Gurdeep Loyal's festive food gifts are a game-changer for spice lovers and savory enthusiasts alike. The Mexican-spiced brittle is a sweet and salty sensation that combines the flavors of salsa macha with crunchy pumpkin seeds and toasted spices, resulting in a delightful snack that's both addictive and easy to make.
To start, toast 100g of pumpkin seeds and 125g of salted peanuts in a dry frying pan until they're lightly browned. Then, blend them together with 2 tablespoons of coriander seeds, fennel seeds, caraway seeds, oregano, sesame seeds, ancho chilli powder or smoked paprika, and 2 teaspoons of crushed smoked salt. This mixture is then combined with 70g of melted butter and 300g of caster sugar to create a crunchy brittle that's perfect for snacking.
For the savory pinwheels, Gurdeep Loyal turns to the bold flavors of XO sauce, a condiment from Hong Kong made from dried seafood, salty ham, chilli, and spices. To make these cookies, mix together 3 tablespoons of XO sauce with 50g of black poppy seeds, 2 tablespoons of white-wine vinegar, sugar, flour, baking powder, pepper, mustard powder, semolina, and cold butter until you have a cohesive dough.
Roll out the dough to a large rectangle, spread it with an even layer of the XO-poppy seed filling, and roll it into a log shape. Slice the log into 1cm-thick cookies and bake them in a hot oven until golden brown. The result is a crunchy, cheesy biscuit that's infused with the deep umami flavors of the XO sauce.
Both of these festive food gifts are perfect for spice lovers and savory enthusiasts alike, and they make great presents for friends and family. With their unique flavor combinations and easy-to-make recipes, Gurdeep Loyal's creations are sure to become a staple in your pantry this holiday season.
To start, toast 100g of pumpkin seeds and 125g of salted peanuts in a dry frying pan until they're lightly browned. Then, blend them together with 2 tablespoons of coriander seeds, fennel seeds, caraway seeds, oregano, sesame seeds, ancho chilli powder or smoked paprika, and 2 teaspoons of crushed smoked salt. This mixture is then combined with 70g of melted butter and 300g of caster sugar to create a crunchy brittle that's perfect for snacking.
For the savory pinwheels, Gurdeep Loyal turns to the bold flavors of XO sauce, a condiment from Hong Kong made from dried seafood, salty ham, chilli, and spices. To make these cookies, mix together 3 tablespoons of XO sauce with 50g of black poppy seeds, 2 tablespoons of white-wine vinegar, sugar, flour, baking powder, pepper, mustard powder, semolina, and cold butter until you have a cohesive dough.
Roll out the dough to a large rectangle, spread it with an even layer of the XO-poppy seed filling, and roll it into a log shape. Slice the log into 1cm-thick cookies and bake them in a hot oven until golden brown. The result is a crunchy, cheesy biscuit that's infused with the deep umami flavors of the XO sauce.
Both of these festive food gifts are perfect for spice lovers and savory enthusiasts alike, and they make great presents for friends and family. With their unique flavor combinations and easy-to-make recipes, Gurdeep Loyal's creations are sure to become a staple in your pantry this holiday season.