Crazy Cucumber – Crazy Cucumber Blog

Taste of Ethiopia: Sourdough Injera and Doro Wat

Eating Ethiopian food is an absolutely amazing experience, one that is best shared with friends and family. Tear off a piece of injera, scoop up some flavourful Doro Wat curry, and enjoy! Injera is a large spongy sour crepe, a staple of Ethiopian cuisine, it can be served with any dish […]

Soup of the Day: Broccoli and Blue Cheese Soup with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds.

Timeless classic and a great winter warmer. Creamy dreamy and healthy broccoli soup. Both broccoli and blue cheese are strong flavors, but they mellow out in the soup, so don’t be afraid of this recipe! Broccoli is so nice and lush in autumn-winter time here in NZ, it became one […]

Caramelized Shiitake Mushrooms on Rice. Vegan Recipe.

Nothing screams autumn louder than mushrooms. They available in supermarkets all year round, but most enjoyable in autumn time, seasonal foods always taste better. The shiitake mushroom is a symbol of longevity in Asia because of its health promoting properties, especially boost for the immune system. These meaty and flavorful […]

Eggplant Casserole (Eggplant Parmigiana)

One of my latest projects I’ve made for my clients from Canada. Absolutely amazing experience .Recipe, food photography and food styling https://www.lenoregush.com Tender eggplant slices are layered with mozzarella, Parmesan, basil, and tomato sauce, and baked until bubbly. Delicious!

Potato and Sauerkraut Salad. + Vegan mayonnaise recipe. Vegan, GF.

Kiwi classic salad with a twist. This simple but sensational sauerkraut potato salad with delicious homemade vegan mayo will really add a wow factor to your BBQ season. And with the sauerkraut, it becomes a fabulous fermented probiotic side dish that’s equal parts healthy and delicious.

Autumn sun. Pumpkin Polenta Ricotta Cake. Gluten-free.

A nice and cosy autumn cake that warms the cockles of our heart. This is my daughter’s favorite cake. She loves to eat it for breakfast, I love to prepare it in evening before, it’s so quick and easy. The recipe was born many years ago and has been inspired […]

Soup of the day: Udon noodle soup with pumpkin miso broth and vegetables. Vegan recipe.

Soup weather is here again. Time to come back to my favorite theme Soup of the day! Quick and easy vegan soup which is inspired by Japanese vegan recipes. Pumpkin season is in full swing now and I really enjoy it this year. This pumpkin broth is so creamy and […]

Mediterranean-style beef meatballs.

Have you tried Mediterranean-style meatballs yet? These meatballs are extra juicy and super delicious with great Mamia’s sauce flavours. All swimming in a rich and wonderful sauce that everyone can make in minutes. Addition of three veg, golden Kiwi rule, makes this dish especially delicious. Serve meatballs with toasted Turkish […]

White Pizza with Pear, Gorgonzola and Prosciutto

This Gorgonzola and pear white pizza is loaded with Prosciutto, walnuts and kawa kawa apple jelly, this works! The combination is sweet and salty with the added creamy pungency of the cheese. Also, it gets a little peppery hit from kawa kawa and rocket. The taste is amazing!

Sourdough Pie with Sauerkraut and Chorizo Stew.

Homemade sourdough pizza dough packed with smoky hearty chorizo and sauerkraut stew. Sourdough, chorizo and sauerkraut are all products of fermentation, and foods are full of umami. So these pies are the ultimate combo. Sourdough is a mixture of flour and water inhabited by a symbiosis of Lactic acid bacteria […]

Orecchiette Pasta with Ricotta, Lemon and Arugula (rocket).

Amazing Orecchiette pasta, soft in the middle and somewhat chewier on the outside, tossed through creamy ricotta cheese sauce infused with lemon flavour, and peppery arugula leaves. Absolutely killing combo! Orecchiette, literally translates to “little ears” in Italian, is a pasta typical of Puglia, a region of Southern Italy. It’s […]

Hot Smoked Salmon Salad with Sorrel Dressing. Low Carb, Keto-friendly Recipe.

It’s fruity like rhubarb, tarty like lemon and green like spinach. Spring sorrel has an absolutely amazing complex flavour. And it’s wonderful pairing for fatty salmon and avocado. Salmon-sorrel combo was invented by legendary nouvelle cuisine pioneer Pierre Troisgros. His famous recipe “Salmon in sorrel sauce” now became a classic. I […]

Vietnamese-style Lemongrass chicken and Herb Salad. Keto Recipe.

Fresh and light Asian salad bursting with flavours. The perfect meal for spring reset. Juicy lemongrass chicken makes this salad delicious and nutritious same time.I have an abundance of fresh herbs in my little urban garden. Spring onion, mint and Vietnamese mint are so aromatic and tender at this time […]

Poached Chicken, Apple, Cranberry and Celery Salad Wrap.

