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Salak or snake fruit

Salaks

ORIGIN

Salak, sometimes also called snake-skin or snake fruit because the skin resembles snake leather in appearance, is the fruit of a range of closely related and very spiny palms.  Salak (Salacca zalacca) is a species of palm tree of the family Arecaceae and is native to Indonesia. The variety available in Bali is widely [...]

Produce glossary

I thought it might be of interest to some readers to see the main items that will be covered in the Produce Glossary of Tropical Cuisine: Cooking in Clare’s Kitchen. As you may already know this cookbook is the first of what will be several volumes, and in each one a new set of [...]

Playing at sundown

When Tropical Cusine: Cooking in Clare’s Kitchen comes out I imagine that some readers might presume I am a complete soak from the number of mixed drink and cocktail recipes it will contain.  However, coming up with these recipes is more about playfulness than ensuring a regular alcoholic intake.  They are like a liquid and [...]

Papaya and prosciutto

…a simple tropical take on the classic combination of rockmelon and prosciutto.  Slice papaya into slender wedges (about 2cm at their widest point) and wind a finely sliced piece of prosciutto around each slice.  For small bites to have with drinks, dice papaya into 2cm squares and wrap each in some prosciutto, secured with a [...]

Sweet potato, papaya, lime and passionfruit salad

© Clare Richards 2009 Sweet potato, papaya, lime & passionfruit salad

I love papaya for breakfast, but it is not very sustaining on its own.  Sweet potato is amazing in its capacity to keep you going for hours and hours, but can be a bit on the heavy side to eat on its own for breakfast.  [...]