Woolworths TASTE

Woolworths TASTE is a multi-award-winning magazine, with an annual frequency of 11 issues, which is produced by New Media Publishing as a flagship brand for South African retailer, Woolworths. Innovative in design and content, it presents more than 50 delicious recipes in each issue in an exquisitely photographed yet accessible way, showcasing the variety of top-quality food products offered by Woolworths alongside the abundant creativity within the South African food industry. Woolworths TASTE consistently offers credible, easy-to-use dining-in solutions and creative entertaining ideas, and also shares new developments in the culinary world, keeping readers informed about food trends and personalities. For more visit taste.co.za

Woolworths TASTE

COOK THE COVER

EDITORS’ LETTER

FAST • The most effective strategy for getting through a week of level six power cuts is, undoubtedly, speed. If you can make something in the half hour before it starts, or finish off the meal in 30 minutes when it's back on at 6:30 or even 8 pm (at a pinch), you're winning. And with this repertoire of dishes that require just 30 minutes (or less) of hands-on cooking time, the days of cold leftovers and sandwiches are over. A few tools may come in handy – a gas bottle and ring (or a skottel) – so you can keep cooking even when the power is out, or an air-fryer to cut your cooking times. An air-fryer is also the best way to reheat leftovers and will blitz your freezer staples in a flash.

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EASY ASSEMBLY • When you're really caught unawares (or the loadshedding schedule changes at the last minute), look to your pantry and freezer for inspiration. Keep it stocked with basics such as canned beans, coconut milk, Woolies’ readymade rice sachets and curry pastes, dried noodles, frozen fish, meatballs and chicken schnitzels and you won't go hungry. All that you need is a little inspo from us and 30 minutes or less. And now that the air-fryer revolution is upon us, you can speed things up even more.

ONE-PAN COOKING • One-pan or one-pot cooking is not just a time-saving strategy for loadshedding, it's also easy, hands-off and cuts down on washing up (not fun in the dark). Play it fast and loose with our omelette ideas and stovetop egg dishes, or chop some veg, marinate your meat (if using), assemble in a pan or ovenpoof casserole and get it into the oven as soon as the power comes on. Most of these dishes only need around 30 minutes of cooking time, so you could still be eating dinner before 7 pm if your slot ends after 6. Woolies’ prepared veg, chopped garlic and ginger, rice sachets, frozen röstis and fish all work well in these recipes. Double the quantities for leftovers to reheat the next day.

PREP AHEAD • If you're a natural planner, treat dinner theway you would if you were entertaining friends and prepare as much as you can in advance. Having 80% of the cooking done by the time loadshedding strikes is a foolproof strategy. In this chapter, we have chosen recipes where you can cook or prep some components in advance. If you can, make more than you need so you have leftovers to eat the next day, or to freeze. Your future self will thank you! Woolies’ readymade curry pastes, sauces, gravies, canned beans and legumes, and frozen solutions are also lifesavers.

BRAAI • It may seem obvious, buta midweek braai also has the power to brighten up your routine. And if you love to braai anyway, whatever the weather, then this is your chapter. Stock up on wood or charcoal and firelighters and keep it simple with these easy recipes for skewered or spatchcocked chicken, burgers, picanha steak and a potjie that cooks itself. Add pantry or home-made relishes, a substantial saladand a crusty loaf, and dinnerwill be ready in under an hour.

Your pantry checklist • Being prepared can take the sting out of the most unexpected (or the...