A deliciously comforting, nourishing and balanced soup! If you’re new to this Finnish dish, now’s the time to get started, because it’s not only very easy to make, but also very, very good! The soup is quick to prepare and the salmon is cooked at the last minute, just before dinner. I just added a small piece of fennel to this traditional dish, as seen once in Helsinki. And just writing the recipe makes me salivate all over again!
Start by cleaning and cutting the leek and fennel into very small pieces.

To do this, remove the leafy part of the leek and its roots. Strain the top of the leaves to get rid of any soil, then chop.

Cut the fennel in the same way.

Place the butter in a large saucepan or casserole dish.

Heat over moderate heat with the leek and fennel. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes.

I used small potatoes for this recipe.

Cut them into pieces. I keep the skin on, but you’re free to peel them.

Peel and chop the carrots.

Pour into the casserole dish.

Pour in 1.25 liters of water. I simply added 3 teaspoons of powdered fish stock, no more!

Bake for 20 minutes until potatoes are tender. Then pour in the cream.

Finely chop the dill and add it to the casserole.


Cut the salmon into cubes.

Add the salmon 3 minutes before serving. You can therefore prepare the soup in advance without the salmon, then reheat it at the last minute by cooking the fish just before serving.

Simmer the salmon for 3 minutes, then serve immediately! Add salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe for “cold zucchini soup”:
-3 medium zucchini
-3 white onions
-3 tablespoons of olive oil
-500g of water (a little more if the zucchini are huge!)
-1 bouillon cube
-100g of “boursin ail et fines herbes
-salt, pepper, tabasco
-fresh cilantro
-pine nuts
Start by washing and cleaning three white onions.
A surprising and totally addictive mix. I love asparagus, green or white. I took this photo with green asparagus because it cooks in two or three minutes in a pan, but you can do the same with white asparagus. They should then be peeled and steamed for about 20 minutes. The combination of beurre blanc, in which I keep the shallots, and the black tahini sauce is incredibly good and delicate. You’ll certainly need some fresh bread to clean your plate!
White butter :
Black tahini sauce :
Comment choisir ses asperges ?
Privilégiez les asperges fraîches, bien fermes, avec des tiges sans taches. Pour cette recette, les asperges vertes sont idéales, mais les blanches peuvent aussi être utilisées après épluchage et cuisson à la vapeur.
Peut-on préparer les sauces à l’avance ?
Oui, vous pouvez préparer le beurre blanc et la sauce tahiné noir à l’avance. Conservez-les au réfrigérateur et réchauffez doucement avant de servir.
Quel type de vin utiliser pour le beurre blanc ?
Un vin blanc sec comme un Sauvignon Blanc ou un Chardonnay fonctionne très bien. Évitez les vins sucrés.
Où trouver du tahiné noir ?
Le tahiné noir se trouve dans les boutiques bio ou les rayons spécialisés des grandes surfaces. Assurez-vous qu’il s’agit de pur sésame noir et non d’une version sucrée.
Astuces pour la cuisson des asperges
Pour des asperges vertes, une cuisson rapide à la poêle avec un peu d’huile d’olive donne une texture croquante. Si vous utilisez des asperges blanches, épluchez-les et cuisez-les à la vapeur pendant environ 20 minutes.
Comment empêcher la sauce beurre blanc de trancher ?
Ajoutez une cuillerée de crème liquide entière à la fin de la préparation. Cela stabilise la sauce et empêche qu’elle ne se sépare.
I bought this black sesame tahini at an organic store near my home. It’s important to check that it only contains sesame, because there’s also a sweetened black sesame cream spread (available in the dairy section), and it’s not the same product at all!

Place the black sesame cream and a little water (which you weigh before cooking) in a container.

Initially, the tehena solidifies slightly, then is re-spread by adding water gradually, while stirring.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Leave it out.

Peel and finely chop the shallots. Place them in a small saucepan.
Pour the 150ml of dry white wine. Add pepper and boil until almost no liquid remains, just a slight melt. This takes about 15 minutes.


