Chef shares Christmas cooking tips
This holiday season, Komani’s five-star international chef Lungelo Masiza is sharing his favourite recipes and cooking tips to help home cooks create delicious meals and desserts for this festive season.
He stresses the importance of fresh ingredients, avoiding food waste, and adding creative touches to traditional dishes. With Masiza’s guidance, home cooks can create dishes that will impress family and friends
For Masiza, Christmas is not complete without a traditional shepherd’s pie or cottage pie.
“These classic dishes consist of minced meat topped with mashed potatoes and baked and can be made with either beef (cottage pie) or lamb (shepherd’s pie).
When it comes to dessert, Masiza has a sweet tooth and loves creating decadent desserts that pair perfectly with vanilla ice cream or custard.
His top pick is the baked chocolate torte with hazelnut praline, coffee cremeux, and cocoa nib, a rich Italian treat that he loves.
For a picnic that will impress, Masiza recommends filling your basket with
Italian meats, rolls, almond croissants, and dark chocolate and cheese.
Chef Lungelo's easy tips for cooking during the festive season:
1. Use fresh ingredients.
2. Get everything ready before you start cooking.
3. Taste your dish as you cook.
4. Create dishes with a balance of sweet, salty, sour, and savoury.
5. Control the heat.
6. Try new herbs and spices.
7. Consider the texture of your food.
8. Don't overcrowd the pan.
9. Meat benefits from resting after cooking, so it's juicy and tender.
10. Cooking is a creative process, so have fun and add your own twist. Enjoy!