Snacks/Tapas
Spring Salad with Mint Labneh
A refreshing Middle Eastern-inspired salad that uses the first of the spring vegetables and can be served as a lunch dish or a starter. Serve with mint labneh (note that you need to start this the day before) or make a simple dressing of lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil.
Vegetable Kebabs
Kebabs are a great way of presenting several different vegetables. Be generous with the amount on each kebab. If using bamboo kebab sticks, soak them in water for about 30 minutes before threading with the vegetables.
Whitebait Fritters
One of the truly unique specialties of New Zealand waters is whitebait. These tiny fish are a very expensive delicacy, unless you catch them yourself at river mouths in spring. I find them irresistible, and as soon as my local fish shop paints the ‘fresh whitebait’ sign across the window I just have to have them. If I could I would buy enough to fill the pan, tossing them with salt and pepper and a squirt of lemon. But to do that I’d probably have to take out a mortgage. So I make simple fritters with...