Add the salted butter in 4 or 5 additions over low heat, stirring constantly. The first piece should melt well before adding the next. I keep the shallots here, I think it’s a shame to remove them like in many beurre blanc.

Stir constantly over low heat. The butter keeps its creamy texture and does not slice.

When all the butter has been added, pour in a tablespoon of whole cream to block the sauce from slicing, and you’re ready to go.

Grill the washed and dried green asparagus in a frying pan with a little olive oil for 2 minutes over fairly high heat. Add salt and pepper to taste.


Pour a little of both sauces onto the plates, then arrange the asparagus on top. Enjoy with freshly baked bread.


A delicious, versatile sauce that goes well with anything you like. Meat, fish, vegetables, rice, vegetable cakes, etc. An absolute delight, and very easy to make at home. It should be prepared at least a day in advance, to give the ginger time to marinate. I had bought a jar of the equivalent of this sauce in Tokyo and immediately thought that I would have to make it again and offer it on my cooking site! It contains no fat. Store in an airtight container for at least 10 days in a cool place.
To obtain 300g of peeled ginger, take 400g of fresh ginger. Choose a plump one!

Peel it like an apple, it’s as simple as that. A good knife will do the trick.

Cut into pieces and place in a small blender.

Blend it fairly finely, but without turning it into a paste.

Pour into a container, then simply add the remaining ingredients. I used a brown miso paste, but any miso paste will do.

Mix thoroughly, then cover with cling film. Place in a cool place overnight to ensure that the flavours blend as perfectly as possible and the ginger has time to marinate.
The sauce is perfect with anything you like. Grilled meat, vegetables, vegetable patties, on white rice… It’s totally addictive and ultra-savory!


Here’s a recipe idea for an aperitif or starter with friends. These breaded mozzarella balls are delicious, especially with the colourful sauce! You have to like wasabi, and you can of course use another sauce to serve these crispy balls! Make sure you prepare them in advance if necessary, and fry them at the last minute for maximum crispiness.
For the wasabi mayonnaise :
Yes, it’s perfectly possible to prepare your mozzarella balls in advance. Freeze them raw to preserve their freshness and texture. Simply fry them at the last minute for an incomparable crispness.
For breadcrumbs that adhere perfectly, make sure your mozzarella balls are well drained and perfectly dried before coating them. Residual moisture could compromise the breading’s adhesion.
Absolutely! Vary your taste buds by opting for a pesto sauce, a lighter spiced fromage blanc sauce, or even a homemade paprika mayonnaise. All these options will add a unique touch to your mozzarella balls.
For a light, crispy breading, panko is your best ally. Make sure the frying oil is at the right temperature, ideally 180°C, for the perfect texture.
Of course, feel free to experiment with cashews or roasted almonds instead of peanuts. These alternatives bring different flavors that are just as delicious.
Here are the mozarella balls. Take them out of the packet and drain.

Place the roasted peanuts in a small blender and grind to a powder.

Pour into a dish with the panko (or breadcrumbs).

Mix well.

First, dip the balls in flour.

Then dip them in fermented milk (or beaten egg, which also works).

Then roll them in the peanut/panko mixture.

Set aside as you go along.

Heat a small pan of oil to 180°C. Dip in the breaded marbles. Cooking will be quick. When they’re golden brown, they’re good. You can also hear the sound of frying changing, as the mozzarella will release liquid at some point, indicating that they need to be removed from their oil bath.

Place on absorbent paper.

The sauce:
For the sauce, mix all the ingredients together. Watch out for the action! For this recipe, a good quality industrial mayonnaise will do, although of course I make my mayonnaise at home most of the time.

Serve the breaded balls while they’re still hot, and enjoy them with the sauce right away!
Warning: unfortunately, they’re only good when they come out of the fryer. If you reheat them in the oven afterwards, the cheese will melt as it spreads out in the dish! It’s best to prepare them in advance, bearing in mind that they can be frozen raw and fried at the last minute.


