One of Southern Italy’s more famous dishes, with similar versions found in Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey. Grilled aubergine is topped with mozzarella and tomato, One of the most popular Corporate team building menus made at Wickedfood Cooking School this starter is perfect for easy entertaining.

2-3 medium aubergines (about 1kg)
Salt
Sugar
Oil for frying
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tins chopped tomatoes
±300g mozzarella cheese, sliced or grated
1T finely chopped oregano and/or basil

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Slice the aubergines cross-ways ±5mm thick. Place in a big bowl of salted water and allow to stand for 15 minutes, Then gently squeeze dry and place in a dry bowl.
3. While the aubergines are soaking, prepare the tomato sauce. Heat some oil in a saucepan, add the garlic and fry for a minute, then add the tomato, and stir, cooking until it has reduced to almost dry. Season with salt and sugar to taste.
4. Heat ±1cm of oil in a frying pan, fry the aubergines until lightly coloured on both sides, and drain on paper towels.
5. In a baking dish, make small stacks, starting with tomato then followed by a layer of aubergine, tomato and cheese, and then a sprinkling of oregano. Continue layering until all ingredients are used up, finishing with the cheese.
6. Place in the preheated oven, and bake for 20 minutes, then allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Boksburg – (011) 823-5365 boksburg@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

Quick to prepare and a fantastic side dish or snack for any outdoor cooking session. If outdoor cooking is not possible then they can be cooked in the oven but you wont get the lovely smokey flavour.

10 large potatoes
¼ cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic – minced
3t salt
3t paprika
2t dried thyme
2t dried oregano
1t black pepper
1t cayenne pepper

1. Prepare barbecue grill. Preheat oven to 220ºC.
2. To prepare potatoes scrub under running water with stiff vegetable brush, rinse and dry well. (Do not peel.) Cut potatoes in half lengthwise, you then cut each half lengthwise into 4 wedges. Place potatoes in large bowl.
3. Add oil and garlic; toss to coat well.
4. Combine the spices and sprinkle over potatoes. Toss to coat well. Place potato wedges in single layer in shallow roasting pan. (Reserve remaining oil mixture left in bowl.)
5. Bake 20 minutes, then take potato wedges out of oven (or a further 20 minutes at 170ºC in the oven).
6. Place potato wedges on their sides on grid of a preheated barbecue grill and roast, over medium coals for 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are browned and fork tender, brushing with reserved oil mixture halfway through cooking. Turn once with tongs, during cooking.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Boksburg – (011) 823-5365 boksburg@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

White chocolate truffles have a uniquely rich taste, as an alternative to the cocoa suggested here, to keep their creamy colour, try coating them in a chocolate glaze or rolling them in finely grated white chocolate. Storage – keeps for 2 weeks in the refrigerator, uncovered in cocoa, layered between silicone paper in a covered container.

180g white chocolate, broken into pieces
75g butter, diced
3T double cream
1/2t orange liqueur
2T sifted cocoa powder, to coat the truffles (optional)

1. Place the chocolate, butter and cream in a bowl over a pot of simmering water, and melt, stirring with a rubber spatula to ensure a smooth texture.
2. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. When the mixture has cooled stir in the liqueur. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 2 hours.
3. With the help of a teaspoon, pull marble-sized pieces off the chilled mixture and roll them in the palms of your hands to shape into balls. If the mixture becomes difficult to handle, return it to the refrigerator and chill further.
4. Put the cocoa in a bowl, roll the truffles in it to coat them evenly.

Makes ± 30

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Boksburg – (011) 823-5365 boksburg@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

Served with smoked salmon and mustard dressing, also good for breakfast.

4 large (±1kg) potatoes
1/4 cup chives, chopped
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup flour
Salt
Black pepper
Oil for frying    To serve
80g smoked salmon, cut into thin strips
Mustard dressing (below)
Chopped chives for garnish

1. Grate the potatoes and place in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes.
2. Rinse, drain and squeeze out any excess liquid tightly with your hands.
3. Put the potatoes in a bowl and mix with the chives, egg, flour, and a little salt and pepper.
4. Heat some oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium to high heat.
5. Spoon ±1T of mixture into the pan, flatten slightly, and fry until golden on both sides. Drain on paper towels and continue until all the potato cakes are made.

To serve

Arrange the potato cakes on a large platter, top with the salmon and drizzle with mustard dressing. Garnish with chopped chives.

Mustard dressing

1T Dijon or whole grain mustard
1T sugar
1T mascarpone cream
1t salt
2T white wine vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil

1.    Whisk the mustard, sugar, mascarpone,  salt and vinegar together in a bowl until the sugar has dissolved.
Add the oil in a thin stream, whisking vigorously to incorporate to a thick sauce.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Boksburg – (011) 823-5365 boksburg@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

SUNNINGHILL>> information & bookings (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Hi All,

Hope you’re having a good week, first on behalf of the team at Wickedfood we would like to congratulate Caster Mokgadi Semenya and the rest of the South African Athletics team for a job well done. This week the Wickedfood Chefs spent a day at Braeside Meat Market with Chef Mike Baker (executive chef of Crown National and a very experienced butcher) learning the art of de-boning a leg of lamb, selecting the right cuts of meat and how old cuts and secondary cuts are (in our opinion) better tasting and value for money. Keep your eyes on the blog for new recipes and great ideas, we will also be launching a monthly competition on the blog where we will be giving away cooking classes to lucky readers. We would also like to wish the Bokke all the best for this weekend’s game (Saturday 11:50) don’t forget to contact Braeside for all your biltong and meat requirements.

Wickedfood Cooking School news

Our October individual cooking class programme is up on the Internet

• Monday 31 August at 6pm – South African Indian (R360pp). A combination of Indian spices and local ingredients creating dishes unique to the South African Indian community including samoosas, dhal soup, tamarind fish curry, bunny chow, roti and vermicelli pudding.
• Sunday 06 September at 4pm – 30 minute meals 1/3 (R380pp). Dishes include  vegetarian stir-fry, red chicken curry, pepper steak, sun-dried tomato pesto, fish with almonds, and pizza.
• Monday 07 September at 6pm – Mexican salsas, dips and fillings (R370pp). Salsas, dips and fillings, for nachos, tostadas and tortillas, perfect for al fresco dining.
• Sunday 13 September at 4pm – All you wanted to know about… cocktail snacks (R390pp). Part of the master class series. Our head instructor will give an in-depth hands-on demonstration on fresh and interesting cocktail ideas, to help rejuvenate those boring parties with something fresh and tasteful with little fuss.

Please contact the school should you wish to make a booking:

Wickedfood Cooking School, Sunninghill

September individual class programme….. click here