I only really got into shellfish whilst living in Aus. It helped massively that I lived right next to the fantastic Sydney Fish Markets. I became accustomed at Christmas to heading there to pick up a load of incredible Aussie prawns for cooking at lunch on Xmas Day instead of slaving for hours over a turkey and ham. 

I like flavoursome food, textural with a bit of a kick. I added a whack of the Masterfoods Aus Fresh Chopped Chilli for these prawns, which I have loved over the years. My version keeps in the fridge for a few weeks and is a good condiment to have at hand. It's great on pasta mixed with some lemon juice and parsley. If you're not based in Aus or NZ, you can find out how to make your own version here. 

I love Lebanese food, and I ate loads of this salad whilst back in Aus last year. It's textural and healthy, and this salad is excellent with it's crunchy, toasted bread, which soaks in the tart dressing. If you can't get Lebanese bread, you can use Pita, but just make sure it's good and thin. 

Below are my takes on some of the great dishes I enjoyed. I hope you like trying them out, and I am keen to get your comments on them below.

CHILLI GARLIC PRAWNS WITH DAMPER BREAD

KATIE’S FATTOUSH SALAD

PICKLED GREEN CHILLIES

CHARGRILLED BRUSSELS SPROUTS, PANCETTA, GREEN CHILLI VINEGAR + CASHEW
This recipe was inspired by a restaurant in Balmain in Sydney - the area I lived in for most of my time in Aus.

WILD MUSHROOM + BLUE CHEESE PASTA WITH WALNUT CRUMB