Pork with extra-crispy skin is often seen in Asian rotisseries. I’ll give you the recipe for a delicious result at home: pork cooked just right, juicy and richly flavored, with a super-crispy skin for those who love it.
You’ll need pork belly, and of course you can remove the fat as you like once it’s on the plate. Delicious with rice and a few vegetables, just to clear your conscience!
For this recipe, choose the size of meat you prefer. Just ask for the pork belly, with skin.

This is the Chinese wine I use for this recipe. This is not a drinking wine, but a cooking wine.

For the “5 flavors” or “5 spices” blend, you’ll find it in Asian grocery stores. Not to be confused with “4 spices” for gingerbread!

Turn the breast over onto a board, flesh side down. Drizzle Chinese wine over the entire surface (not the skin). Sprinkle with 5-flavour spices, salt and white pepper. Once again, only on the flesh side.

Turn the meat over onto a piece of aluminum foil (or 2 overlapping pieces if the piece of meat is too large).

Close the foil around the meat, leaving only the skin visible.
Prick the skin with the tip of a knife, or a metal skewer. Only prick the skin, not the flesh. Otherwise, the meat will release juices and prevent the skin from becoming crispy afterwards. You have to prick everywhere, which is a bit tiring. I made holes every 5mm or so.

Wipe the skin with absorbent paper.

Then brush white spirit vinegar all over the skin.

Then pour coarse salt over the entire surface of the skin, to a good thickness. I used about 250g of coarse salt for the piece I had.

A generous crust of coarse salt is essential.

Then bake for 1 hour at 180°C.

Let the meat cool, then remove all the salt – without rinsing! Scrape with a knife as much as possible. Return the meat, skin side up, to the pan without the foil.

Set the oven to the “grill” function only. Do not place the dish too close to the heating elements, but approximately in the first third of the bottom of the oven. Grill for about 30 minutes, depending on your oven and the meat, which must not burn. The skin will “blow” and become extra-crispy.

Take out the meat and cut the skin with a saw, then the flesh underneath with a knife.

Enjoy it straight away with plain rice and a few green vegetables!


For a change from babaganoush (which is also on my site), I suggest a zucchini, mint and lime caviar. Very easy to make, this dish will be luminously fresh, bringing color and flavor to an aperitif or appetizer! Delicious with warm, crusty bread.
Recipe for 6 people:
For the marinated zucchini strips:
Start by washing the zucchinis and cutting off the ends. Cut them in half lengthwise.

Place in an ovenproof dish. Add the whole head of garlic. Drizzle generously with oil and season with salt and pepper.

Bake in the oven at 220°C for 1h10.

Leave to cool, weigh the cooked zucchini, then place the cooked zucchini, with any juices it may have given off, in a small blender with the roasted garlic cloves.

Weigh out 10% of the weight of the tahini zucchini, the sesame cream. Season with salt and pepper, a little olive oil (1 tablespoon) and the leaves of a dozen sprigs of mint.

It’ll be a lot, but it’ll be fresh and delicious!

Blend until smooth and homogeneous.

For the last zucchini, cut lengthwise into thin strips, best done with a mandolin.

Pour into a bowl and add the zest of half to one whole lime.

Season with salt and olive oil.

Leave to marinate in a cool place for at least an hour. You can put everything in cling film in a cool place.

Just before serving, place the zucchini caviar in a dish, add the marinated zucchini strips and drizzle with olive oil. For a mint-flavored chlorophyll oil, go HERE!
Serve with warm, crusty bread.


During a trip to the Cyclades, I was lucky enough to taste saganáki, a delicious fried cheese, several times. One of the versions was made with rolled oats, and the result was unexpected and, frankly, delicious. As the cheese used, kefalograviéra, is rather hard to find in our country, I propose an alternative with halloumi, which is much easier to find. Served with honey and a few slices of lemon, this simple dish will be the star of your aperitif or starter!
For 3-4 people :
Unwrap the halloumi and cut it into 2 or 3 thick slices.

Dredge each slice in flour on both sides.


Remove the excess and dip them in the fermented milk. Remove the excess and place in a container with the oatmeal.

Sprinkle with flakes to cover the entire surface of the cheese slices.


