Crazy Cucumber – Crazy Cucumber Blog

Strawberry and Tomato Panzanella Salad

What can be better than a large bowl of juicy salad for lunch on warm days! Warmer days finally came to New Zealand, we really enjoy our bountiful fresh produce. And I found out that strawberry and tomato can play nice together. Try this combo! Panzanella is a traditional Tuscan […]

Ajvar Shakshuka. A Quick and Easy Way.

Have you tried ajvar yet? It’s a widely available in many NZ supermarkets. Ajvar (pronounced “EYE-var) is a treasure of the Balkans, particularly the cuisines of Bosnia, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Romania. Ajvar is a versatile roasted red capsicum sauce or spread, sometimes made with eggplant adding. Ajvar has a […]

Juicy Bunless Mediterranean Chicken and Mushroom Burger. Keto, GF Recipe.

Put your burger to the next level. Make it juicy, light but gourmet. Such a great spring low carb meal. Sun-dried tomatoes, olives and capers add extra flavour and nutrition. The zingy green sauce Salsa verde will bring all the ingredients together and turn it to a delicious dish. To […]

Panna Cotta with Orange, Tonka and Chocolate Sauce

Recently I got Tonka beans (you can see it on the photo above, on the side of the panna cotta). These are ‘tonka beans’ – the aromatic seed of a giant tree from deep in the Amazon rainforest. Never tried it before, they have such a unique and complex flavour. […]

Hasselback Butternut Squash with Stracciatella Cheese, Crispy Sage and Sage Oil.

A simple and absolutely delicious dish! I like to make this dish for special occasions, it’s a festive looking, tastes divine and so easy to do. I’ve even prepared it for father’s day this year, my husband likes light and healthy meals and he really enjoyed this dish.Stracciatella cheese. If […]

The Power of Miso Soup. + Hearty winter Vegetable Miso Soup Vegan Recipe

When traveling in Japan I noticed how widely a fermented food presented in Japanese cuisine. I also noticed that people in Japan love to eat, they eat a lot (I’m not surprised, the food in Japan is amazing), but stay healthy and fit. So what is the secret? I guess, […]

Sauteed Cavolo Nero, Chorizo and Egg on Toast

Quick and easy meal that can be done in minutes. Cavolo Nero season is in full swing now. Cavolo Nero is a rich in fibre and good for health because it packed with nutrition in every bite. My neighbour Greg grows organic produce in his urban garden. I really impressed […]

Amazuzuke. Quick Vinegar Japanese-style Pickles

During the chilly part of the year I usually have a craving for pickled vegetables rather than a fresh salads. The sweet and sour pickles work great with winter fatty and hearty dishes. Additionally, lactic acid fermented vegetables are rich in probiotic and enzymes and helps to improve our digestion […]

Bitter Leaves, Orange and Parmesan Cheese Salad

I totally forgot to mention in my previous pasta recipes posts that pasta is the best served with a leafy salad. If pasta is fuel for you, salad is oil for your engine. Your Ferrari won’t drive without oil! This is one of the favorite salads in our family. Bitter […]

Bucatini with Anchovy, Parsley and Sourdough Bread Crispy Crumbs

Continuing my previous pasta posts. Three my fave pasta recipes that I never shared before: Butternut Squash, Caramelised Onion and Sage Gnocchi Sardi. and Orecchiette with Broccoli and Sausages. Recipe Number 3: Bucatini with anchovy, parsley and sourdough bread crispy crumbs For those who know that sourdough bread, anchovy, butter […]

Orecchiette with Broccoli and Sausages.

Continuing my previous posts with unique pasta recipes: Butternut Squash, Caramelised Onion and Sage Gnocchi Sardi. Bucatini with Anchovy, Parsley and Sourdough Bread Crispy Crumbs Another quick and easy pasta dish made from easy to find ingredients. For the best results I would recommend to invest in good quality finishing […]

Butternut Squash, Caramelised Onion and Sage Gnocchi Sardi. Vegetarian Recipe.

It’s time to share the three my fave pasta recipes that I never shared before: Orecchiette with Broccoli and Sausages. Butternut Squash, Caramelised Onion and Sage Gnocchi Sardi. Bucatini with Anchovy, Parsley and Sourdough Bread Crispy Crumbs They are little bit unusual and may differ from the pasta dishes from […]

Sunday baking: quick and easy coconut macaroons dipped in dark chocolate.

These coconut macaroons are moist, light, and chewy. Toasted coconut has a complex nutty flavour which is perfectly paired with dark chocolate coating.These coconut cookies can be done in 30 minutes, only a few ingredients required.

Super Green Avocado Toast with Green Chilli, Lime and Poached Egg

Love avocado toast? Take your avocado toast to the next level. Be sure your bread slices are chunky enough to hold all the delicious toppings. Creamy mashed avocado, sweet green peas, fresh herbaceous Mamia’s green chilli sauce topped with a perfectly poached egg. Delicious!

Chicken Sausage, Beluga Lentil and Capsicum Stew

Have you ever tried chicken sausages? I noticed that there are a lot of new brands of chicken sausages on market. We live in a very interesting time, when our food shops look like huge temples where you can be lost easily. This is great that we have a choice […]

Baked Ricotta Cheesecake with Piri Piri Plum Chutney

This twist on a classic cheesecake uses creamy ricotta cheese with a zesty hit of lemon, making a refreshingly sharp, but sweet end to any meal. Serve it with a dollop of Piri Piri plum chutney to add a fantastic fruity sweetness and a spicy chilli kick. Forget everything you […]

Lamb Curry

A comforting winter lamb curry which bursts into flavours of rich warming spices. The key to making a great curry are the freshest whole spices, as fresh as you can find. Layering is another secret of good curry, adding the spices a few times during the cooking you will get […]

Homemade Ponzu Sauce

Ponzu sauce is a soy sauce based Japanese dipping sauce made with adding of yuzu juice, a famous Japanese citrus that smells divine. Serve Ponzu as dipping sauce for gyoza dumplings, or sashimi. Use it as dressing for beef tataki or seared tuna or salad. When you will try this […]

Black Pepper Beef Stir Fry

This easy black pepper beef stir fry is incredibly flavourful and easy! Chinese beef in black pepper sauce is a real guilty pleasure and takes less time than to pick up your order from the nearest takeaway shop. Beef stir-fried in black pepper sauce is a typical Cantonese cuisine. Beautifully […]

Okonomiyaki

One time, our friend from Japan invited me and my family to his house and whipped up some Osaka-style okonomiyaki which is iconic Japanese street food. Okonomiyaki is a melting in your mouth savoury pancake, or giant vegetable bacon fritter, which is crispy outside and tender inside, and packed with […]