This is a little recipe inspired by a thai curry dish served by one of my favourite Cape Town restaurants, Kitima's. To put it simply, their Salmon Penang with poached pear is to die for and I order it just about every time I go there for dinner. So about a year ago I decided to make up my own version by adding veggies to break the richness and topping the dish with fresh mint and basil to bring out all the fragrant flavours. I also alternate between using a penang and red curry paste- both are equally good to use! I'm one of those sweet and savoury nuts (think brie and onion marmalade, dates and bacon and salted caramel... you know here I'm going with this) and it's the salty salmon- sweet pear combination in this dish that has me making this dish over and over again.

I recommend coupling these magical thai flavours with a wooded chenin blanc or a glass of buttery chardonnay. I'm much more of a wine than a cocktail drinker, but do yourself a favour and try Kitima's Strawberry Rose martini infused with basil and clove; it must be the best cocktail I've ever tasted this side of the continent!

Salmon Pear Thai Curry (my version)

(Serves 6-8)

Ingredients:

800g- 1kg of fresh shashimi quality salmon cut into 125-150g pieces
2 x 400ml cans of quality coconut milk (Wellness Warehouse have a mean selection)
1 tablespoon coconut oil (if required)
2 x packet Penang Thai curry paste (or use red curry paste)
4-5 pears sliced into 8 pieces each
1-2 sliced red peppers (length ways and 1 cm wide)
150g green beans
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2.5 tablespoons fish sauce
A big handful of basil and mint
4 red chilli's
Salt to taste

Method

1. Scoop a table spoon or two of cream off the top of the coconut milk and mix in the curry paste in a heavy pan. Let it cook for 3-5 minutes until the oil seeps to the top. Tip: This is known as "cracking" the coconut milk which involves separating the cream into its oil, and then using the oil to fry up the spices. Coconut milk however is homogenised and therefore the oil can be lacking. To avoid this I recommend adding a tablespoon of coconut oil to the coconut cream to ensure a more fragrant thai curry flavour emerges.

2. Add the pear, red peppers and green bean and cook for 2 minutes, then add the coconut milk and stir the ingredients. Let this simmer for another 3 minutes.

3. Finally add the salmon so that is mostly covered by the coconut milk and then immediately turn down the heat and let the ingredients simmer in the coconut milk for another 5 minutes or so, until the pear has softened. Be careful to not over cook the salmon. You want to poach it in the coconut milk so that there is a slightly translucent pink colour in the very middle.

4. Tear up the basil and mint and stir into the curry just before serving and garnish with chopped red chilli's. You can use salt to taste if required but I usually find it's unnecessary.

5. Serve with Jasmine rice or cauli-rice lightly fried in coconut oil.

I’m not one to get Take-away very often. I think it also has a lot to do with how I was brought up. Take-away’s were never an option in our household and eating out was a big occasion, which we would get excited about for days. (Some things never change though- I still get excited days before trying out a new restaurant or cooking a new recipe).

When I was young the Tomblin household would make use of the Spur Kids Club membership where you get a free burger meal and a chico the clown for your birthday. (Not sure if it still exists but I guess I will find out when I have kids). This guaranteed both my sisters and I at least three Spur outings a year! Score :-)

My taste buds have 'grown up' since then yet some things never change- Spur is still one of my favourite happy places. I’m not sure if it is the nostalgic feeling of eating food we weren’t allowed at home, the smell of Spur’s basting sauce, or leaving home with helium balloons which we would suck the life out of to impersonate Alvin and the Chipmunks.

But moving along to my blog post… There comes a time when I feel completely uninspired to cook dinner and I really don’t feel like going out for dinner or missioning in general. The only option is to not eat which is not an option, or get a healthy home-grown take-away option. I choose the latter.

Here are some options in the southern suburbs area where you can get healthy home made tasty food from.

1. Eat out the box:

Based in Wynberg and Rondebosch they deliver throughout the southern suburbs for free. Menu options include burgers, salads, pasta’s, pizzas, ribs and whole chicken meals for the family. The owners Deon and Marius whom I‘ve both worked for back in my waitressing days (circa a decade ago) started this yummy alternative to regular take away food. I can vouch they are both awesome chefs who really care about their end product and people in general. (And no they have not asked me to write this post they have no idea.)

What do I love about the concept?

All their food is fresh and hand made using locally sourced ingredients sans preservatives and the packaging used is 100% biodegradable. They also provide a carb-free banting option for pasta’s using courgette noodles. Their pizza menu comes with a gluten-free option, which you pay a meagre extra R10 for. And did I mention the food is delicious and oozes wholesomeness?

My menu favourites:

My favourite meal is the Fetamari Pasta- succulent tubes of calamari with creamy feta, roasted cherry tomato’s and freshly tossed spinach – its yummy with the carb-free courgette noodle option.
My favourite burger is the Rhino burger with bacon, avo and feta. You simply cannot go wrong with his option- Bacon and avo the two most inseparable ingredients in the world and R5 goes to The Saving Private Rhino Organisation .
And finally the Castaway salad is divine and it comes with an awesome dressing on the side. Whatever you chose you won't be disappointed.
Download a PDF of their menu here.

How to make an order?

You can call to make an order depending on where you are located Rondebosch: 021 674 0813 Wynberg: 021 761 9831 or better yet just hop online where you can place and pay for your order here www.eatoutthebox.co.za. The system keeps you updated with sms’s and emails. Great service, excellent food and it’s easy!

2. SushiBox Newlands

SushiBox in Newlands which is quite easy to miss, is tucked behind the corner near Melissa’s. This sushi establishment does incredible sushi at an incredible price. You can collect orders; eat at the simple asian set-up or request delivery. To indulge try the fusion box, not far from Willoughby’s 4 x 4 platter. And if you are a salmon junkie try the Omega 6 box. I especially love how they package their sushi. Call: 021 674 0820 or visit www.sushibox.co.za for more info.

3. Make an Omelette

If you have a little bit of energy- make an omelette. This is the best way to use up leftover ingredients in your fridge and all you need is egg to add to it! Which reminds me- you can get amazing organic free-range eggs from Gogo’s very close to SushiBox in Newlands. Their meat is fantastic too. I only buy my fillet from there these days… Visit their Facebook page to find out more: https://www.facebook.com/GogosDeli