Sweet Potato Mousse Recipe⁠

What you’ll need:⁠
200g sweet potato, skinned and cut into 1 inch rounds⁠
1 tbsp sugar⁠
10g unsalted butter ⁠
1 tsp vanilla essence⁠
1 tbsp maple syrup⁠

What to do:⁠
1) Soak the peeled and cut sweet potatoes in water for about 10 mins to eliminate any raw, bitter taste⁠
2) Rinse the sweet potato pieces and boil in water until tender⁠
3) Drain and mash (or puree) while it’s still hot⁠
4) Add the sugar, butter, cream, maple syrup and vanilla essence while it’s still hot⁠
5) Pass through a sieve⁠
4) Pipe onto shortbread⁠

Enjoy as a snack or dessert! ⁠

Notes: ⁠

  • Purple sweet potato is pictured here, but any variety of sweet potato will work. Go for the moister, sweeter varieties for a more aromatic product.⁠
  • Get the kids involved with the piping!