Earlier this week we roadtested different recipes from Hetty McKinnon’s brand-new cookbook, Family, which featuring simple, mouthwatering recipes passed down through generations and shared among family and friends.

We invited Hetty to come in and select the best one! Here are the results…

Ellen Cregan made ‘Sushi Salad’ (pg. 68):

This recipe appealed to me because it uses edamame and avocado, two of my favourite things in the whole world. This recipe was easy to make up – the most time-consuming aspect of it was cooking the brown rice, which is simple but can take the best part of an hour. I think this salad will be making frequent reappearances in my weekly dinner rotation.

Bronte Coates made ‘Orange Fennel and Olive Salad’ (pg. 73):

I loved this flavour combination. This is a refreshing and tasty salad that makes a a great anecdote to the endless, despair-filled slog that is winter in Melbourne – especially given that oranges and fennel are both in abundance right now. The most difficult part of the recipe is chopping the ingredients but luckily, I had a mandolin slicer for the fennel, and even more luckily, my partner stepped in to pare the oranges for me after my attempts proved disastrous.

Kara Nicholson made ‘Za'atar Zucchini and Mascarpone Slab Galette’ (pg. 171):

I love that the pastry for this is so easy to make and then work into a free form shape. It’s also great that you can make it a day ahead and then eat at room temperature – it would be the perfect dish to take to a picnic. I will definitely try some of the other topping ideas suggested in the recipe. It can easily become a sweet galette with only minor changes. The recipe suggests serving with parsley scattered over the top but I made gremolata instead as there is also a recipe for this in the cookbook (pg. 55). I can’t resist an opportunity to add more garlic and lemon to anything.

Anthony Shaw made ‘Haloumi Kale and Mint Gozleme’ (pg. 166):

My second attempt at making this dish was somehow less relaxed and more fraught than my first. The simple dough recipe, which came together so easily the first time, just didn’t seem to have the right consistency. Overall though, the recipe is much easier than initially expected and fun to create. The filling is healthy (kale), zingy (mint) and salty (haloumi ) – a winning combination in my mind. I did add roasted pine nuts, for an another textural element. This is a recipe I’ll be cooking again, much to my 6-year-old’s horror (‘too much green stuff Daddy’) and I hope to get the dough a little thinner and softer next time. Perhaps a banana and nutella version will win her over.

Lian Hingee made ‘Black Bean Soup’ (pg. 86) & ‘Lime Pie with Anzac Biscuit Crust’ (pg. 264):

I made two recipes this time – one savoury and one sweet.

I used tinned beans for the Black Bean Soup, and it was astonishingly quick and easy to cook. It’s very hearty, but surprisingly fresh and delicate in flavour, so I think it works equally for both summer and winter meals. The chipotle tortilla strips that you serve it with were delicious crispy morsels, and I had to stop my partner from inhaling the lot of them dry.

Key Lime Pie is actually one of my favourite things, and I was so fascinated with the idea of making it with an Australian ANZAC biscuit base. The caramel sweetness and texture of the ANZACs paired beautifully with the creaminess of the lime curd. It was almost foolproof to make and very easily transportable. I think it’s going to be one of my go-to recipes when I get asked to bring a dessert.

Judi Mitchell made ‘Bavarian Apple Torte’ (pg. 273):

You can’t beat the combination of apple and cinnamon but add to this some pastry and a cream cheese filling and you’re in dessert heaven. This was a pretty straightforward dish to make. The three key steps are easy to follow – pastry base, filling and topping – and don’t require too much technique. Probably the most fiddly part was layering the apple slices on top but I found it quite therapeutic after a long day. I possibly baked it a little too long (wonky oven!) but it still looks appealing and tastes good. If you’re wanting a great simple dessert that will impress friends at a dinner party you can’t go wrong.

And the winners are…

Sushi Salad!
Black Bean Soup!

Signed copies of Family are available at our Carlton and Hawthorn shops. Only while stocks last.