Leave to rest in the flakes for 5 minutes, while you heat the oil in a small saucepan.

When the oil is hot, around 180°C, dip the slices in one at a time until they are golden brown.


Drain on paper towels.

Add salt and pepper to taste, then serve with honey and lemon slices to taste.



I’m lucky enough to have a market gardener who offers quite a few exotic vegetables, including the classic orange sweet potatoes, but also the firmer-textured white ones that I’m particularly fond of. I’d bought some, and they’d been lying around in my kitchen for a while. They keep very well. But I went into a recipe a bit on the spur of the moment, not knowing how it would turn out. The result was delicious, with a very tasty sauce. The meat is tender and juicy to perfection, and the white sweet potato is both firm and melt-in-the-mouth. A little feast!
Recipe for 6 to 8 people:
For this recipe, I used low ribs, ideal for this type of recipe. I also have a marrow bone, but you could use more.

Cut the meat into 3-4cm cubes.

Place in a casserole dish with a tablespoon of oil over high heat.

Simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, peel and chop the onions, garlic cloves and ginger,

For the onion, in classic chunks.

Garlic and ginger require finer chopping.


Pour into the casserole dish.

Cook and stir for 5 minutes.

Finely chop the bird pepper(s). You can leave the seeds in or remove them for less pungency.

Pour into the casserole dish, then add chicken (or vegetable) stock up to the level of the meat.

I put the pressure on here and let it cook with the steam hissing for 1h30. Without a pressure cooker, cooking time is doubled.

After this cooking time, pour in the Worcestershire sauce and wine vinegar.


Check that the meat is cooked through, as it should be very soft at this stage.

If it’s good, leave to cool completely before chilling to set the fat and get rid of some of it. I therefore advise you to do this first cooking the day before your meal.
For the next day. Here are the white sweet potatoes. I’m lucky enough to have a market gardener who sells them. The texture is very different from that of orange sweet potatoes. It is firmer, less sweet and almost chestnut-like. Of course, you can also use the classic sweet potato and adapt the cooking to it.

They need to be peeled, then cut into pieces.


Remove the casserole from the fridge and remove any fat that has congealed. This way, it’s up to you to decide how much fat to leave.

Remove the meat and bone from the stock and set aside.

Add the sweet potatoes and bring to the boil, uncovered. Chop the small bunch of coriander, washed and squeezed dry, and add to the sweet potatoes. Put salt and pepper at your taste.

Leave to cook for 20-25 minutes and check with a fork. Pour the rice flour into a small bowl and add about 50g of water. Pour this mixture into the boiling liquid, stirring gently to thicken the sauce to your liking. So you don’t necessarily have to pour it all in, or on the contrary, add more, to adapt to the desired consistency. I wanted a sauce with just a touch of glaze.

When ready, add the meat and cook for 10 minutes until heated through.

Serve the stew well chutneyed, with a sprinkling of freshly chopped coriander.


Perfect as an original starter or aperitif! I tasted the equivalent of this salted Morbier, parsley and hazelnut cake in a restaurant in Joigny where I was lucky enough to be invited. I wanted to do it again at home, always on instinct. The result is delicious, with an unexpectedly pretty green color when cut. Very easy to make, it’s best served hot or warm, so just warm it up before devouring!
Recipe for a 23-24 cm diameter mould:
Put the chosen oil, the 200g of egg (about 4 medium eggs), the washed and chopped parsley and the peeled garlic into a blender and blend until you have a kind of homogeneous cream.

Pour into a bowl and add the milk, salt and sugar.

Mix, then add the flour, baking powder and hazelnut powder.

Then add the cheeses: grated Emmental or Comté, and morbier cut into pieces (with the rind!).



Mix well, then pour into the baking tin lined with baking parchment. Drizzle a little oil over the inside edge to facilitate removal from the mold.

Bake for 50 minutes at 175°C over static heat (not convection heat).

Turn out and leave to cool on a wire rack.

Enjoy as an aperitif or starter with a salad. Morbier cake tastes best warm, so just heat it up!