You will be surprised how great this combination works.Try this flavour-packed wrap filled with tender and juicy chicken, refreshing celery, sweet crispy apple, tart cranberry, and sweet mayo dressing, the perfect combination for the spring. Easy make-ahead recipe for packing into lunch boxes, both for work and school.

Soup of the day: Spring Green Soup in a Peruvian Style

Hope you will enjoy this vibrant, delicious and nutritious green soup in a Peruvian style with a little twist. Yuzu Kosho will put the taste of the dish to the next level. Traditionally this soup is made with fresh green Peruvian chilli, but I really like my new version with […]

30 Citrus recipes with lemon, orange, yuzu, mandarin, tangelo and lime.

Light and Fluffy Lemon Ricotta Waffles with Poppy Seeds. These lemon ricotta waffles are fluffy and tender with the delicate crunch of poppy seeds. There is no better dessert than tasty waffles drizzled with honey and lemon juice. Get the recipe here. 2. Blood orange crepes Suzette. Retro classic with […]

Moroccan preserved lemons.

My fermentation station in action again. I’m playing around with beautiful organic lemons that my friend Neville from Yuzu NZ sent me. I’ve made Moroccan preserved lemons using Yen Ben lemons (check photos above) and Meyer lemons. The recipe is super easy. Wash organic lemons, cut off the tops. Quarter the lemons […]

Yuzu Kosho. Spicy Funky Japanese Condiment.

Yuzu Kosho is a hot and citrusy fermented Japanese condiment made with fresh yuzu citrus zest, green chilli peppers, and salt. After years of exploring Asian food, I didn’t think I would get surprised by anything so much, but I did! A few months ago my friend Neville sent me […]

Attention: Adults-only Dessert. Affogato. Only 3 Ingredients Required.

Continuing the theme of my previous post. Affogato. Famous Italian dessert. Dessert, liquor and a little kick of caffeine, all in one. It’s cold and hot, sweet and nutty, and feels like a real firework of flavours in your mouth. The recipe is super easy. Just place two scoops of vanilla […]

Attention: Adults-only Dessert. Homemade Bounty Bonbons with Coffee Liquor Kahlúa.

Melting in your mouth bounty bonbons with some extra zing. Hope you will enjoy this amazing coconut-coffee flavour filling. The best advice I got from my culinary school teacher was that wines and liquors a key ingredient in cooking. They lift the taste of the dish to the next level […]

Taste of Ethiopia: Sourdough Injera and Doro Wat

Soup of the Day: Broccoli and Blue Cheese Soup with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds.

Caramelized Shiitake Mushrooms on Rice. Vegan Recipe.

Eggplant Casserole (Eggplant Parmigiana)

Potato and Sauerkraut Salad. + Vegan mayonnaise recipe. Vegan, GF.

Autumn sun. Pumpkin Polenta Ricotta Cake. Gluten-free.

Mediterranean-style beef meatballs.

Soup of the day: Udon noodle soup with pumpkin miso broth and vegetables. Vegan recipe.

Latest Recipes

The Easiest Cheesecake You’ll Ever Make: Burnt Spiced Pumpkin Ricotta Cheesecake.

Taste of Ethiopia: Sourdough Injera and Doro Wat

Soup of the Day: Broccoli and Blue Cheese Soup with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds.

Caramelized Shiitake Mushrooms on Rice. Vegan Recipe.

Eggplant Casserole (Eggplant Parmigiana)

Potato and Sauerkraut Salad. + Vegan mayonnaise recipe. Vegan, GF.

Autumn sun. Pumpkin Polenta Ricotta Cake. Gluten-free.

Soup of the day: Udon noodle soup with pumpkin miso broth and vegetables. Vegan recipe.

Mediterranean-style beef meatballs.

White Pizza with Pear, Gorgonzola and Prosciutto

Sourdough Pie with Sauerkraut and Chorizo Stew.

Orecchiette Pasta with Ricotta, Lemon and Arugula (rocket).

Hot Smoked Salmon Salad with Sorrel Dressing. Low Carb, Keto-friendly Recipe.

Vietnamese-style Lemongrass chicken and Herb Salad. Keto Recipe.

Poached Chicken, Apple, Cranberry and Celery Salad Wrap.

Soup of the day: Spring Green Soup in a Peruvian Style

30 Citrus recipes with lemon, orange, yuzu, mandarin, tangelo and lime.

Moroccan preserved lemons.

Yuzu Kosho. Spicy Funky Japanese Condiment.

Attention: Adults-only Dessert. Affogato. Only 3 Ingredients Required.

Attention: Adults-only Dessert. Homemade Bounty Bonbons with Coffee Liquor Kahlúa.

Rustic Tomato Toast

MY PORTFOLIO

Aperol and Blood Orange Panna Cotta