A Modern Rose – Light Meals and Weekend Treats from an English Woman in Berlin

Greek Orzo Salad

April 23, 2018 By amodernrose Leave a Comment

Greek Orzo Salad is one of my go to packed lunches. I make a big batch on a Sunday and store in the fridge for 2-3 days. It is a delicious and filling lunch and packs up nicely to take to work. The orzo pasta also helps the salad to keep its shape and give it a bit of a firmer texture which makes it the perfect dish when wanting to store in the fridge for a few days.

I love a Greek Salad. There is something so simple yet delicious about a classic Greek Salad with crunchy bits of lettuce, soft and juicy black olives, thinly sliced red onion, fresh tomatoes and a big slab of feta on top….

Leftover Harissa Lamb with Couscous and Tzatziki

March 30, 2018 By amodernrose Leave a Comment

Just like with Christmas, I think one of the best things about Easter lunch is all those leftovers! And while there may only be one more day of holiday until back to work, Easter leftovers are some of the most delicious out there! This Harissa Lamb with Couscous and Tzatziki is the perfect recipe to make on Easter Monday when you want to spend more time relaxing but it is also perfect for that after work meal. What better treat at the end of the first day back at work than coming home to this hot and spicy lamb with a fresh couscous salad that is also ready in just under 20 minutes!…

Thai Duck Larb

March 20, 2018 By amodernrose Leave a Comment

Something terrible has happened this last month. Our favourite Thai restaurant has temporarily closed down! OK, so the staff have simply just gone back to Thailand for their holidays and the restaurant will be open up again soon. I guess I should be grateful that it isn’t another story of a restaurant closing down because the food is either too spicy for the sensitive German palate or too expensive for the rather frugal average German….

Seafood Chowder

March 15, 2018 By amodernrose Leave a Comment

This Seafood Chowder is the perfect recipe to rustle up for St. Patrick’s Day! I am a big fan of a chowder although I am aware that I typically make mine more New England style. Even though my husband is half Irish and I should be supporting his Irish roots, I can’t help but be a little fonder of the American rival – a delicious New England Clam Chowder. I love the taste of the clams with some added sweetcorn for that little sweet touch. Yet an Irish style chowder is delicious and different in it’s own way. I like to use a mix of different fish but you can easily make this with a selection…

Pappardelle with Pork and Sage Meatballs in a Creamy Nutmeg and Spinach Sauce

February 20, 2018 By amodernrose Leave a Comment

Some days all you need is a bowl of pasta. I feel a little sorry for pasta these days. The ‘clean eating’ crowd have made it almost a sin to enjoy this much loved easy and simple ingredient. These guys have more or less put pasta under the same category of bad foods as frozen ready-meals. But pasta has been serving the Italians, and Mediterranean diets, perfectly well for a very long time. For me this is a key ingredient, it crops up on my meal plan once, or twice, a week as it is so versatile and is perfect for a quick yet delicious meal. This Pappardelle with Pork and Sage Meatballs…

White Chocolate and Berry Cheesecake

February 13, 2018 By amodernrose Leave a Comment

I love cheesecake but hardly make it when it is just the two of us! I always try and save it for when we have a dinner party or a group of friends over. It was over Christmas that one of my husbands Aunt’s made a delicious white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake that I became inspired to spruce my own cheesecake recipe up a bit. The white chocolate is beautiful with the cream cheese and it is actually quite a light and smooth flavour. You can definitely taste the chocolate but it isn’t overpowering and is such a nice delicate taste that it makes this dessert feel rather special and a bit of a treat!…

Salt and Pepper Chicken with an Oyster Sauce

February 8, 2018 By amodernrose Leave a Comment

With Chinese New Year coming up next week I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the year of the dog than with this delicious Salt and Pepper Chicken with an Oyster Sauce. I am a huge fan of Chinese food but in particular Cantonese style that produces some of the best spicy and hot dishes. Typically known as the Doctrine of Five Flavours, Chinese food is grouped into five key elements – spicy, sweet, sour, bitter and salty. From the heat and spice of sichaun pepper to the sweetness of honey or hoisin sauce to the sourness of limes and rice vinegar,…

Mussel and Saffron Risotto

January 31, 2018 By amodernrose Leave a Comment

It is no secret that I am a huge fan of mussels! I can only really get hold of them during actual mussel season here in Berlin. I love bringing home a big pack of mussels and their shells clinking away as you pour them into the pan. My popular go to dish is Mussels in a White Wine Sauce with Garlic Butter Ciabatta. You just can’t beat scooping up that delicious broth with some crispy garlic bread. And I think with mussels it quite often is all about that sauce or broth that they were steamed in. For a little extra kick I love a big bowl of Coriander and Harissa Mussels that has a delicious Eastern Mediterranean feel to it….

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